Solving Problems Analytically and Creatively

Solving Problems Analytically and Creatively

1. Problem Solving, Creativity, and Innovation

   • Steps in Analytical Problem Solving
     • Problem Solving
       • Problem solving is a skill required of every person in almost every aspect of life
       • A Model of Problem Solving
         • Define the problem
           • Generate alternative solutions
             • Evaluate and select an alternative
               • Implement and follow up on the solution
               • weighing the advantages and disadvantages of the proposed alternatives before making a final selection.
             • The second step is to generate alternative solutions
           • This involves diagnosing a situation so that the focus is on the real problem
       • Problems are time consuming, they cre- ate stress, and they never seem to go away
     • Limitations of the analytical problem-solving model
       • practicing these four steps does not guarantee that an individual will effectively solve all types of problems
       • These problem-solving steps are most effective mainly when the problems faced are straightforward

2. CHAVARRIA CASTRO DIANA KAREN

3. Multiple Approaches to Creativity

   • One of the most sophisticated approaches to creativity identifies four distinct methods for achieving it
     • imagination
       • achieving creativity through imagination refers
         • to the creation of new ideas, break-throughs, and radical approaches to problem solving
           • experimentation
           • exploration
           • risk taking
           • transformational ideas
     • Improvement
       • incremental improvements
       • process control
       • systematic approaches
       • careful methods
       • clarifying problems
     • Investment
       • A third type of creativity is called investment
         • rapid goal achievement
         • faster responses than others
       • or the pursuit of rapid goal achievement and competitiveness
         • competitive approaches
         • attack problems directly
     • Incubation
       • The fourth type of creativity is incubation
         • This refers to an approach to creative activity through teamwork, involvement, and coordination among individuals
         • Creativity occurs by unlocking the potential that exists in interactions among networks of people
         • capitalize on teamwork
         • involvement
         • coordination and cohesion

4. Conceptual Blocks

   • Conceptual blocks are mental obstacles that constrain the way problems are defined, and they can inhibit us from being effective.
   • Conceptual blocks limit the number of alternative solutions that people think about
     • THE FOUR TYPES OF CONCEPTUAL BLOCKS
       • Constancy
         • the quality of being enduring and unchanging
       • Commitment
         • Commitment can also serve as a conceptual block to creative problem solving
         • Once individuals become committed it is likely that they will follow through on that commitment
       • Compression
         • Conceptual blocks also occur as a result of compres- sion of ideas
       • Complacency
         • Some conceptual blocks occur because of fear, ignorance, insecurity, or just plain mental laziness

5. Conceptual blockbusting

   • Conceptual blocks cannot be overcome all at once
     • Techniques for Improving Problem Definition
       • Make the strange familiar and the familiar strange
       • Elaborate on the definition
       • Reverse the definition
   • because most blocks are a product of years of habit forming thought processes
     • Techniques for Generating More Alternatives
       • Defer judgment
         • Probably the most common method of generating alternatives is the technique of brainstorming
       • Expand current alternatives
         • One useful and readily available technique for expanding alternatives is subdivision
       • Combine unrelated attributes
         • A third technique focuses on helping problem solvers expand alternatives by forcing the integration of seem- ingly unrelated elements

6. Fostering creativity in others

   • Promoting creativity is crucial in various areas of life, whether personal, academic or professional
     • the reasons are:
       • Innovation
       • Problem resolution
       • Personal development
       • Job skills
       • Learning improvement
     • also, it contributes to the construction of more dynamic societies prepared to face the challenges of the future