Fundamentals of Creativity Presented By Bob Sharp August 13 th,

Definitions dictionary.com  The ability to transcend traditional ideas, rules, patterns, relationships, or the like, and to create meaningful new ideas, forms, methods, interpretations, etc.; originality, progressiveness, or imagination.  The process by which one utilizes creative ability.

Some Creativity Characteristics Joy, state of play, humor, not rushed Productivity – quantity leads to quality Do something, anything Don’t let perfection be the enemy of the good Tolerance of risk, failure, and the unknown Looking at things from different perspectives Randomness, unexpected, spontaneous Sleeping well, napping, daydreaming Serendipity – being observant Hard times, necessity, curiosity

Triune Brain Model

Left-BrainRight-Brain AnalyticalCreative LogicalThinks in pictures SpeechFlashes of insight Breaks things down into partsSees things as a whole

Seven Intelligences 1. Language 2. Math and Logic 3. Music 4. Spatial Reasoning 5. Movement 6. Interpersonal Intelligence 7. Intrapersonal Intelligence

Diversity Helps us to see things from different perspectives Yourself Seek different kinds of people to interact with, different kinds of knowledge, learning, and experiences Break out of routine Be an active observer Your Team Gender, age, culture Job function Team role Add customers, investors, other stakeholders Personality type

Leadership Great leadership can lead to great creative results Selection Organization culture, values, morale, and motivation Trust Advocacy vs. Inquiry Belbin Team Roles: Coordinator, Shaper, Plant, Team Worker, Implementer, Completer-Finisher, Monitor-Evaluator, Resource Investigator, Specialist Leadership styles: Visionary, Coaching, Affiliative, Democratic, Pacesetting, Commanding

Some Creativity Killers Organizational that punishes risk taking, experimentation, failure Lack of trust, fear Advocacy environment, strongly political environment Overuse of Pacesetting and/or Commanding leadership Micromanaging Selection of wrong people, keeping bad team members, defensiveness Lack of flexibility in how teams organize themselves

Notebooks Used for most/all other creativity techniques Useful for patents; first-to-invent policy Action Items, To Do List, Course Notes, Scratchpad Developing ideas now and later Idea Log, Dream Log Journaling => Intrapersonal Intelligence Development Better than relying on memory Use of multiple notebooks

Brainstorming Used to expand the number of choices to choose from Group creativity technique, but can be done alone Separates creative act of inventing from the act of deciding Everyone encouraged to express ideas Judgment deferred. Quantity of ideas, not quality of ideas, is the initial goal. Ideas are listed, combined, improved, changed Afterwards, judgment is used and the group selects one idea

Mind Mapping Bubble diagram used to capture and organize ideas and the relationships between the ideas Not started with preconceived hierarchies or frameworks Used as-is for remembering and organizing Used in problem solving, decision making, and writing Used as the basis for to-do lists, formal planning, etc. Good brainstorming tool XMIND, FreeMind free software tools

Example Mind Map

Other Drawing Techniques Unified Modeling Language (UML) Fishbone System Mapping Force Field Analysis Your own drawing and drawing conventions

SubstituteProcess, procedure, rule, people, place, time, color, approach, part, shape, texture, sound, smell, name, people’s feelings or attitudes CombineIdeas, purposes, parts, assortments, materials, people, appeals talents combined or merged; can a blend be created AdaptDifferent context, other ideas, circumstances, what can be copied or imitated, who can be emulated, what different contexts can the subject be put in to Magnify Minify Modify Larger, extended, exaggerated, overstated; time added; higher, longer, stronger Smaller, restricted, understated, streamlined; less time, slower, lighter Altered for the better; meaning, plan, process, shape, package, name change Put to other uses New uses, other markets or industries, or any other uses if the thing is modified somehow; used by people other than those it was originally intended for EliminateWhat can be omitted, divided, split-up, separated into different components; what rules or processes can be eliminated; simplification; eliminate waste Reverse Rearrange Opposites, negatives, turned around, backwards, upside down; reverse roles Other arrangement, parts interchanged, other pattern or layout or sequence, changed pace or schedule SCAMPER