CREATIVITY

&
PROBLEM SOLVING

Vinay Sharma
 Creativity defined….

Creativity is a new way of seeing existing

ideas, products and/or processes.

The act of creativity is complete only when

the new idea, product or process meets
the implied and/or expressed need of Man.
"Once you start working on something,
don't be afraid of failure and don't abandon it.
People who work sincerely are the happiest.“

Chanakya
350 B.C. – 283 B.C.

More:
Four Methods
Ways to develop
Creativity
Points to remember…

1. We can use materials around us to help us

capture ideas as they occur.

2. Our capturing efforts will be more successful

if we place ourselves in settings that allow us
to pay attention with minimal distraction, to
our creative thoughts.
Points to remember…

1. It is natural to fear failure.

2. No one should be ashamed of such fear.

3. We should recognize the value of failure.

4. Failure accelerates the process of

creativity.

5. Business without challenge is temporary.

Points to remember…

1. The best way to enhance creativity is to

have a mix of diverse repertoires of
behaviour.

2. Many leaps in entrepreneurship and

inventions have taken place from
people who bring diverse backgrounds
to their fields.
Points to remember…

1. Creativity is an individual process.

2. New ideas occur in individual brains.

 Myths about creativity

* It’s rare

* Only artists have it

* Only high IQs have it

* You need to hire it

* It’s in your right brain

* It’s mysterious
 Identifying Creative Individuals

Traits : Self stimulating

Sensitive

Goal oriented

Flexible and open

Thinking is free from artificially imposed

constraints
 Identifying Creative Individuals

Behaviour : Courage to be different

Ignore rigid allocation of time

Persistence

Nonconforming

Autonomous
 How Creativity Can Be Killed

• Pretend to know more than anyone else

• Police the employees

• Check the progress of work daily

• Trained staff perform work not commensurate with

qualifications

• Erect barriers between decision makers and technical

staff
 How Creativity Can Be Killed

• Avoid speaking to employees on a personal level

except when announcing increments

• Say ‘yes’ to new ideas but do nothing about them

• Call many meetings

• Put every new idea through channels

• Worry about the budget

• Cultivate the ‘cannot- be-invented-here’ syndrome

 Major Ingredients Required to
Establish a Creative Climate

* Tolerate failure

* Create a relaxed, informal work environment

* Pay royalties to the contributor

* Encourage competition

* Support the fanatic

* Set one creative goal and a deadline to achieve it

How can things change What are the pros &
cons of each option?

What are the options? Logically, which course

of action should we
take?

What are the facts? How will people feel

about this option?
How committed
are we to it?
 Creative Problem Solving

• Brain - writing

• Brainstorming

• NGT
Brain - writing

Problem statement : _________________________

Idea 1 Idea 2 Idea 3

6
Brainstorming

1. Solo Brainstorming

2. Phillips “66”

3. Wildest idea

4. Reverse brainstorming
NGT

1. Silent Generation

2. Round Robin

3. Clarification Discussion

4. Voting and Ranking