1. Whitmore/Stevenson: Strategies for Engineering Communication 1 of 11 Creativity  Problem posing  Observing nature  Focused meditation  Role playing  Free writing  Journal writing

2. Whitmore/Stevenson: Strategies for Engineering Communication 2 of 11 Problem Posing  Observe how existing industrial, commercial, or consumer products and systems work.  Analyze the purpose of existing products or systems with an eye to finding inefficiencies or problems.  Analyze the nature of the problem by considering whether solving the problem is physically possible.  Determine how best to improve the product or how to resolve or restate the problem.  Consider how to develop and market the product.

3. Whitmore/Stevenson: Strategies for Engineering Communication 3 of 11 Free Writing OK So I need to write about brainstorming. Usually its done in a group but not always sometimes individual. Works best in a group though people feed off each others creativity especially if they have different backgrounds – social professional – etc. So how does it work as a group - get people together for a time period ½ to 1 hour - anything goes. no criticism – insane crazy ideas are ok - need to ensure nobody gets censored though so need a group leader to facilitate stuff. should also record - Also good to later sort out ideas by being critical and further exploring them But the biggest point is to make sure there is no criticism & that people can come up with all sorts of ideas. Should also be fun laughing – sort of like a creative party with stuff written on the blackboard OK So I need to write about brainstorming. Usually its done in a group but not always sometimes individual. Works best in a group though people feed off each others creativity especially if they have different backgrounds – social professional – etc. So how does it work as a group - get people together for a time period ½ to 1 hour - anything goes. no criticism – insane crazy ideas are ok - need to ensure nobody gets censored though so need a group leader to facilitate stuff. should also record - Also good to later sort out ideas by being critical and further exploring them But the biggest point is to make sure there is no criticism & that people can come up with all sorts of ideas. Should also be fun laughing – sort of like a creative party with stuff written on the blackboard

4. Whitmore/Stevenson: Strategies for Engineering Communication 4 of 11 Informal Journals

5. Whitmore/Stevenson: Strategies for Engineering Communication 5 of 11 Formal Engineering Journals

6. Whitmore/Stevenson: Strategies for Engineering Communication 6 of 11 Problem-Solving Heuristics  Create analogies  Generate contraries  Synthesize ideas  Ask questions

7. Whitmore/Stevenson: Strategies for Engineering Communication 7 of 11 Create Analogies  Static (or particle) perspective  Dynamic (or wave) perspective  Relative (or field) perspective

8. Whitmore/Stevenson: Strategies for Engineering Communication 8 of 11 Generate Contraries

9. Whitmore/Stevenson: Strategies for Engineering Communication 9 of 11 Synthesize Ideas The first Post-It-Note ®

10. Whitmore/Stevenson: Strategies for Engineering Communication 10 of 11 Ask Questions Who Is My Audience?  Who will read this report? Technical experts? Administrators? Business people?  Why will they read it? What motivated them to request the report? What actions will they take on the basis of this report?  What information have they requested? Are their instructions clear or do they need clarification?  How well informed are they about the subject? How much background information is required? Are they familiar with technical terminology?  What information do they need? Do I have all the information needed to address their concerns? If not, what do I need to find out and how will I do so?

11. Whitmore/Stevenson: Strategies for Engineering Communication 11 of 11 Ask Questions What Is My Purpose?  What do I hope to accomplish by writing this report? Can I write a clear, concise statement of purpose?  How do my goals relate to my reader’s expectations? Do they share my objectives? If not, what are the points of disagreement?  How can I meet both my goals and my reader’s expectations? What do I know that they do not and how can I make them aware of it?  What attitudes or values do they have that must be taken into account?