Skip to main content

An attempt to structure the Creative Process !


Creative Problem Solving (CPS) 

Having looked at how Ideas arise in our Minds (in my recent blog post - http://innovationflow.blogspot.in/2012/07/ideas-what-are-they-how-do-we-get-them.html ), you may be curious to know whether you can translate this knowledge into a structured framework that will help you to solve a variety of problems with creative solutions. Here it is pertinent to look at the pioneering work of Alex Osborne and the evolution of the Creative Problem Solving (CPS) Framework. 


Alex Osborn

"Creativity is so delicate a flower that praise tends to make it bloom, while discouragement often nips it in the bud. Any of us put out more and better ideas if our efforts are truly appreciated. [Alexander Osborn]."

Alex F. Osborn – May 24, 1888 – May 13, 1966



Alex Osborn founded the Creative Education Foundation (CEF) in February 1954. With Robert Berner, he implemented the first Creative Problem Solving Institute (CPSI) in June 1955. His definitive book Applied Imagination had been published in 1953 and was the basis for the first CPSI. He founded the advertising firm of Batten, Barton, Dirstine and Osborn which grew to over 1,000 employees. His particular passion, however, was to somehow influence schools and colleges to teach creative thinking.

Please refer to 
http://www.cpsb.com/research/articles/creative-problem-solving/Celebrating-50-Years-of-Creative-Problem-Solving.html for an excellent discussion of the evolution of CPS framework - I have attempted to summarize a few important points here.

1. Osborne's 7 Stages Model

Osborne describes seven stages and the basic mechanism / process is similar to that explained by Young.


2. Osborne - Parne's 5 Stages Model

Parnes continued to refine the Model after Osborn and created a 5- stage model.
F-F = Fact Finding
P-F = Problem Finding
I-F - Idea Finding
S-F = Solution Finding
A-F = Acceptance Finding

3. Isaksen and Treffinger Model - It is important to note that each stage involves a divergent thinking and a convergent thinking effort. The Model depicted below describes the Divergent and Convergent thinking phase in each stage
and finally the Simplified Model is here - it talks about three activities - Understanding the Challenge, Generating Ideas and Preparing for Action.



Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Why & How we should study AI & Machine Learning (6 Easy Steps)

AI & ML are fundamental new technologies that can create immense value to humankind. It is very important for us to learn AI & ML and apply this knowledge in our work.  If you are somebody like me without prior exposure to computers, you may wonder where to begin the journey – I did some homework and found an easy step-by-step using online resources . It takes only 6 easy steps to gain mastery in AI & ML. I will start with sharing with you the talk that Risto Siilasmaa (Chairman, Nokia) gave in Nov, 2017 – “Why you should study AI and Machine Learning and how I did it”. Step # 1 - Risto Siilasmaa started his journey into AI & ML by asking, “Where could I find good material explaining how machine learning works in terms that would speak to an engineer who loves to understand how things work?” Step # 2 - “ Why not study machine learning myself and then explain what I learned to others who are struggling with the same questions. Perhaps I could mo...
59 comments
Read more

Making Pirate Ships out of MRI - Design Thinking at its best

"..most effective insights we got came from kneeling down and  looking at rooms from the height of a child"  - Doug Dietz   http://www.healthymagination.com/stories/pediatric-adventures/ This is the story of how Doug Dietz transformed a MRI machine into a Pirate Ship. Doug is an expert in designing advanced medical equipments like the MRI. When he was at a hospital, he was pained to observe how a small child was so terrified to enter the machine for a scan. Thats when he felt the needs for understanding his customers - the kids in thsi case - and design his product in such a way that make his customers feel comfortable. He transformed teh huge MRI equipment into a pirate ship so that the kids are mesmerized by the experience of entering a pirate ship when they are getting scanned. I learnt about this from a TED Talk that Daid Kelley (of IDEO) gave on  How to build your creative confidence" -  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16p9YRF0l-...
9 comments
Read more

Archimedes' Bathtub, Newton's Apple and Einstein's Chair

When do Great Ideas come ? .... after Incubation  Archimedes had his bath, Galileo had his leaning tower,  Newton had his apple, and Einstein had his chair. All these Inventors were (a) intensely focused on solving specific physics problems (b) they had each looked at a variety of promising ideas, but reached an impasse after some stage (c) they smartly decided to move away from the scene - took a break (d) after some time, a fresh idea popped into their Mind (e) they recognized the potential of the idea and held on to it (f) they diligently worked on it  and finally developed a real breakthrough concept. Many Inventors have shared the vale of incubating their idea and described specific instances where the incubation phase is followed by a sudden enlightenment. We have heard the stories of Archimedes, Galileo and Newton too often - so let us focus on Einstein's story. You might have heard of Einstein's Violin but not about his chair - the chair that gave...
4 comments
Read more