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Course Outline

Introduction to Creative Problem Solving

  • Understanding creativity and creative thinking
  • The role of creativity in problem solving, innovation, and decision-making
  • Barriers to creative thinking and how to overcome them
  • The creative problem-solving process: from identifying an issue to implementing a solution

Defining and Framing the Problem

  • Distinguishing symptoms from the actual problem
  • Formulating a clear and actionable problem statement
  • Identifying objectives, constraints, and desired outcomes
  • Reframing problems to discover new perspectives

Gathering and Analyzing Information

  • Identifying relevant information and evidence
  • Asking effective questions to understand the problem
  • Exploring facts, assumptions, and underlying causes
  • Organizing information to support creative analysis

Identifying Root Causes

  • Moving beyond symptoms to identify underlying causes
  • Applying the 5 Why Method
  • Building a Fishbone (Ishikawa) Diagram
  • Using cause-and-effect analysis to structure complex problems
  • Selecting the most relevant causes for further investigation

Generating Creative Solutions and Alternatives

  • Techniques for generating a wide range of ideas
  • Divergent and convergent thinking
  • Challenging assumptions and exploring alternative perspectives
  • 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 evaluating ideas
  • Comparing alternatives objectively
  • Assessing feasibility, impact, risks, and resources
  • Using Scatter Diagrams and other analytical tools where appropriate
  • Balancing creativity with practical business requirements

Structured Problem Solving with the 8D Method

  • Introduction to the 8D problem-solving approach
  • Defining the problem and building 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

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

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 approach 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 what can be improved
  • 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

Audience

  • Anyone who wants to deepen their knowledge of creative thinking mechanisms and increase effectiveness
 7 Hours

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