Skyler Ray

OGL 343

Professor Dr. Wade Lueck, PhD

11/12/2021

Reading Essay Topic #4

Prompt 1:

I was looking forward to taking test like these because it allows myself to identify my

strength and weaknesses. For this test, it allowed me to understand my creativity and if its one of

my strengths. After taking the How Creative Are You test, I scored a 59. I believe I was given

this score because I show strong creativity once it come to problem solving and implementing

new ideas. The range for showing strengths of creativity was 59-80. I wasn’t surprised that I got

this score because I could better collaborate with others once new ideas arise. There are times

that work can be hectic and those ideas get lost from being distracted on other tasks. Some

specific ideas I had in the workspace was automating our RMA processes. RMAs are defective

products out in the field that need to be return for repair. Also, apart of that RMAs is making

sure the customer gets a replacement in a timely manner. Coming up with automation ideas and

implanting those ideas has allowed us to have a quick turn around once a device is identified as

an RMA.

Based on my explorations and experience with enhancing my creativity, I find that being

accountable, demonstrating nominal group technique, and having feedback allow me to use my

creative strengths. To begin with, having accountability allows the team members that I work

with to be more productive. When new ideas are implemented, it is not fair to take all the credit
and disregard the team member who developed the idea. When that happens, most people will

lose motivation and will not contribute as much as they should. Also, it doesn’t allow their skills

and creativity to be used in future projects or contingencies that arise. Secondly, using the

nominal group technique is a great way for teams to brainstorm as a group. While using this

technique, having a facilitator will be helpful. They will be responsible for introducing problems.

The way I have done it in the past, we are normally given 5-10 minutes to write down some ideas

to solve the problem. Time would normally vary based of the size of the problem. After

completed, we go around and have those ideas share and collaborate with one another.

Thompson had said, “It is worth noting that the NGT was compared with an interactive

brainstorming process and overwhelmingly outperformed the standard brainstorming group”

(Thompson, pg.242). Lately, giving feedback is heavily encouraged. Having proactive team

members can reveal creative strengths. Thompson stated, “A study of 456 employees from four

organizations revealed that people who sought feedback—either directly or by monitoring the

environment—were considered to be more creative” (Thompson, pg.239). Team members who

give frequent feedback, they are the ones who help others that may lack more creativity

strengths.

For the tools listed in the last paragraph, I have used feedback to help me solve many

problems while working in teams. There was a recent problem with keeping spreadsheets up to

date. I have in the past used a platform to help create reports based off spread sheets to make it

easier to manage. I provided my feedback to the team based of my previous experience with

spreadsheets. After I gave my feedback, my team members fully supported as they wanted to be

able to better manage the data. I sat down with the entire team and showed them how these

reports can be created based of spreadsheets they were responsible for. When I was finished, I
had each team member try to create their own while supervising them. Each person successfully

created their own reports that lead to an increase of productivity. Less time was spent trying to

search for data in spreadsheets and more time completing tasks. By showing creativity to solve a

problem, it also demonstrated critical thinking skills. This was recognized the upper management

and I was thanked for all my efforts and hard work. By someone giving feedback shows others

that they are thinking outside the box or is using past experiences that worked to potential solve

another similar problem like for my situation.

 Work Cited:

Thompson, Leigh L. Making the Team. Available from: VitalSource Bookshelf, (6th Edition).

Pearson Education. (US), 2017.