How would you rate your problem solving skills? Complex problem solving is at the top of the skills needed to thrive in the future. Therefore, you need to know some creative approaches to problem solving .Creative Approaches to Problem Solving
Although we've talked about problem solving here many times, it's important to always have many tools in your handy toolbox.
Since problem solving is such an important skill to have, it makes sense to hone your problem solving skills. Conducting research on Amazon to find good books to help you master problem solving, I discovered a few gems, which I intend to buy as well.
In a hurry to start honing your problem solving skills?
Below you'll find my notes from a workshop I attended on creative problem solving.
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Initial Thoughts on Creative Approaches to Problem Solving
We have talked about problem solving and generating great ideas on this blog a few times. But it’s never a bad idea to be exposed to other techniques or related techniques. I attended a presentation “The Secrets of Creative Problem Solving” by Otto Schmidt hosted by Innovation Initiative.
The Innovative Initiative is a non-profit forum supporting innovative businesses, so many inventors are members. The technique outlined below is also good for inventors who need some stimulation.
UPDATE: First published in August 2011
Key Objective for Creative Approaches to Problem Solving
Observe and notice more- Improve your ability to analyze
- Learn and use problem solving
- Practice solving real problems and situations
Observe and Notice More
- Scan: Notice and identify as many details as possible. Gather a set of details, which the mind processes into ideas, concepts and understanding.
- Search: Consciously find details.
- Focus: Make clear in the foreground, middle or background. What the senses make clear, is what the mind will think about.
- Attention: A willingness to give things time.
Improve Ability and Analyze
Examine things methodically by separating into parts and studying interrelations to discover essential features.
- Take things apart and put them back together. Notice the relationships when putting it back together, can you leave parts out?
- Look from different points of view.
- Use your imagination to determine the orders and steps. Why in that order?
- Notice cycles or systems in the world. An example they gave is to look at your digestive system, if you take it away, the body stops to function.
- Sort things in different ways.
- Look for double meanings and hidden elements (parallels to past problems).
- Find “ING” Words (Gerunds). An example: Say for instance your task is to build a superior bicycle, what are the important things you have to think about? Using “ing” words you would probably come up with sitting, pedaling, steering, braking, levering, changing, rolling, balancing, turning, protecting, rotating. You would use this concept with other problems.
Creative Approaches to Problem Solving (Graham Wallas Creativity Model)
- Preparation: Data collection
- Incubation: Laying the issue aside, unconscious processing
- Illumination: Aha, new ideas emerge
- Verification: Check it out
Problem Solving Model Simplified
- Identify the real problem.
- List ways to solve it.
- Plan and test solution.
- Review the effectiveness of the solution.
- Adjust the solution.
Creative Approaches to Problem Solving: Books to Hone Your Problem Solving Skills
Creative Approaches to Problem SolvingCreative Problem SolvingProblem Solving 101A Whole New Mind
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Further Reading
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