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Course Outline

Introduction to Creative Problem Solving

  • Comprehending creativity and the nature of creative thinking
  • The impact of creativity on problem resolution, innovation, and decision-making
  • Recognizing barriers to creative thought and strategies for overcoming them
  • The creative problem-solving workflow: from issue identification to solution implementation

Defining and Framing the Problem

  • Differentiating between surface-level symptoms and the underlying problem
  • Crafting a clear, actionable problem statement
  • Identifying specific objectives, constraints, and desired results
  • Reframing issues to uncover new perspectives

Gathering and Analyzing Information

  • Identifying pertinent information and supporting evidence
  • Posing effective questions to gain deeper insight into the problem
  • Examining facts, assumptions, and fundamental causes
  • Structuring information to facilitate creative analysis

Identifying Root Causes

  • Looking beyond symptoms to uncover underlying causes
  • Utilizing the 5 Why Method
  • Constructing a Fishbone (Ishikawa) Diagram
  • Applying cause-and-effect analysis to structure complex problems
  • Selecting the most significant causes for further investigation

Generating Creative Solutions and Alternatives

  • Techniques for producing a broad range of ideas
  • Employing divergent and convergent thinking
  • Questioning assumptions and exploring alternative viewpoints
  • Applying De Bono’s Six Thinking Hats
  • Developing associations and unconventional solutions
  • Practical exercises based on real-world business or organizational challenges

Evaluating and Selecting Solutions

  • Establishing criteria for assessing ideas
  • Objectively comparing alternative options
  • Evaluating feasibility, impact, risks, and resource requirements
  • Utilizing Scatter Diagrams and other analytical tools where suitable
  • Balancing creative input with practical business needs

Structured Problem Solving with the 8D Method

  • Overview of the 8D problem-solving approach
  • Defining the problem and assembling an effective problem-solving team
  • Identifying and executing corrective actions
  • Validating results and preventing recurrence
  • Applying the method to a practical case study

From Idea to Action

  • Converting selected solutions into actionable plans
  • Defining responsibilities, resources, milestones, and deadlines
  • Identifying potential risks during implementation
  • Monitoring progress and measuring outcomes

Introduction to Design Thinking

  • Understanding the core principles of Design Thinking
  • Empathizing with users to understand their needs
  • Defining the challenge from the user’s perspective
  • Ideating, prototyping, and testing potential solutions
  • Leveraging Design Thinking to address ambiguous and complex problems

Integrated Creative Problem-Solving Workshop

  • Applying selected creative thinking and problem-solving techniques to a practical challenge
  • Integrating root-cause analysis, idea generation, evaluation, and action planning
  • Working individually or in teams on problems provided by the trainer or customer
  • Presenting proposed solutions and receiving constructive feedback

Retrospective and Continuous Improvement

  • Reviewing the problem-solving process and its results
  • Identifying successes, failures, and areas for improvement
  • Developing a plan for improvement
  • Utilizing the START / STOP / CONTINUE retrospective framework
  • Identifying opportunities to apply creative thinking in daily work

Workshop Summary

  • Recap of key principles and techniques
  • Setting personal action points
  • Transferring learning to current tasks and projects
  • Final discussion and Q&A session

Requirements

No prior requirements.

Target Audience

  • Individuals seeking to deepen their understanding of creative thinking mechanisms and boost their effectiveness
 7 Hours

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Provisional Upcoming Courses (Require 5+ participants)

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