Course Description
The following is the course description for the Creative Problem Solving Course:
The Creative Problem Solving workshop will give participants an overview of the entire creative problem solving process, as well as key problem solving tools that they can use every day. Skills such as brainstorming, information gathering, analyzing data, and identifying resources will be covered throughout the workshop.
You Will:
By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
Understand problems and the creative problem solving process
Identify types of information to gather and key questions to ask in problem solving
Identify the importance of defining a problem correctly
Identify and use four different problem definition tools
Write concrete problem statements
Use basic brainstorming tools to generate ideas for solutions
Use idea generating tools, such as affinity diagrams, word chaining, the box method, the six thinking hats, and the blink method
Evaluate potential solutions against criteria, including cost/benefit analysis and group voting
Perform a final analysis to select a solution
Understand the roles that fact and intuition play in selecting a solution
Understand the need to refine the shortlist and re-refine it
Understand how to identify the tasks and resources necessary to implement solutions
Evaluate and adapt solutions to reality
Follow up with solution implementation to celebrate successes and identify improvements
Agenda
Course Core Competencies:
Module 1: The Problem Solving Method
Topic A: What is a Problem?
Topic B: What is Creative Problem Solving?
Topic C: What are the Steps in the Creative Solving Process?
Module 2: Information Gathering
Topic A: Understanding Types of Information
Topic B: Identifying Key Questions
Topic C: Methods of Gathering Information
Module 3: Problem Definition
Topic A: Defining the Problem
Topic B: Determining Where the Problem Originated
Topic C: Stating and Restating the Problem
Topic D: Analyzing the Problem
Topic E: Writing the Problem Statement
Module 4: Preparing for Brainstorming
Topic A: Identifying Mental Blocks
Topic B: Removing Mental Blocks
Topic C: Stimulating Creativity
Module 5: Generating Solutions (I)
Topic A: Brainstorming Basics
Topic B: Brainwriting and Mind Mapping
Topic C: Duncker Diagrams
Module 6: Generating Solutions (II)
Topic A: The Morphological Matrix
Topic B: The Six Thinking Hats
Topic C: The Blink Method
Module 7: Analyzing Solutions
Topic A: Developing Criteria
Topic B: Analyzing Wants and Needs
Topic C: Using Cost/Benefit Analysis
Module 8: Selecting a Solution
Topic A: Doing a Final Analysis
Topic B: Paired Comparison Analysis
Topic C: Analyzing Potential Problems
Module 9: Planning Your Next Steps
Topic A: Identifying Tasks
Topic B: Identifying Resources
Topic C: Implementing, Evaluating, and Adapting
Module 10: Recording Lessons Learned
Topic A: Planning the Follow-Up Meeting
Topic B: Celebrating Successes
Topic C: Identifying Improvements