Innovation Management

Creativity at the Individual and Team Levels

=> Types of thinking

Prepared by Dr Gerrit de Waal 1

 Two modes of thinking
A need or an
opportunity defined
Trigger point

divergent thinking convergent thinking

Idea generation Idea evaluation

Creative thinking Critical thinking
Open mode Closed mode
2
Critical thinking
• The ability to discern the best possible choice based on
the information available
• In essence it allows a situation, concept or object to be
perceived, judged and evaluated in order to discover
the best possible outcome

• Critical thinking is about making sense of the world;

assimilating the overload of information; moving
forward in the most sensible way

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The difference between creative
thinking and critical thinking

• Creative thinking involves creating something new or original. It involves the

skills of flexibility, originality, fluency, elaboration, brainstorming, modification,
imagery, associative thinking, attribute listing, metaphorical thinking, and forced
relationships. The aim of creative thinking is to stimulate curiosity and promote
divergence.

• Critical thinking involves logical thinking and reasoning, including skills such as
comparison, classification, sequencing, cause/effect, patterning, webbing,
analogies, deductive and inductive reasoning, forecasting, planning,
hypothesizing, and critiquing.

https://courseware.e-education.psu.edu/courses/bootcamp/lo09/06.html
4
Linear / vertical thinking

• A process of thought following known cycles or step-by-

step progression where a response to a step must be
elicited before another step is taken.
• Great for processes.

5
Lateral Thinking
The term “lateral thinking” originated in 1970 – from Edward de Bono – to overcome
the limitations of “traditional” vertical thinking, which is called this due to its “one step
at a time in logical sequence” focus. Hence it is “continuous” whereas lateral
thinking deliberately seeks a “discontinuity”

Thinking outside of our usual frame of reference

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Lateral Thinking Examples

Exit
B
A
Start

7
Open Water 2: Adrift
What would you do?

Lateral think as if your

life depends on it!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SItuuvHmZdk&feature=emb_logo

8
Programmed Thinking
Programmed thinking the process of using structured methodologies and/or
logical algorithmic processes to solve problems, make decisions and/or create
new product offerings. Examples of this approach are Morphological Analysis,
the La Salle Innovation Matrix and Root-cause analysis.