Creativity

The generation of novel and useful ideas

Key Issues

1. The Thinking Process

2. Patterning Systems

3. Mind Set

4. Playfulness

5. Techniques

6. Innovation

The Thinking Process

• First Stage Thinking(Lateral Thinking)

• Second Stage Thinking(Vertical Thinking)

387 teams in a football tournament.

In a straight knock-out (extra time then penalties), how many games are played through to and including the final?

Second Stage Thinking

First Stage Thinking

• How many losers are there for each game played?

• How many losers are there in the entire tournament?

• So …….. How many games played?

Generic Solution

N teams in the tournament, number of games:

N-1

The Point: #1

• Most problem solving in business is dominated by second stage thinking – particularly for scientists and engineers

• But first stage thinking can radically speed up the problem solving process, and even produce generic solutions

• How much better would problem solving be in the business setting, if first stage thinking was applied

• Once this blockage to creativity is understood, the chairman of the problem solving session can facilitate a change in process

• Knowledge of the blockage is the key

Patterning Systems

The Point: #2

• The brain will naturally search for a pattern in the features of any problem, and will actively try to match that pattern against one already on file

• The brain will settle for “near enough” – then convince you that the patterns are identical to a previous problem

• But no two problems have exactly the same features, so the solutions (successful or not) from past experience may be misleading

• Understanding this blockage to creativity, the chairman of the session can use techniques to dismantle past patterns

Mind Set

Without taking pen off paper, connect all points with just 4 straight lines

Mind Set

• With 3 lines?

• With 1 line?

The Point: #3

• Mind set defines conditions or constraints on problem solving, which do not necessarily exist

• Knowing this blockage to creativity, it is possible for the Chairman of the problem solving session to actively challenge the assumptions

Playfulness

• Imagination

• Intermediate Impossible

• Creative Charter

Creative Charter1. We shall collectively work to produce a creative atmosphere

2. Thou shalt not pass premature judgement upon anysuggestion

3. Thou shalt look positively upon all suggestions, finding thegood, rather than the bad

4. We all reserve the right to make complete fools of ourselvesin a completely safe environment, without fear of any latercomeback

5. We are all completely equal, irrespective of position orfunction

6. No one shall opt out

7. We shall have fun

Creativity Techniques

• Synectics

• Rolestorming

• 6 Thinking Hats

• Reversal

• Storyboards

Creativity Club• Volunteers from all areas (18 members)

• Meet once a month (groups of 6-8)

• Try new techniques

• Work on real business problems

• Works best with “problem owner”

• Meetings last no more than 1 hour

CREATIVITY

The generation of novel and useful ideas

INNOVATIONMaking money out of creativity

Innovative Roles

• Ideators

• Inventors

• Technology Gatekeepers

• Champions

• Sponsors

* Entrepreneurs

Innovation Club• All staff are automatic members

• Meet at least once every 3 months

• Lunchtime meetings – all welcome

• Focus on strategic issues

• Discuss issues, use creative techniques to aid idea generation

• Assign project teams

• Teams report back to whole meeting

Summary• Creativity - Generation of Novel and Useful Ideas

• Blocks to Creativity - thinking, patterning, mind set, play

• Creative Charter

• Creativity Club – systematic approach

• Focus on Innovation – making money out of creativity

• Innovation Club – systematic approach