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Course Overview
This workshop will give students an overview of the 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 will be covered during class.
Course Objectives
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. 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 redefine it. Understand how to identify the tasks and resources necessary to implement solutions. Evaluate and adapt solutions to reality.
Course Outline
1 - Getting Started
2 - The Problem Solving Method
- What is a Problem?
- What is Creative Problem Solving?
- What are the Steps in the Creative Solving Process?
- Case Study
- Module Two: Review Questions
3 - Information Gathering
- Understanding Types of Information
- Identifying Key Questions
- Methods of Gathering Information
- Case Study
- Module Three: Review Questions
4 - Problem Definition
- Defining the Problem
- Determining Where the Problem Originated
- Defining the Present State and the Desired State
- Stating and Restating the Problem
- Analyzing the Problem
- Writing the Problem Statement
- Case Study
- Module Four: Review Questions
5 - Preparing for Brainstorming
- Identifying Mental Blocks
- Removing Mental Blocks
- Stimulating Creativity
- Case Study
- Module Five: Review Questions
6 - Generating Solutions (I)
- Brainstorming Basics
- Brainwriting and Mind Mapping
- Duncker Diagrams
- Case Study
- Module Six: Review Questions
7 - Generating Solutions (II)
- The Morphological Matrix
- The Six Thinking Hats
- The Blink Method
- Case Study
- Module Seven: Review Questions
8 - Analyzing Solutions
- Developing Criteria
- Analyzing Wants and Needs
- Using Cost/Benefit Analysis
- Case Study
- Module Eight: Review Questions
9 - Selecting a Solution
- Doing a Final Analysis
- Paired Comparison Analysis
- Analyzing Potential Problems
- Case Study
- Module Nine: Review Questions
10 - Planning Your Next Steps
- Identifying Tasks
- Identifying Resources
- Implementing, Evaluating, and Adapting
- Case Study
- Module Ten: Review Questions
11 - Creating a Performance Plan
- Planning the Follow-Up Meeting
- Celebrating Successes
- Identifying Improvements
- Case Study
- Module Eleven: Review Questions
12 - Wrapping Up
- Words from the Wise
- Lessons Learned