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Course Outline

Introduction to Creative Problem Solving

  • Exploring creativity and the nature of creative thinking
  • The significance of creativity in problem solving, innovation, and decision-making
  • Recognizing barriers to creative thinking and strategies to overcome them
  • The creative problem-solving workflow: from issue identification to solution implementation

Defining and Framing the Problem

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

Gathering and Analyzing Information

  • Pinpointing relevant data and evidence
  • Posing effective questions to gain a deeper understanding of the issue
  • Investigating facts, assumptions, and underlying causes
  • Structuring information to facilitate creative analysis

Identifying Root Causes

  • Looking beyond symptoms to uncover fundamental causes
  • Applying the 5 Why Method
  • Constructing a Fishbone (Ishikawa) Diagram
  • Leveraging cause-and-effect analysis to organize complex issues
  • Choosing the most pertinent causes for further exploration

Generating Creative Solutions and Alternatives

  • Methods for producing a broad range of ideas
  • Utilizing divergent and convergent thinking approaches
  • Questioning assumptions and considering alternative viewpoints
  • Implementing De Bono’s Six Thinking Hats
  • Cultivating associations and unconventional solutions
  • Practical exercises based on real-world business or organizational challenges

Evaluating and Selecting Solutions

  • Setting criteria for assessing ideas
  • Objectively comparing alternatives
  • Evaluating feasibility, impact, risks, and required resources
  • Utilizing Scatter Diagrams and other analytical tools where suitable
  • Aligning creativity 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 actions
  • Validating results and preventing future occurrences
  • Applying the method to a practical case study

From Idea to Action

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

Introduction to Design Thinking

  • Grasping the fundamentals of Design Thinking
  • Empathizing with users to understand their needs
  • Defining the challenge from the user's point of view
  • Ideating, prototyping, and testing solutions
  • 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
  • Integrating root-cause analysis, idea generation, evaluation, and action planning
  • Working individually and/or in teams on problems provided by the trainer or the client
  • Presenting proposed solutions and gathering feedback

Retrospective and Continuous Improvement

  • Reviewing the problem-solving process and its outcomes
  • Identifying successes, failures, and areas for enhancement
  • Developing an improvement plan
  • Using the START / STOP / CONTINUE retrospective framework
  • Spotting 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 session

Requirements

No prior experience required

Target Audience

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

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