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 Duration 7 hours

Course Outline

Introduction to Creative Problem Solving

  • Gaining insight into creativity and the mechanics of creative thought
  • Examining how creativity influences problem-solving, innovation, and decision-making
  • Recognizing barriers to creative thinking and strategies to overcome them
  • Navigating the creative problem-solving journey: from pinpointing the issue to executing the solution

Defining and Framing the Problem

  • Differentiating between surface symptoms and the fundamental issue
  • Crafting a clear, actionable problem statement
  • Clarifying objectives, constraints, and expected results
  • Reframing problems to reveal new viewpoints

Gathering and Analyzing Information

  • Pinpointing relevant data and supporting evidence
  • Posing effective questions to deepen understanding of the issue
  • Investigating facts, assumptions, and underlying drivers
  • Structuring information to facilitate creative analysis

Identifying Root Causes

  • Looking past symptoms to uncover foundational causes
  • Utilizing the 5 Why Method
  • Constructing a Fishbone (Ishikawa) Diagram
  • Leveraging cause-and-effect analysis to organize complex issues
  • Selecting the most pertinent causes for deeper inquiry

Generating Creative Solutions and Alternatives

  • Applying techniques to produce a broad spectrum of ideas
  • Mastering divergent and convergent thinking styles
  • Questioning assumptions and considering alternative angles
  • Implementing De Bono’s Six Thinking Hats
  • Cultivating associations and unconventional approaches
  • Engaging in practical exercises based on real-world business or organizational challenges

Evaluating and Selecting Solutions

  • Setting standards for assessing proposed ideas
  • Objectively comparing different alternatives
  • Evaluating feasibility, impact, risks, and resource requirements
  • Incorporating Scatter Diagrams and other analytical tools where suitable
  • Aligning creative outputs with practical business needs

Structured Problem Solving with the 8D Method

  • Overview of the 8D problem-solving approach
  • Defining the issue and assembling an effective problem-solving team
  • Determining and executing corrective measures
  • Validating outcomes and preventing future occurrences
  • Applying the methodology to a practical case study

From Idea to Action

  • Translating chosen solutions into executable plans
  • Assigning responsibilities, resources, milestones, and deadlines
  • Identifying potential risks during implementation
  • Tracking progress and measuring outcomes

Introduction to Design Thinking

  • Understanding the foundational principles of Design Thinking
  • Empathizing with users to grasp their needs
  • Defining the challenge from the user’s perspective
  • Generating ideas, prototyping, and testing solutions
  • Utilizing Design Thinking to tackle ambiguous and complex problems

Integrated Creative Problem-Solving Workshop

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

Retrospective and Continuous Improvement

  • Reflecting on the problem-solving process and its results
  • Assessing what succeeded, what fell short, and areas for enhancement
  • Developing a plan for improvement
  • Utilizing the START / STOP / CONTINUE retrospective framework
  • Identifying opportunities to integrate creative thinking into daily work

Workshop Summary

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

Requirements

None

Audience

  • Individuals seeking to deepen their understanding of creative thinking mechanisms and enhance their effectiveness

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