1. Optimist International
CREATIVE
PROBLEM SOLVING
Before you begin this workshop, ensure you have the following materials available: Overhead projector, flip chart paper, colored markers for groups, masking tape (optional if you want to put finished charts on wall), booklets or handouts for each participant..
Review the Instructor’s and Participants’ Workbooks. Useful background information is covered on page 2 of Instructor’s Workbook.
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2. CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING
Purpose
Learning Objectives
Introduction (The instructor introduces him/herself and welcomes the workshop participants.)
Cover the high points of the outline. Stress the practical aspects of what they will be learning.
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3. CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING
PURPOSE:
To develop the awareness and the skills necessary to solve problems creatively.
The instructor then tells the purpose of the workshop.
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4. Optimist International
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
1. Define creative problem solving.
2. Be familiar with common mental blocks to creative thinking process.
3. Explore ways to be more creative.
4. Know the steps to the creative problem solving process.
5. Be familiar with: Brainstorming,
Mind mapping and Multivoting
6. Apply tools to solve a problem.
Review the learning objectives. It is important that the participants know what to expect from the training.
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5. CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING
What is creative problem solving?
The instructor asks the participants this question to engage them in the discussion. She/he may record the participant’s comments on flipchart or make mental note of them.
After the discussion, go to the next slide.
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6. Some Additional Thoughts
The creative person uses information to form new ideas.
The real key to creative problem solving is what you do with the knowledge.
Creative problem solving requires an attitude that allows you to search for new ideas and use your knowledge and experience.
Change perspective and use knowledge to make the ordinary extraordinary and the usual commonplace.
Refer participants to page 2 of their workbook (page 4 of the Instructor’s Workbook) for additional thoughts, which are covered in the workbooks .
The creative person wants to know about all kinds of things. Because he/she never knows when these ideas might come together to form new ideas.
Knowledge is the stuff from which new ideas are made. Yet, knowledge alone won’t make a creative person or solve a problem. The real key to creative problem solving is what you do with the knowledge.
Creative problem solving requires an attitude that allows you to search for new ideas and use your knowledge and experience.
By changing one’s perspective and playing with our knowledge, one can make the ordinary extraordinary and the usual commonplace.
Also, One may use seemingly crazy, foolish and impractical ideas as bridges to practical ideas. One might “break the rules”, so to speak, and search for ideas in unusual places.
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7. Optimist International
DEFINITION
“Creative problem solving is - looking at the same thing as everyone else and thinking something different.”
Conclude the discussion with this definition. While there may be other valid definitions, this provides a good transition to the remainder of the workshop.
Adapted from a famous quote from a former Nobel prize winner, Albert Szent-Gyorgi.
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8. CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING PROCESS
STEP 1. State what appears to be the problem.
The real problem may not surface until facts have been gathered and analyzed. Therefore, start with what you assume to be the problem, that can later be confirmed or corrected.
Refer participants to the seven steps of the creative problem solving process on page 7 of their workbook (page 15 of Instructor’s Workbook).
Describe and discuss each step, and answer any questions. Discussion is provided on the subsequent slides.
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9. CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING PROCESS
STEP 2. Gather facts, feelings and opinions.
What happened?
Where, when and how did it occur?
What is it’s size, scope, and severity?
Who and what is affected?
Likely to happen again?
Need to be corrected?
May need to assign priorities to critical elements.
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10. CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING PROCESS
STEP 3. Restate the problem.
The real facts help make this possible, and provide supporting data.
The actual problem may, or may not be the same as stated in Step 1.
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11. CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING PROCESS
STEP 4. Identify alternative solutions.
Generate ideas. Do not eliminate any possible solutions until several have been discussed.
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12. CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING PROCESS
STEP 5. Evaluate alternatives.
Which will provide the optimum solution?
What are the risks?
Are costs in keeping with the benefits?
Will the solution create new problems?
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13. CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING PROCESS
STEP 6. Implement the decision!
Who must be involved?
To what extent?
How, when and where?
Who will the decision impact?
What might go wrong?
How will the results be reported and verified?
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14. CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING PROCESS
STEP 7. Evaluate the results.
Test the solution against the desired results.
Make revisions if necessary.
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