Chapter 2

Creative Problem
Solving
 OSBORNS SEVEN-STAGE CPS
PROCESS (1953)
1. Orientation: Pointing up the problem

2. Preparation: Gathering pertinent data

3. Analysis: Breaking down the relevant material

4. Hypothesis: Piling up alternatives by way of ideas

5. Incubation: Letting up to invite illumination

6. Synthesis: Putting the pieces together

7. Verification: Judging the resultant ideas

 OSBORNS THREE-STAGE CPS
PROCESS (1963)

1. Fact-Finding: Problem definition (picking out and

pointing up the problem) and Preparation
(gathering and analyzing the pertinent data)

2. Idea-Finding: Idea production (thinking up

tentative ideas) and Idea development (selecting,
reprocessing, modifying, and combining)

3. Solution-Finding: Evaluation (verifying tentative

solutions) and Adoption (deciding on and
implementing the final solution)
 PARNES FIVE-STAGE CPS
PROCESS (1967)

1. Fact-Finding: Discovering relevant facts

2. Problem-Finding: Determining the real problem

3. Idea-Finding: Generating options

4. Solution-Finding: Evaluating ideas with criteria

5. Acceptance-Finding: Preparing to put an idea

into effect
 CPS FRAMEWORK
Generating
Ideas

Generating
Ideas

Understanding the
Challenge
Preparing for Action

Creative
Problem
Constructing
Opportunities

Exploring Data
Solving Building
Acceptance
Developing
Solutions
Framing
Problems
 Understanding the
Challenge Component

Constructing
Opportunities

Exploring Data

Framing
Problems
Generating Ideas Component

Generating
Ideas
 Preparing for Action
Component

Building
Acceptance

Developing
Solutions
 Key to CPS:
Divergence vs. Convergence
Divergent Thinking Convergent Thinking
(Generating, Creative) (Focusing, Critical)

Defer Judgment Use Affirmative

Strive for Judgment
Quantity Be Deliberate
Free Wheel Consider
Piggyback Novelty
Stay on Course

www.synapsedecisions.com
GUIDELINES FOR DIVERGENT
THINKING

DEFER JUDGMENT STRIVE FOR QUANTITY

FREEWHEEL SEEK COMBINATIONS

 GUIDELINES FOR
CONVERGENT THINKING

USE AFFIRMATIVE JUDGMENT BE DELIBERATE

CONSIDER NOVELTY STAY ON COURSE