Creative Thinking & Problem Solving

Quiz
Session 4
Application of Creative Thinking: culture specific in an organization

Prof. Runa Maitra

June-July 2018
 Application of Creative Thinking: culture
specific in an organization
• Building Analytical Framework
• The art of good analysis
• The Question Approach
• The Solution Approach
• Thinking Backwards
 Objectives
• Thinking Skills - types
• Definition of creative thinking
• Characteristics of a creative person
• Methods of creative thinking
• Creative thinking techniques
• Summary
 Thinking Skills

• Thinking can refer to the act of

producing thoughts or the process of
producing thoughts.
 TYPES OF THINKING

• Creative Thinking – fresh perspectives and ideas

• Lateral thinking – Systematically generate new
ideas
• Critical Thinking – Thorough or exhaustive
• Logical Thinking – Progress of a thought in a
linear way
• Parallel Thinking – Avoiding group conflict
• Structured Thinking – Another way of critical
thinking
• Positive Thinking - Attitude
• Strategic Thinking - Thinking required to set
directions
• Divergent Thinking - Unfiltered pool of action
• Convergent Thinking - Development of
workable proposals
• Associative Thinking - linking thoughts to one
thought to another
• Radiant Thinking - Thinking radiates from a
central idea
Will this
be on the
Test?

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 Creative Thinking
• Focus on exploring ideas
• Generates possibilities
• Looks for many right answers rather than just
one.
 True or False

CRITICAL CREATIVE
THINKING THINKING
is for science & is for the arts &
math humanities

11
 FALSE

CRITICAL & CREATIVE thinking

can and should be applied to
ANY subject, content or problem.

12
 True or False

CREATIVITY
is a right brain
activity

13
 FALSE

•CREATIVE THINKING requires divergent

thinking and then convergent thinking.

•CREATIVITY requires constant shifting

between right and left brain activity.
The Creativity Crisis, Bronson & Merryman

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True or False

CREATIVITY
can be taught.

15
 TRUE:CREATIVITY can be taught.

• Practicing promotes more creative thinking.

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METHODS OF CREATIVE THINKING
Break: 30 min
 Creative Thinking Techniques
• Brainstorming
• Mind mapping
• Morphological Matrix
• SCAMPER techniques
• Value grid
• RAFT strategy
Creative Thinking Techniques
I. Brainstorming
Example:

Brainstorming is like taking out everything from your wardrobe (the brain)
to have a showcase of clothes and accessories
(what you know about the topic).
 I. Brainstorming
Example: What comes to mind when you think of summer?

Topic: Summer

hot and wet beach summer courses summer holiday

homework
June to August sunny Ocean Park
relaxing
summer holiday watermelons Food Expo
cartoons
swimming ice-cream typhoons
air-conditioners
mosquitoes cold drinks

The brainstorming session will end up with …

MANY / FEW ideas.
 I. & II. From Brainstorming … to Mind Mapping
Example:

Topic: Summer

hot and wet beach summer summer holiday

courses homework
June to August sunny
Ocean Park relaxing
summer watermelons
holiday Food Expo cartoons
ice-cream
swimming typhoons air-conditioners
mosquitoes
cold drinks

Food
 Using Creative Thinking Tools & Strategies:
I. & II. From Brainstorming … to Mind Mapping
Example:

Topic: Summer

hot and wet beach summer summer holiday

courses homework
June to August sunny
Ocean Park relaxing
summer watermelons
holiday Food Expo cartoons
ice-cream
swimming typhoons air-conditioners
mosquitoes
cold drinks

Food Weather
 Using Creative Thinking Tools & Strategies:
I. & II. From Brainstorming … to Mind Mapping
Example:

Topic: Summer

hot and wet beach summer summer holiday

courses homework
June to August sunny
Ocean Park relaxing
summer watermelons
holiday Food Expo cartoons
ice-cream
swimming typhoons air-conditioners
mosquitoes
cold drinks

Food Weather Activities

 Using Creative Thinking Tools & Strategies:
II. Mind Mapping
Example: ice-cream

cold drinks Food watermelons

Summer in Hong
Kong beach
air-conditioners
cartoons
hot and wet
Weather Activities Food Expo
June to August
Ocean Park
mosquitoes
sunny typhoons relaxing
summer
courses
swimming summer
holiday
Summer holiday
homework
II. Mind Mapping
Example:

Mind mapping is like categorising many pieces of clothing (ideas / what

you know about the topic) into different drawers (sub-topics)
III. Morphological Matrix
 Combining ideas to explore possibilities and create unusual ideas
Exercise……
What sprouted at your table discussions?

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 Questions?
1. What is creativity?
2. List type of thinking? – any 5 out of 12
3. True of False
– Critical thinking is for science of math
– Creative thinking is for the arts & humanities
4. True of False
– Creativity is a right brain activity
5. True or false
– Creativity can be taught
6. What the characteristics of a creative person
7. Which are the creative thinking techniques
Go as far as you
can see. When
you get there, you
can see farther.
Thomas Carlyle

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