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Course Outline

Introduction to Creative Problem Solving

  • Comprehending creativity and creative thinking
  • The impact of creativity on 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 symptoms and the actual problem
  • Creating a clear and actionable problem statement
  • Identifying goals, constraints, and desired outcomes
  • Reframing problems to uncover new perspectives

Gathering and Analyzing Information

  • Identifying relevant data and evidence
  • Posing effective questions to deepen problem understanding
  • Exploring facts, assumptions, and underlying causes
  • Structuring information to support creative analysis

Identifying Root Causes

  • Going beyond symptoms to pinpoint underlying causes
  • Applying the 5 Why Method
  • Constructing a Fishbone (Ishikawa) Diagram
  • Utilizing cause-and-effect analysis to structure complex problems
  • Selecting the most relevant causes for deeper investigation

Generating Creative Solutions and Alternatives

  • Techniques for generating a broad range of ideas
  • Divergent and convergent thinking approaches
  • Challenging assumptions and exploring alternative viewpoints
  • Applying De Bono’s Six Thinking Hats
  • Developing associations and unconventional solutions
  • Practical exercises based on real business or organizational challenges

Evaluating and Selecting Solutions

  • Establishing criteria for assessing ideas
  • Objectively comparing alternatives
  • Evaluating feasibility, impact, risks, and resource requirements
  • Utilizing Scatter Diagrams and other analytical tools where appropriate
  • Balancing creativity with practical business needs

Structured Problem Solving with the 8D Method

  • Introduction to the 8D problem-solving approach
  • Defining the problem and assembling an effective problem-solving team
  • Identifying and implementing corrective actions
  • Verifying results and preventing recurrence
  • Applying the method to a practical case study

From Idea to Action

  • Transforming selected solutions into actionable plans
  • Defining responsibilities, resources, milestones, and deadlines
  • Identifying potential implementation risks
  • Monitoring progress and measuring outcomes

Introduction to Design Thinking

  • Understanding the principles of Design Thinking
  • Empathizing 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
  • Working individually and/or in teams on trainer- or customer-provided problems
  • Presenting proposed solutions and receiving feedback

Retrospective and Continuous Improvement

  • Reviewing the problem-solving process and results
  • Identifying what worked, what did not, and areas for improvement
  • Creating an improvement plan
  • Using the START / STOP / CONTINUE retrospective framework
  • Identifying opportunities to apply creative thinking in everyday work

Workshop Summary

  • Key principles and techniques recap
  • Personal action points
  • Transfer of learning to current tasks and projects
  • Final discussion and Q&A

Requirements

None

Target Audience

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

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Price per participant

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