Creativity Tools

Develop Creative Solutions to Business Problems

© iStockphoto

This section of Mind Tools teaches more than 20 techniques that you can use to develop creative and imaginative solutions to business problems.

Start by taking our 3-minute self-test, which helps you assess and develop your business creativity skills.

Next, take a look at our brainstorming section, which explains a range of approaches that suit different situations. Then, explore our other creativity tools, to find some great ways of generating new ideas.

The Browse by Category box helps you target specific creativity skills, while you can look through the list below to find interesting topics. Enjoy using these techniques!

Browse by Category

Brainstorming Other Idea-Generation Tools

Creativity Processes

 Free Tools   Mind Tools Club

Creativity Skills – Start Here!

How Creative Are You?

Brainstorming

Brainstorming
Generating Many Radical, Creative Ideas

Brainwriting
Getting More From Your Idea Sessions

Reverse Brainstorming
A Different Approach to Brainstorming

Starbursting
Understanding New Ideas by Brainstorming Questions

The Charette Procedure
Brainstorming Multiple Ideas With Multiple Stakeholders

Crawford’s Slip Writing Method
Gathering Ideas From Many Contributors

Round Robin Brainstorming
Allowing Everyone to Contribute

Rolestorming
Improving Group Brainstorming

Other Idea-Generation Tools

Random Input
Making Creative Leaps

Metaphorical Thinking
Using Comparisons to Express Ideas and Solve Problems

Provocation
Carrying Out Thought Experiments

Reversal
Improving Products and Services

SCAMPER
Generating New Products and Services

Attribute Listing
Creating New Products and Services

The Reframing Matrix
Generating Different Perspectives

Creativity Processes

DO IT
A Simple Process for Creativity

TRIZ
A Powerful Methodology for Creative Problem-Solving

Practical Innovation
Managing Ideas Effectively

Kano Model Analysis
Developing Products That Delight

Generating New Ideas
Think Differently and Spark Creativity

Turn Your Idea into Reality
Getting Good Ideas Off the Drawing Board

The Disney Creative Strategy
Fusing Imagination and Planning

Synectics
A Backstop Creativity Process

Encouraging Team Creativity
Helping Your People Think Creatively

Doblin's 10 Types of Innovation®
Expanding Organizational Innovation

Join the Mind Tools Club

Get training, help and ideas to boost your career: the Mind Tools Club gives you much, much more than you get here on the basic Mind Tools site.

And if you join before midnight on May 9th, we'll also give you a FREE copy of our Future-Proof Your Career workbook.

Find out what you get