CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION – 660.430.

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COURSE SYLLABUS
W.P. Carey Program in Entrepreneurship & Management
Center for Leadership Education
Whiting School of Engineering
Spring 2009 Semester

Class Information
Location: Hodson 210
Times: Tuesdays 1:30 - 4:15 PM
Instructor: Daniel Raviv, Ph.D.
Office location: 104 Whitehead Hall
Mailing address: Center for Leadership Education
3400 North Charles Street
Baltimore MD 21218

Office phone: (410) 516-7189

E-mail: draviv1@jhu.edu
Office hours: Tuesdays (after class)

CA: Shane Betman - e-mail: sbetman@jhu.edu

Office hours: Thursdays 1-2pm

Course Materials

o Instructor’s notes
o Notes (available @ Printing Services, G-88 Wyman)
o Handouts

Reference Books (most are reserved in the library)

o H. S. Fogler and S.E. LeBlanc, Strategies for Creative Problem Solving,

Prentice Hall, 1995.
o E. Sickafus, Unified Structured Inventive Thinking, Ntelleck, 1997.
o E. Lumsdaine and M. Lumsdaine, Creative Problem Solving, McGraw Hill,
1995.
o Kaplan, Introduction to TRIZ, Ideation International, Inc., 1995.
o G. Altschuller, Creativity as an Exact Science, 1983.
o ___, The Art of Inventing (And Suddenly The Inventor Appeared).
o ___, 40 Principles, Keys to Technical Innovation, Technical Innovation
Center, 1997.
o E. de Bono, The Use of Lateral Thinking, Penguin Books, 1990.
o ___, de Bono's Thinking Course, Facts on File, 1981.
o ___, Serious Creativity, Harper Collins, 1992.
o ___, Six Thinking Hats, Little, Brown & Co., 1985.

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 o ___, CoRT Thinking, Advanced Practical Thinking Training, Inc., 1995.
o Tony Buzon, Use Both Sides of Your Brain, Dutton, 1983.
o Scott G. Isaksen, Brian Dorval, and Donald Treffinger, Creative Approaches
to Problem Solving, Kendall Hunt, 1994.
o F. Osborn, Applied Imagination: Principles and Procedures of Creative
Problem Solving, Charles Scribner's Sons, 1979.
o D. Tanner, Total Creativity in Business and Industry, Advanced Practical 
Thinking Training, 1997.
o D. Pressman, Patent It Yourself, NOLO Press, 2006.
o T. Kelley. The Art of Innovation. Doubleday, 2001.
o T. Kelley. The Ten Faces of Innovation. Doubleday, 2005.
o J. Goldenberg and D. Mazursky, Creativity in product innovation. Cambridge
University Press, 2002.

Course Description and Outcomes

Students will learn techniques for improving the flexibility and originality of their
thinking and will explore approaches used by managers and organizations to create and sustain
high levels of innovation.  Topics include: personal thinking preferences, everyday creativity and
eliminating mental blocks, creative thinking techniques, idea selection approaches, teaming
techniques for creativity, conditions that promote creativity, design for interaction, disruptive
technologies, and intellectual property.  The course uses fun and hands-on activities to stimulate
innovation.

At the end of this course, students will:

o Understand building blocks of innovation

o Be familiar with processes and methods of creative problem solving: observation,
definition, representation, ideation, evaluation and decision making

o Enhance their creative and innovative thinking skills

o Be familiar with creative and innovative thinking styles

o Practice and value teaming, communication, and diversity

o Understand risk taking, paradigm shift, and paradigm paralysis

Class Attendance

o Attendance will be taken at the beginning of each class

o Students must show up at their group(s) presentation(s)
o Every missed class (or part of) will result in 4% reduction of the final grade
(not to exceed 20%)

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o Note: Regardless of attendance, projects and homework assignments must be
turned in no later than the due date

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Course Assignments and Due Dates

The class will be divided into 10 small groups and 5 large groups (tentative).
Assignments include:

o Brain teasers (aka Puzzle Busters, to be solved individually)

o Cartoon captions (small teams)
o TRIZ, a systematic ideation method, reading (individual)
o Book readings and discussions (small teams)
o Small teams presentations on innovation: (1) innovative individual, (2) innovative
company, (3) innovative movie/game, (4) sustainable innovation, (5) innovation in
business, (6) innovation in art, (7) innovation in architecture, (8) innovative nation, (9)
innovation in science, and (10) innovation in engineering.
o Large groups hands-on projects
o Eight-dimensional (8D) ideation method examples
o Large teams videos

In addition, students are required to keep a log book.

Please note that the above list may vary.

The following table summarizes the assignments and their relevant due dates:

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Meeting Log Puzzle Cartoon TRIZ Books Presentations Projects 8D Video
book Busters Captions
Individual Individual: Individual Individual Small Small Large Individual Large
Choose 3 Groups “S” Groups “S” Groups “L” Groups
questions out of 6 “L”
from each “Puzzle
Buster”
Handwritten Handwritten or Handwritten or MsWord Ppt Ppt Write-ups ppt Link to
or typed typed typed and ppt YouTube
paper paper paper electronically electronically electronically electronically electronically electronically

1/27/2009 ●
In class
Tuesday
2/3 ● ● Choose S team ● Choose S ● Choose S team ● Choose L ● Choose L
In class & leader team & leader & leader team & leader team &
Tuesday & ● Inform leader
A book instructor ● Inform
instructor
2/10 ● ● ● Submit
In class 1,2,3,4,5,6 Cartoon Caption
Tuesday #1 to S1 leader.
Checked by S1
2/17 ● ● ● #1 ● Submit a ● S8 Presents ● Define ● Decide on
In class 7,8,9,10,11,12 Discussed by S1 2-page Innovative Problem theme/
Tuesday ● Submit summary - individual content for
Cartoon Caption video
#2 to S2 Leader
Checked by S2
2/24 ● ● ● #2 ●S6 presents ● S9 Presents ● Submit ● Prepare
In class 13,14,15,16,17, 18 Discussed by S2 ●S7 presents Innovative Write-up video clips
Tuesday ● Submit company
Cartoon Caption
#3 to S3 Leader
Checked by S3
3/3 ● ● ● #3 ● ● S10 Presents ● Finalize
In class 19,20,21,22,23,24 Discussed by S3 S8 presents Innovative and submit
Tuesday ● Submit ● movie/game
Cartoon Caption S9 presents
#4 to S4 Leader
Checked by S4
3/10 ● ● ● #4 ●S10 ● S1 Presents ● Design ● Present
In class 25,26,27,28,29,30 Discussed by S4 presents Sustainable video in class
Tuesday ● Submit ●S1 presents Innovation
Cartoon Caption
#5 to S5 Leader
Checked by S5
3/17 SPRING
BREAK
Tuesday
3/24 ● ● ● #5 ●S2 presents ● S2 Presents ● ● Submit
In class 31,32,33,34,35,36 Discussed by S5 ●S3 presents Innovation in Prepare/Build Uniqueness
Tuesday ● Submit Business Dimensionality
Cartoon Caption
#6 to S6 Leader
Checked by S6
3/31 ● ● ● #6 ●S4 presents ● S3 Presents ● Finalize & ● Submit
In class 37,38,39,40,41,42 Discussed by S6 ●S5 presents Innovation in Art Submit final Directionality
Tuesday ● Submit report Consolidation
Cartoon Caption
#7 to S7 Leader
Checked by S7
4/7 ● ● ● #7 ● S4 Presents ● Present ● Submit
In class 43,44,45,46,47,48 Discussed by S7 Innovation in Segmentation
Tuesday ● Submit Architecture Modification
Cartoon Caption ● S5 Presents
#8 to S8 Innovative Nation
Checked by S8
4/14 ● ● ● #8 ● S6 Presents ● Present ● Submit
In class 49,50,51,52,53,54 Discussed by S8 Innovation in Similarity
Tuesday ● Submit Science Experimentation
Cartoon Caption ● S7 Presents
#9 to S9 Innovation in
Checked by S9 Engineering
4/21 ● ● ● #9 ● Present ● Submit “all
In class 55,56,57, 58,59,60 Discussed by S9 8 strategies”
Tuesday ● Submit problems
Cartoon Caption
#10 to S10
Checked by S10
4/28 ● Submit ● #10
Discussed by S10
Tuesday

Please note: This is a tentative schedule - for assignments and presentations only

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Grading

Participation 20%
Puzzle Busters 15%
Cartoon captions 3%
TRIZ write-up 5%
Book readings and discussions/presentations 8%
Small teams presentations on innovation: 8%
Large groups hands-on projects 12%
Eight-dimensional (8D) ideation method examples 10%
Large teams videos 5%
Peer evaluation 10%
Log book 4%

Note: No final exam. Small modification to the above scale may apply.
Final grades will be based on the following scale:

A 95-100
A- 90-94
B+ 85-89
B 80-84
B- 75-79
C+ 70-74
C 65-69
C- 60-64
D+ 55-59
D 50-54
F below 50

Course Ethics…from the JHU Honors Code

”The strength of the University depends on academic and personal integrity. In this course,
you must be honest and truthful. Ethical violations include cheating on exams, plagiarism, reuse of
assignments, improper use of the Internet and electronic devices, unauthorized collaboration,
alteration of graded assignments, forgery and falsification, lying, facilitating academic dishonesty,
and unfair competition. Report any violations you witness to the instructor. You may consult the
associate dean of students and/or the chairman of the Ethics Board beforehand. See the guide on
Academic Ethics for Under-graduates and the Ethics Board web site (http://ethics.jhu.edu) for more
information.”

Students with Disabilities

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 If you have a documented disability, please contact the instructor as soon as possible to
discuss academic accommodations.

Religious/Cultural Observations

Observances of religious/cultural beliefs will be fully honored. Please inform the instructor of
potential conflicts at the beginning of the semester.

Conflicts with Course Requirements or Exercises

Continued enrollment in this course indicates the student’s willingness to engage in the
format of the course, as best as can be understood in advance. Should you realize that any
feature of the course (that could not be determined in advance) places you at a distinct
disadvantage due to personal values or background, please seek out the instructor immediately to
discuss alternative arrangements.

Detailed Topics

I. Introduction
Making a case for creativity
Creative thinking as a skill
II. Valuing diversity in thinking
Thinking preferences
Creativity styles
III. Setting the stage for success
Basic philosophy
Having a vision
Setting the right attitude
Recognizing and avoiding mental blocks
Avoiding mindsets
Risk taking
Paradigm shift and paradigm paralysis
Individual and team work
IV. Creativity in problem solving
A. Problem Definition
Understanding
Representing
B. Pattern Breaking
Thinking differently
Changing your point of view
Watching for paradigm shift
Challenging conventional wisdom
Lateral thinking, provocation (escape, random word)
Mind stimulation: games, brain-twisters and puzzles
C. General Strategies

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 Idea-collection processes
Brainstorming/Brain-writing
The SCAMPER methods
Metaphoric thinking
Outrageous thinking
Mapping thoughts
Other (new approaches)
D. Using Math and Science
Systematic logical thinking
Using math concepts
E. Eight-Dimensional (8D) Approach to Ideation
1. Uniqueness
2. Dimensionality
3. Directionality
4. Consolidation
5. Segmentation
6. Modification
7. Similarity
8. Experimentation
F. Systematic Inventive Thinking
Systematic inventive thinking: The TRIZ methodology
Levels of inventions
Evolution of technical systems
Ideality and the ideal final result (IFR)
Stating contradictions and the contradiction table
39 standards features and 40 inventive principles
Separation principles
Using physical, geometrical, and chemical effects, fields
V. Decision and Evaluation
Focused thinking framework
Six thinking hats
PMI
Ethical considerations
VI. Design for Interaction
Introduction to design for interaction
VII. Intellectual Property
Introduction to intellectual property: Patents, Copyrights , Trademarks ,
Trade Secret, Unfair Competition.

Note: Some of the topics may not be covered due to time constraints

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Book reading and discussion:

Books must be read by the assigned groups/individuals. (Optional for others)

All presentations must be presented as ppt.

Submit your ppt electronically (before the presentation)

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Blink, by Malcom Gladwell

Applied Imagination, by Alex Osborn

The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, by Stephen R. Covey

Ten Faces of Innovation, by Tom Kelley

The art of Innovation, by Tom Kelley and the Deep Dive story

Five Dysfunctions of a Team, by Patrick M. Lencioni

The Five Temptations of a CEO: A Leadership Fable, by Patrick M. Lencioni

Multiple Intelligences: The Theory in Practice, by Howard E. Gardner

How to think like Leonardo De Vinci, by Michael Gelb.

Total Creativity, by David Tanner

Freakonomics, by Levitt, et al.

Other books: Creativity in Product Innovation, The 3M way to Innovation, Creative

Advertising, Essence of Creativity, Innovation to the Core, Payback, How Would You move
Mount Fuji, Leading for Innovation, Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain, Coloring Outside
the Lines, Serendipity, Breakthrough Creativity.

Documents: The quest for Innovation (AMA), Innovation 2008 (BCG).