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 Duration 7 hours

Course Outline

Foundations of Creative Problem Solving

  • Comprehending the nature of creativity and creative thought
  • The significance of creativity in innovation, decision-making, and problem resolution
  • Recognizing obstacles to creative thinking and strategies to overcome them
  • The creative problem-solving journey: from issue identification to solution implementation

Problem Definition and Framing

  • Differentiating between surface-level symptoms and the core issue
  • Crafting clear, actionable problem statements
  • Establishing objectives, constraints, and desired outcomes
  • Reframing problems to uncover new perspectives

Information Collection and Analysis

  • Identifying pertinent data and evidence
  • Posing effective questions to deepen problem understanding
  • Investigating facts, assumptions, and underlying drivers
  • Structuring information to support creative analysis

Root Cause Identification

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

Idea Generation and Alternatives

  • Methods 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
  • Cultivating associations and unconventional solutions
  • Practical exercises based on real-world business or organizational challenges

Assessment and Selection of Solutions

  • Setting criteria for evaluating ideas
  • Objectively comparing alternatives
  • Evaluating feasibility, impact, risks, and resource requirements
  • Utilizing Scatter Diagrams and other analytical tools where suitable
  • Aligning creativity with practical business needs

Structured Problem Solving via 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 future recurrence
  • Applying the method to a practical case study

Translating Ideas into Action

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

Introduction to Design Thinking

  • Understanding the core principles of Design Thinking
  • Empathizing with users and grasping their needs
  • Defining the challenge from the user's perspective
  • Ideation, prototyping, and solution testing
  • Leveraging 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
  • Combining root-cause analysis, idea generation, evaluation, and action planning
  • Working individually and/or in teams on problems provided by the trainer or client
  • Presenting proposed solutions and receiving feedback

Retrospective and Continuous Improvement

  • Reviewing the problem-solving process and outcomes
  • Identifying successes, failures, and areas for improvement
  • Formulating an improvement plan
  • Using the START / STOP / CONTINUE retrospective framework
  • Identifying opportunities to apply creative thinking in daily work

Workshop Summary

  • Recap of key principles and techniques
  • Personal action points
  • Applying learned concepts to current tasks and projects
  • Final discussion and Q&A

Requirements

None

Audience

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

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