It’s like brainstorming on steroids.
Creative Problem Solving requires an experienced facilitator. The methodology is simply the framework for the real business of promoting and selecting and refining new ideas. A CPS workshop led by a seasoned facilitator will feel different than any brainstorming session you’ve ever attended. More importantly, the results will speak for themselves. The old adage of: “throw it up on the wall and see what sticks” is the opposite to the deliberate form of brainstorming embodied by CPS.
The six steps of Creative Problem Solving are:
- Explore the Vision
Identify the goal, wish or challenge - Gather data
Identify data to enable a clear understanding of the challenge - Formulate challenges
Identify the real challenges that invite solutions - Explore ideas
Generate ideas that address the challenge question - Formulate solutions
Move from ideas to solutions. Evaluate, strengthen, and select solutions - Formulate a plan
Explore acceptance and identify resources and action steps
Each step involves phases of Divergent and Convergent exercises. During divergent thinking we defer judgement, combine and build on ideas, seek wild ideas and go for quantity, not quality. During convergent thinking we are deliberate and affirmative, checking back with objectives, attempting to improve on ideas and looking for novelty.
So how do you know which ideas are best, which are worth pursuing?
The FourSight Thinking Profile is an innovation assessment. It’s research-based, validated and unique, because it gives you the levels of awareness: self-awareness (What are my thinking preferences?); process awareness (What is the thinking process that leads to innovation?); and team awareness (What are my team’s thinking biases when it comes to that innovation process?). Those combined insights help unlock people’s best thinking.
Richard is a certified FourSight Assessment practitioner.
Call or email Richard to discuss how the CPS methodology can be used to uncover the best ideas latent in your organization.