Creative problem-solving: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Mental process of problem solving}}

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== Creative solution types ==

The process of creative problem-solving usually begins with defining the problem. This may lead to finding a simple non-creative solution, a textbook solution, or discovering prior solutions developed by other individuals. If the discovered solution is sufficient, the process may then be abandoned.<ref name=":0">[http://www.creativeeducationfoundation.org/creative-problem-solving/ Definition of creative problem solving] on Alex Osborn's (inventor of the term and process of [[brainstorming]]) Creative Education Foundation website.</ref><ref>[[wiktionary:problem|Problem definition]]{{deadcite linkweb|dateurl=August 2017https://www.advertisingbusiness.org/why-do-most-creative-problem-solving-attempts-never-reach-the-creative-stage/ |bottitle=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}} inWhy presentationDo onMost creativeCreative problemProblem-solving,Solving Attempts Never onReach the [[UniversityCreative ofStage? Arizona]]|date= website5 June 2025 }}</ref>

A creative solution will often have distinct characteristics that include using only existing components, or the problematic factor, as the basis for the solution. However, a change of perspective may in many cases be helpful.<ref>[http://www.creativethinkingassoc.com/mikevance.html Mike Vence about the 9 dots as a corporate promotion of creative thinking] at the [[Walt Disney Company]] (Creative Thinking Association website)</ref> A solution may also be considered creative if readily available components can be used to solve the problem within a short time limit.

If a creative solution has a broad application, such that the usage goes beyond the original intent, it may be referred to as an innovative solution, or an [[innovation]] (some innovations may also be considered an [[invention]]).

== Techniques and tools ==

Many techniques and tools employed for creating effective solutions to a problem are described in [[creativity techniques]] and [[problem-solving]] articles.

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* '''Mental state shift and cognitive re-framing''': Changing one's focus away from active problem-solving and towards a creative solution set.

* '''Multiple idea facilitation''': Increasing the quantity of fresh ideas based on the belief that a greater number of ideas will raise the chances that one of these is valuable. This may include randomly selecting an idea (such as choosing a word from a list) and thinking about its similarities to the situation. In turn, this random act may inspire a related idea that would lead to a solution.

* '''Inducing a change of perspective''': Efficiently entering a fresh perspective may result in a solution that thereby becomes obvious. This is especially useful for solving particularly challenging problems.<ref name=fobes1993>{{cite book|first=Richard|last=Fobes|title=The Creative Problem Solver's Toolbox: A Complete Course in the Art of Creating Solutions to Problems of Any Kind|year=1993|ISBNpublisher=Solutions Through Innovation |isbn=0-9632221-0-4}}</ref> Many techniques to this end involve identifying independent dimensions that differentiate closely associated concepts.<ref name=fobes1993 /> Differentiating concepts help overcome a tendency to use oversimplified associative thinking, in which two related concepts are so closely associated that their differences are overlooked.<ref name=fobes1993 />

== Idea generation techniques ==

* '''Brainstorming:''' [[Brainstorming]] is an idea generation method invented by '''[[Alex Faickney Osborn|Alex Osborn]]''' and further developed by '''Charles Hutchison Clark'''. Brainstorming aims to encourage the generation of new and unusual ideas in a group of people. [[Alex Faickney Osborn|Alex Osborn]] based his development of brainstorming on the Indian technique Prai-Barshana, which has been around for about 400 years. He named brainstorming after the idea of this method, namely “using"using the brain to storm a problem."

* '''Brainstorming:''' Brainstorming is an idea generation method invented by '''[[Alex Faickney Osborn|Alex Osborn]]''' and further developed by '''Charles Hutchison Clark'''. Brainstorming aims to encourage the generation of new and unusual ideas in a group of people. [[Alex Faickney Osborn|Alex Osborn]] based his development of brainstorming on the Indian technique Prai-Barshana, which has been around for about 400 years. He named brainstorming after the idea of this method, namely “using the brain to storm a problem."

* '''Creative Thinking:''' Coming up with ideas, especially innovative ideas, needs creativity and can be supported by certain [[creativity techniques]]. The creativity process is usually applied through a person, product, process, and place. Thus, creativity means that a creative person develops great ideas and novel products through a creative process in a creative environment.

[[Creativity|Creativity processes]] use these influencing factors as they support the search for ideas, problem solving and evaluation, and selection of ideas via rules, a group of people, and a creative process.

* '''Design thinking:''' [[Design thinking]] is an approach to problem-solving and ideation process that works through four key elements.

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# Iterative process

# Creative environment. In the design thinking process, the '''customer's needs'' are first determined through an iterative process and a question is defined, then creative solutions and ideas are generated through brainstorming and visualized via prototypes for user feedback.

* '''Complex Opportunity Recognition Techniques:''' [[Business opportunity|Opportunity Recognition]] describes the identification of opportunities to generate growth for companies. The different idea generation techniques of opportunity recognition are based either on the market, the company, or the company's environment. In order for this approach to be suitable for young companies, it must fulfill the following attributes:

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* [[Edward de Bono]], ''Lateral Thinking : Creativity Step by Step'', Harper & Row, 1973, trade paperback, 300 pages, {{ISBN|0-06-090325-2}}

* Altshuller, Henry. 1994. ''The Art of Inventing (And Suddenly the Inventor Appeared)''. Translated by Lev Shulyak. Worcester, Massachusetts: Technical Innovation Center. {{ISBN|0-9640740-1-X}}

== External links ==

* [http://www.problemistics.org/courseware/front.page.html Problematic: the art and craft of Problem Dealing]{{spaced ndash}}courseware on problem-finding and problem-solving

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