Creative Problem Solving: Go »Yes, And…«
Creative Problem Solving Addresses Complacency
What is Creative Problem-Solving? 💡 CPS is an innovation method focused on generating open-ended ideas to complex problems through imaginative and exploratory thinking.
Overcoming Complacency 🚧 Creative problem solving addresses complacency in business organisations, pushing teams beyond comfortable routines to actively innovate.
Navigating Undefined Problems 🔍 CPS provides solutions when the root cause of an issue isn’t clear, allowing exploration of creative ideas without needing precise definitions.
Managing Complexity 🧩 Traditional problem-solving might falter in complex scenarios, but creative problem solving effectively handles multifaceted challenges.
Creative Problem SOlving: From “No, But” to “Yes, And!”
Balance Divergent and Convergent Thinking ⚖️ CPS relies on balancing idea generation (divergent thinking) with solutions (convergent thinking) to transform ideas into practical outcomes.
Reframe Problems as Questions ❓ By presenting problems as open-ended questions, creative problem solving shifts the mindset from focusing on barriers to identifying possible solutions.
Defer Judgment of Ideas ⛔ To foster innovation, immediate judgment should be withheld during brainstorming, allowing even unlikely ideas to mature into viable solutions.
Focus on “Yes, And” Instead of “No, But” ✅ Encouraging positive, inclusive language during idea generation creates an environment conducive to innovation and collaboration.
Creative Problem Solving and Design Thinking
Creative Problem Solving 🚀 CPS is a super flexible, less structured approach focused on generating innovative solutions by exploring open-ended possibilities.
Design Thinking ⚙️ In contrast, design thinking employs a structured, human-centered methodology comprising clear stages: clarify, ideate, develop, and implement.
Connecting the Two Methods 🫶 Creative problem solving aligns closely with the ideation phase of design thinking but can fluidly move between stages to nurture diverse solutions.
Why It Matters in Business 📈 Integrating CPS and DT equips businesses with the agility, creativity, and strategic clarity necessary to thrive amid constant transformation.
drive innovation by enabling teams to tackle Issues
Creating a Problem Story 📖 This tool helps teams build a narrative around an issue, identifying causes and effects to gain deeper understanding and spark innovative solutions.
Inversion and Neutralization 🔄 By reversing or disconnecting cause-and-effect relationships, this technique challenges assumptions and opens space for unexpected ideas.
Brainstorming Sessions 💬 Structured brainstorming encourages idea sharing and collaboration, using divergence to generate many ideas and convergence to refine the best ones.
Alternate Worlds Thinking 🌍 This empathetic method explores how people in other industries might solve the same problem, helping teams adopt fresh perspectives.