Creative Thinking Tool & Techniques
All of the consultants involved with Cre8ng People, Places & Possibilties are highly trained in many creative thinking tools and problem solving processes. Whether as individual facilitators or teams of facilitators CP3 consultants lead idea generating and problem solving meetings/sessions with your people.
The majority of this page lists, describes many of the Creative Thinking Tools & Processes CP3 consultants are highly skilled in.
Facilitating Idea Generation
visit and read BROKEN CRAYONS at http://www.cre8ng.com/brokencrayons.shtml
Scan down to Chapter 7 - GENUINE THUNDERING AHAS!
The purpose of creative thinking is to think in new, unique, novel, unusual, divergent ways to generate possible to potential ideas that may lead to successful solutions or resolutions of problems and challenges.
Creative thinking tools have been developed for many years from deliberately to spontaneously or accidentally to help people think more creatively on demand, individually, pairs, triads, teams, groups, even when they are experiencing CREATIVE BLOCK or people within the group are deliberately resisting creative thinking.
Since 1978 when I attended my first Creative Problem Solving Institute
(sponsored by the Creative Education Foundation)
I have been collecting and creating creative thinking tools from simple jump starters to complete mind changes and mood changers.
They can be used individually, in pairs, triads, small to large teams to large groups and I believe even in large stadiums filled with 80 to 150,000 people or through electronic means with everyone on the face of the earth.
This page has been added to my growing website
to share my thoughts about tools and a growing list of tools I have discovered along with links to other great websites devoted completely to tools and techniques.
WEBSITE LINKS
For Links to many excellent websites devoted to Creative Thinking Tools scan to the bottom of this page.
General Tools & Techniques for Creative Problem Solving & Thinking
Most people see Tools & Techniques having these main purposes…
IDEA GENERATING when the entire process is not used
SOLUTION GATHERING when the entire process is not used
SOLUTION SELECTION when the entire process is not used
DIVERGENT TOOLS FOR ALL STEPS OF O-P Osborn-Parnes Creative Problem Solving Process
CONVERGENT TOOLS FOR ALL STEPS OF O-P CPS
Expanded Tools & Techniques for Creative Problem Solving & Thinking
I believe tools and techniques can help any aspect of human activities whether working alone or in meetings or teams.
BEFORE-what can be done before participants show up
WELCOMERS-what can be done from when they walk in the room until the session begins
INTRODUCTIONS - very passive to very active
REINTRODUCTIONS- what can be done on second, third, fourth, etc. days or meetings
ICE BREAKERS
BONDING
TEAM BUILDERS
WARM-UPS
MOOD CHANGERS
MINDSET BREAKERS
CHALLENGES
GAMES
PUZZLES
IDEA GENERATORS
divergent
intuitive
rational
systematic
individual
pairs
teams
entire groups
IDEA SELECTORS
convergent
intuitive
rational
systematic
individual
pairs
teams
entire groups
IDEA IMPROVERS
FEEDBACK
PROCESSING
CLOSERS
CELEBRATIONS
FOLLOW-UP
FOLLOW-ON
General Format of Tools & Techniques (mix these with a favoring
to what fits the group and individual members)
Over the past 30 years I have learned that tools can be of four types or combinations of these four.
MENTAL
PHYSICAL
SOCIAL
PSYCHOLOGICAL/EMOTIONAL
When using tools matching the style of the tool to the creative thinking style of the person or persons involved I have discovered is highly important.
Styles to Consider to help them match tool/technique to their groups and individuals for greater success
Style Models
Herrmann Brain Dominance Instrument
MBTI
KAI
DISC
Human Synergistics
Kolb
Dunn & Dunn
M.I.N.D. Design™ (my own questionnaire)
Square, squiggle, circle, triangle (ppt)
Human Variables
Also I have learned to believe that there is significance in matching as many variables that are comprised within each individual’s way of working and thinking.
Additional factors that affect/effect an individual or group Creative Style
(a tool for designing Tools & Techniques)
There are many factors that can impact our thinking at any given time. The more people involved the more the potential for impact of many variables upon the progress and results.
How are we unique, different, diverse, novel…. Begin with these few variables and create a complete alphabet of variables from a to z. You do not need to limit yourself to only one variable per letter.
a. age
b. background
c. culture
…
x. excitement level
y.
z. zealous…amount
Other variable to consider in choosing or designing Tools & Techniques.
Introversion/Extroversion
Energy Level
Hi
Medium
Low
Time of day/week
Early morning
mid morning
late morning
after lunch
mid-afternoon
late afternoon
second, third, fourth day
A GROWING LIST OF CREATIVE THINKING TOOLS
This is a beginning list.
Over the months to come I will expand on many to most to all of these explaining how they are used, could be used and provide examples.
First a beginning list.
3 truths and 1 lie or stretched truth
5-Sensing
6 Hats or variations of Types of Thinking
Alphabetizing (a series of tools of my own)
Alphabet-what have you brought with you today
Anecdotal Listing
Applied Imagination - Question Summary
Ask Questions
Assumption Smashing
Attribute Listing
Attribute Listing
Body metaphors/Human Sculpture
Brain Writing
Brainstorming
Brainstorming
Brainwriting
Cartoon Characters
Checklisting
Checklists
Crawford Slip Method
Criteria Grid
DO IT! method of Roger Olsen
Excursions-mental or virtual (Synectics type)
Excursions-physical
Forced Connection
Forced Relationships
Forced Relationships
Forced Relationships/Analogy
Group Excursions
Guided Imagery from controlled to very open
Hits and Misses
Idea Grid
IdeaToons (by Michael Michalko)
Imitation
Impossible Inventions
Improv games
In the realm of the senses
LARC Method
Lateral Thinking
Lotus Blossum Technique
Mental puzzles
Metaphorical thinking
Metaphors
Metaphors (my problem is like….)
Mindmapping
Morphological Analysis
Morphological Grid
NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) Techniques
Physical object metaphor (version of Forced Relationship/Connections)
Physical Puzzles
PO or other versions of temporary open acceptance of the impossible
Post-It™ Note Brainstorming
PPC
Problem Reversal
Questioning
Random Input
Reverse CPS
S.C.A.M.P.E.R. (created by Bob Eberle)
Scavenger Hunts (various types: physical, mental, virtual)
Scenarios
Simulations
Six Thinking Hats
SIT - simplified version of TRIZ
Storyboarding
Super Heroes
Synectics
The Discontinuity Principle
TRIZ – series of 40+ excellent tools created in Russia initially
Unconscious Problem Solving
Use of drawing (from Robert McKim's Experiences in Visual Thinking
Various introduction exercises/tools/games
Various ways of preparing yourself or a team to be creative (mental, physical, emotional, virtual….)
Visual (photograph, symbol, image) Relationships
Visual puzzles
Visualizations
What Else?
What If?
What Next?
What? So What? Now What? or Then What? (feedback)
What’s Good About It?
Writing Relay (Post-It™ Note race to front of room of ideas)
WWWWWH?
For links to many other great sites devoted to creative thinking tools go to my following Quantum Leaps page and LEAP from there around the globe!
To see a collection of 500+ of creative sparking and expanding exercises
go to my "Alan's Cre8ng Challenges" web pages at...
http://www.cre8ng.com/CC/index.shtml
Quantum Leaps - Links to More Creativity
A mixture of creativity websites.
NEW!!!
CREATIVE THINKING TOOLS....website list (pdf)
CREATIVE THINKING TOOLS WEBSITE LINKS...
Andy Beckett's excellent website. This specific section is devoted to hundred of creativity tools. A must see site.
http://www.mycoted.com/Category:Creativity_Techniques
MIND TOOLS
http://www.mindtools.com/pages/main/newMN_CT.htm
Excellent website filled with a vast array of materials, tools and systems. Excellent newsletter.
Website that lists and describes several of the TRIZ tools.
Excellent MIND MAP of creativity websites.
CREATIVITY & INNOVATION PORTAL
Hundreds and hundreds of creative thinking and innovation: tools, articles, books, and links.
THE CREATIVITY PACKET http://www.tcp.com.mt/
Creativity Packet is a product, a process, a service for the 21st century organization.
The Creativity Packet is a vehicle for the development of efficient uses of talents and interests of the people already employed by the organization.ENCHANTED MIND
Owner/Creator J. L. Read
.....lots and lots to read, from Techniques, Knowledge, Inspiration & Humor, puzzles, exercises and lots of articles.
Creative Thinking Tools website
Creative Thinking Tools
Come back often. The contents of this website will grow and grow for a long time.
Alan