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Creative problem solving can be broken down into a six-step process which you can use to identify problems and arrive at higher quality creative solutions than you would reach through more conventional problem-solving methods.
Most approaches to creative problem-solving involve two kinds of thinking – creative thinking and critical thinking. You need a combination of the two in order to come up with creative solutions.
Creative Thinking
This kind of thinking involves making connections which enable you to:
- think up lots of possibilities
- think and experience in various ways, from differing perspectives
- think of new and unusual options
- generate and select alternatives
Critical Thinking
By contrast, critical thinking involves analyzing and developing possibilities so that you can:
- compare and contrast a range of ideas
- improve and refine promising options
- screen, select, and support ideas
- make effective decisions and judgments
- create a platform for effective action
The Problem-Solving Process [1]
The following creative problem solving diagram is designed to guide you through the process of understanding the problem, generating ideas, and planning for action. The problem-solving process is broken down into six stages, each of which has a creative and a critical ‘phase’.
Start with step 1 in the creative phase, then move across to step 2 in the critical phase. Repeat this process for each of the six stages by following the numbered steps in the following diagram.
