Get in Touch

Course Outline

Foundations of Creative Problem Solving

  • Comprehending creativity and the creative thinking process
  • The impact of creativity on problem resolution, innovation, and decision-making
  • Recognizing obstacles to creative thought and strategies to overcome them
  • The creative problem-solving journey: from defining an issue to executing a solution

Clarifying and Defining the Issue

  • Differentiating between symptoms and the fundamental problem
  • Crafting a clear, actionable problem statement
  • Recognizing objectives, constraints, and desired results
  • Reframing issues to uncover new viewpoints

Collecting and Assessing Data

  • Identifying pertinent information and evidence
  • Posing effective questions to gain clarity on the issue
  • Investigating facts, assumptions, and underlying causes
  • Structuring data to facilitate creative analysis

Determining Root Causes

  • Looking past surface-level symptoms to find underlying causes
  • Utilizing the 5 Whys Method
  • Constructing a Fishbone (Ishikawa) Diagram
  • Employing cause-and-effect analysis to organize complex issues
  • Choosing the most significant causes for deeper inquiry

Developing Creative Solutions and Alternatives

  • Methods for generating a broad range of ideas
  • Applying divergent and convergent thinking
  • Questioning assumptions and exploring diverse perspectives
  • Implementing De Bono’s Six Thinking Hats
  • Creating associations and unconventional solutions
  • Practical exercises based on real business or organizational challenges

Evaluating and Choosing Solutions

  • Setting criteria for assessing ideas
  • Objectively comparing alternatives
  • Evaluating feasibility, impact, risks, and resource needs
  • Using Scatter Diagrams and other analytical tools where suitable
  • Balancing creative ideas with practical business requirements

Systematic Problem Solving via the 8D Method

  • Overview of the 8D problem-solving approach
  • Defining the problem and assembling an effective team
  • Identifying and executing corrective actions
  • Validating results and preventing future occurrences
  • Applying the method to a practical case study

Moving from Concept to Execution

  • Transforming chosen solutions into actionable plans
  • Establishing responsibilities, resources, milestones, and deadlines
  • Recognizing potential risks during implementation
  • Tracking progress and measuring outcomes

Introduction to Design Thinking

  • Grasping the core principles of Design Thinking
  • Building empathy with users and understanding their needs
  • Defining the challenge from the user’s perspective
  • Ideating, prototyping, and testing solutions
  • Using Design Thinking to address 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
  • Collaborating individually or in teams on issues provided by the trainer or client
  • Presenting proposed solutions and gathering feedback

Reflection and Continuous Improvement

  • Reviewing the problem-solving process and its outcomes
  • Identifying successes, failures, and areas for enhancement
  • Developing a plan for improvement
  • Applying the START / STOP / CONTINUE retrospective framework
  • Finding opportunities to integrate creative thinking into daily work

Workshop Recap

  • Summary of key principles and techniques
  • Personal action items
  • Transferring learning to current tasks and projects
  • Final discussion and Q&A

Requirements

No prior requirements

Target Audience

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

Number of participants


Price per participant

Testimonials (4)

Upcoming Courses

Related Categories