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What Is Creative Problem-Solving & Why Is It Important?

• 01 Feb 2022

One of the biggest hindrances to innovation is complacency—it can be more comfortable to do what you know than venture into the unknown. Business leaders can overcome this barrier by mobilizing creative team members and providing space to innovate.

There are several tools you can use to encourage creativity in the workplace. Creative problem-solving is one of them, which facilitates the development of innovative solutions to difficult problems.

Here’s an overview of creative problem-solving and why it’s important in business.

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What Is Creative Problem-Solving?

Research is necessary when solving a problem. But there are situations where a problem’s specific cause is difficult to pinpoint. This can occur when there’s not enough time to narrow down the problem’s source or there are differing opinions about its root cause.

In such cases, you can use creative problem-solving , which allows you to explore potential solutions regardless of whether a problem has been defined.

Creative problem-solving is less structured than other innovation processes and encourages exploring open-ended solutions. It also focuses on developing new perspectives and fostering creativity in the workplace . Its benefits include:

• Finding creative solutions to complex problems : User research can insufficiently illustrate a situation’s complexity. While other innovation processes rely on this information, creative problem-solving can yield solutions without it.
• Adapting to change : Business is constantly changing, and business leaders need to adapt. Creative problem-solving helps overcome unforeseen challenges and find solutions to unconventional problems.
• Fueling innovation and growth : In addition to solutions, creative problem-solving can spark innovative ideas that drive company growth. These ideas can lead to new product lines, services, or a modified operations structure that improves efficiency.

Creative problem-solving is traditionally based on the following key principles :

1. Balance Divergent and Convergent Thinking

Creative problem-solving uses two primary tools to find solutions: divergence and convergence. Divergence generates ideas in response to a problem, while convergence narrows them down to a shortlist. It balances these two practices and turns ideas into concrete solutions.

2. Reframe Problems as Questions

By framing problems as questions, you shift from focusing on obstacles to solutions. This provides the freedom to brainstorm potential ideas.

3. Defer Judgment of Ideas

When brainstorming, it can be natural to reject or accept ideas right away. Yet, immediate judgments interfere with the idea generation process. Even ideas that seem implausible can turn into outstanding innovations upon further exploration and development.

4. Focus on "Yes, And" Instead of "No, But"

Using negative words like "no" discourages creative thinking. Instead, use positive language to build and maintain an environment that fosters the development of creative and innovative ideas.

Creative Problem-Solving and Design Thinking

Whereas creative problem-solving facilitates developing innovative ideas through a less structured workflow, design thinking takes a far more organized approach.

Design thinking is a human-centered, solutions-based process that fosters the ideation and development of solutions. In the online course Design Thinking and Innovation , Harvard Business School Dean Srikant Datar leverages a four-phase framework to explain design thinking.

The four stages are:

• Clarify: The clarification stage allows you to empathize with the user and identify problems. Observations and insights are informed by thorough research. Findings are then reframed as problem statements or questions.
• Ideate: Ideation is the process of coming up with innovative ideas. The divergence of ideas involved with creative problem-solving is a major focus.
• Develop: In the development stage, ideas evolve into experiments and tests. Ideas converge and are explored through prototyping and open critique.
• Implement: Implementation involves continuing to test and experiment to refine the solution and encourage its adoption.

Creative problem-solving primarily operates in the ideate phase of design thinking but can be applied to others. This is because design thinking is an iterative process that moves between the stages as ideas are generated and pursued. This is normal and encouraged, as innovation requires exploring multiple ideas.

Creative Problem-Solving Tools

While there are many useful tools in the creative problem-solving process, here are three you should know:

Creating a Problem Story

One way to innovate is by creating a story about a problem to understand how it affects users and what solutions best fit their needs. Here are the steps you need to take to use this tool properly.

1. Identify a UDP

Create a problem story to identify the undesired phenomena (UDP). For example, consider a company that produces printers that overheat. In this case, the UDP is "our printers overheat."

2. Move Forward in Time

To move forward in time, ask: “Why is this a problem?” For example, minor damage could be one result of the machines overheating. In more extreme cases, printers may catch fire. Don't be afraid to create multiple problem stories if you think of more than one UDP.

3. Move Backward in Time

To move backward in time, ask: “What caused this UDP?” If you can't identify the root problem, think about what typically causes the UDP to occur. For the overheating printers, overuse could be a cause.

Following the three-step framework above helps illustrate a clear problem story:

• The printer is overused.
• The printer overheats.
• The printer breaks down.

You can extend the problem story in either direction if you think of additional cause-and-effect relationships.

4. Break the Chains

By this point, you’ll have multiple UDP storylines. Take two that are similar and focus on breaking the chains connecting them. This can be accomplished through inversion or neutralization.

• Inversion: Inversion changes the relationship between two UDPs so the cause is the same but the effect is the opposite. For example, if the UDP is "the more X happens, the more likely Y is to happen," inversion changes the equation to "the more X happens, the less likely Y is to happen." Using the printer example, inversion would consider: "What if the more a printer is used, the less likely it’s going to overheat?" Innovation requires an open mind. Just because a solution initially seems unlikely doesn't mean it can't be pursued further or spark additional ideas.
• Neutralization: Neutralization completely eliminates the cause-and-effect relationship between X and Y. This changes the above equation to "the more or less X happens has no effect on Y." In the case of the printers, neutralization would rephrase the relationship to "the more or less a printer is used has no effect on whether it overheats."

Even if creating a problem story doesn't provide a solution, it can offer useful context to users’ problems and additional ideas to be explored. Given that divergence is one of the fundamental practices of creative problem-solving, it’s a good idea to incorporate it into each tool you use.

Brainstorming

Brainstorming is a tool that can be highly effective when guided by the iterative qualities of the design thinking process. It involves openly discussing and debating ideas and topics in a group setting. This facilitates idea generation and exploration as different team members consider the same concept from multiple perspectives.

Hosting brainstorming sessions can result in problems, such as groupthink or social loafing. To combat this, leverage a three-step brainstorming method involving divergence and convergence :

• Have each group member come up with as many ideas as possible and write them down to ensure the brainstorming session is productive.
• Continue the divergence of ideas by collectively sharing and exploring each idea as a group. The goal is to create a setting where new ideas are inspired by open discussion.
• Begin the convergence of ideas by narrowing them down to a few explorable options. There’s no "right number of ideas." Don't be afraid to consider exploring all of them, as long as you have the resources to do so.

Alternate Worlds

The alternate worlds tool is an empathetic approach to creative problem-solving. It encourages you to consider how someone in another world would approach your situation.

For example, if you’re concerned that the printers you produce overheat and catch fire, consider how a different industry would approach the problem. How would an automotive expert solve it? How would a firefighter?

Be creative as you consider and research alternate worlds. The purpose is not to nail down a solution right away but to continue the ideation process through diverging and exploring ideas.

Continue Developing Your Skills

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, marketer, or business leader, learning the ropes of design thinking can be an effective way to build your skills and foster creativity and innovation in any setting.

If you're ready to develop your design thinking and creative problem-solving skills, explore Design Thinking and Innovation , one of our online entrepreneurship and innovation courses. If you aren't sure which course is the right fit, download our free course flowchart to determine which best aligns with your goals.

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How to improve your creative skills for effective problem-solving

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What’s creative thinking?

Creative thinking versus critical thinking

Creative thinking skills

How to develop creative thinking skills

4 creative thinking examples to include on your resume

Sharpen your creativity

Creative thinking is the key to unlocking innovation and problem-solving excellence. 

In the whirlwind of everyday professional challenges, we’ve all encountered moments when fresh ideas feel elusive. If you’ve found yourself struggling to inspire your team or spinning out during a brainstorming session , it may be a sign you need to develop your creative skills. Plus, creative problem solving looks excellent on a resume .

As a leader or team member, your ability to think outside the box can ignite a spark of ingenuity that propels your team to new heights. Fan the flames of growth and learn how to improve your creative thinking (and highlight your new skills in your next job application).

What’s creative thinking? 

Creative thinking is the dynamic process of transforming your ideas into actions. The skillset equips you to think differently and approach challenges from innovative angles.

At its core, creative thinking empowers you to break free from the constraints of the status quo and dream up fresh, original ideas. It breathes life into your decisions, encouraging you to embrace your imaginative instincts. 

By daring to challenge traditional approaches, your creativity opens doors to uncharted innovations and groundbreaking solutions.

Creative thinking versus critical thinking 

Although creative and critical thinking are both used in problem-solving , the two skills are marked by key differences. 

Creative thinking is the catalyst for generating innovative ideas and crafting novel approaches to the challenges around them. With an open mind and a wild imagination, creative thinkers produce and explore unconventional solutions to the problems that stand in their way.

Critical thinking analyzes available information with an unbiased and rational approach. It involves questioning perceptions, ensuring that decisions are devoid of bias and reasoning remains grounded in sound judgment. 

Creative thinking skills 

When you look at creative thinking as a set of particular abilities, it becomes easier to develop and perfect. These creative skill examples can help you thrive inside and outside of the workplace:

1. Open-mindedness

When you’re open-minded, you can readily adapt to new information and look for fresh problem-solving approaches. You’re receptive to the opinions and ideas of others because you view them as constructive rather than criticizing . This openness also encourages you to freely share your creative ideas without fearing judgement.

2. Curiosity

You might find that you tap into creative potential the most when you’re challenging convention and posing new ways of thinking. Analyzing processes and asking yourself how you can improve them is an exciting way to make more efficient systems.

Whether you’re new to a job or have worked at the company for years, you may wonder why procedures are what they are — lean into this curiosity to develop new and better ways to work. 

3. Ability to brainstorm

There are numerous ways to solve a problem, and brainstorming helps to get them onto paper so you can weigh their pros and cons. This way of lateral thinking encourages you to view solutions as multifaceted rather than a single, straightforward answer.

4. Experimentation

Creative people experiment with various ways of solving a problem before deciding on the best way to take action. Emulate this mindset in your projects and tasks. For instance, if you work in web design, you might try several page layouts before deciding on a final visual identity for your client.

5. Networking

Speaking with people from different professional backgrounds is an excellent way to stimulate creative thinking and develop new perspectives. When you network with professionals with diverse skill sets and experiences, they might influence you to look at the world differently or suggest an innovative way to tackle a problem.

6. Observation

It’s important to know when to take the backseat and listen in. Observing how others tackle complex issues might inspire you to make changes within your team. Always keep an eye out for opportunities to learn from more experienced peers and innovative colleagues.

7. Organization

Although some individuals claim to thrive in clutter, keeping your work organized creates an environment where you can work freely without distraction. This involves keeping your workspace tidy, creating clear to-do lists, and using visual maps to express your plans and processes.

8. Communication

Proper communication empowers you to share valuable insight and ideas with your teammates. You need strong verbal and written skills to pitch and describe your thoughts and actively listen to others’ feedback and advice.

9. Analysis

Before you can dream up a creative approach to an obstacle, you must fully understand the problem at hand. Without proper analysis, your solution may contain flaws, or you could miss important details of your problem. Practice sifting through every detail of the issue and pinpointing the causes. 

10. Problem-solving

No matter your industry, problem-solving is always a valuable skill. Consider how to tackle a problem without asking the advice of others to see what creative solutions arise. This way, you can see what inventive ideas you can come up with before external opinions influence you.

Although some of your coworkers may seem to have a natural talent for creativity and creative thinking, it’s a skill anyone can develop and improve. Here are seven ways to advance your innovative problem-solving:

Reading is an effective way to exercise your mind, increase your vocabulary, and expose yourself to new ways of thinking. Whether your book is on a problem you’re facing at work or a new and exciting subject, reading is an excellent opportunity to learn. That’s right: simply cracking open a book can help you grow . 

Keep a notepad nearby and write down thoughts and ideas as they arise. Writing helps you to process information, and you can revisit your musing whenever you need to get your creative juices flowing. If you’ve never tried journaling before, it’s an excellent way to process your thoughts and feelings in a safe and private space. 

3. Exercise

Exercising improves your sleep and ability to cope with stress, making it easier to stay alert and contribute fresh ideas at work. 

4. Listen to music

Music can affect your mood and place you in the mindset to solve problems. If you’re struggling with creative writing or creating a visual piece of work, listening to music could push you toward expressing yourself more meaningfully. 

5. Ask for feedback

Collaboration and teamwork are key when developing creative solutions in the workplace. You can ask teammates or superiors for feedback on your ideas to gain insight into potential flaws in your reasoning and streamline your solutions.

6. Find a mentor or coach

Having an experienced person to bounce ideas off is a catalyst for creativity. A mentor or coach who’s dealt with similar obstacles can provide insight into what worked and what didn’t, saving you valuable brainstorming time. 

7. Change your approach

If you’ve been approaching your tasks the same way, adjusting your processes may bring a fresh perspective and stimulate change. Ask yourself why you tackle work from a similar angle each time and consider more creative ways to conduct your day-to-day operations.

4 creative thinking examples to include on your resume 

Employers want to add creative people to their teams because solving problems takes a lot of ingenuity. Use these four examples and bullet points for inspiration when listing creative thinking skills on your resume.

On a graphic designer’s resume:

• Collaborated on rebranding [company’s] visual identity and social media content strategy
• Developed unique and innovative branding material for [company A] , [company B] , and [company C]

On a copywriter’s resume:

• Revised [company’s] website and blog content to be more engaging, exciting, and SEO-focused
• Contributed original and innovative articles on [topic] to [publication A] and [publication B]

On a public relations specialist’s resume:

• Increased [company’s] brand awareness by planning [event] to launch [product]
• Collaborated with [brand] on [product’s] creative marketing strategy to reach a wider audience

On a teacher’s resume:

• Developed a novel approach to teaching [subject or class] to students with various learning styles and needs
• Introduced [extracurricular] , the first of its kind in [the school board] , to engage students in [activity]

Sharpen your creativity 

Critical and creative thinking broaden your perspective and allow you to devise unique solutions to everyday problems. You can develop your creative skills by changing your environment, learning from others, and adjusting your approach to work. 

Regardless of how you choose to spark creativity at work, don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone and confidently contribute your ideas. You never know — you might just come up with the next big company innovation.

Cultivate your creativity

Foster creativity and continuous learning with guidance from our certified Coaches.

Elizabeth Perry, ACC

Elizabeth Perry is a Coach Community Manager at BetterUp. She uses strategic engagement strategies to cultivate a learning community across a global network of Coaches through in-person and virtual experiences, technology-enabled platforms, and strategic coaching industry partnerships. With over 3 years of coaching experience and a certification in transformative leadership and life coaching from Sofia University, Elizabeth leverages transpersonal psychology expertise to help coaches and clients gain awareness of their behavioral and thought patterns, discover their purpose and passions, and elevate their potential. She is a lifelong student of psychology, personal growth, and human potential as well as an ICF-certified ACC transpersonal life and leadership Coach.

How to develop critical thinking skills

6 ways to leverage ai for hyper-personalized corporate learning, self directed learning is the key to new skills and knowledge, the power of professional learning communities, why asynchronous learning is the key to successful upskilling, 8 creative solutions to your most challenging problems, why creativity isn't just for creatives and how to find it anywhere, the 10 best ted talks about life for inspiration and encouragement, can dreams help you solve problems 6 ways to try, similar articles, 10 problem-solving strategies to turn challenges on their head, thinking outside the box: 8 ways to become a creative problem solver, what is creative thinking and why does it matter, essential decision-making skills to guide your tough choices, what are professional skills, and which should you add to your resume, professional leadership skills to incorporate on your resume, stay connected with betterup, get our newsletter, event invites, plus product insights and research..

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Article • 10 min read

Creative Problem Solving

Finding innovative solutions to challenges.

By the Mind Tools Content Team

Imagine that you're vacuuming your house in a hurry because you've got friends coming over. Frustratingly, you're working hard but you're not getting very far. You kneel down, open up the vacuum cleaner, and pull out the bag. In a cloud of dust, you realize that it's full... again. Coughing, you empty it and wonder why vacuum cleaners with bags still exist!

James Dyson, inventor and founder of Dyson® vacuum cleaners, had exactly the same problem, and he used creative problem solving to find the answer. While many companies focused on developing a better vacuum cleaner filter, he realized that he had to think differently and find a more creative solution. So, he devised a revolutionary way to separate the dirt from the air, and invented the world's first bagless vacuum cleaner. [1]

Creative problem solving (CPS) is a way of solving problems or identifying opportunities when conventional thinking has failed. It encourages you to find fresh perspectives and come up with innovative solutions, so that you can formulate a plan to overcome obstacles and reach your goals.

In this article, we'll explore what CPS is, and we'll look at its key principles. We'll also provide a model that you can use to generate creative solutions.

About Creative Problem Solving

Alex Osborn, founder of the Creative Education Foundation, first developed creative problem solving in the 1940s, along with the term "brainstorming." And, together with Sid Parnes, he developed the Osborn-Parnes Creative Problem Solving Process. Despite its age, this model remains a valuable approach to problem solving. [2]

The early Osborn-Parnes model inspired a number of other tools. One of these is the 2011 CPS Learner's Model, also from the Creative Education Foundation, developed by Dr Gerard J. Puccio, Marie Mance, and co-workers. In this article, we'll use this modern four-step model to explore how you can use CPS to generate innovative, effective solutions.

Why Use Creative Problem Solving?

Dealing with obstacles and challenges is a regular part of working life, and overcoming them isn't always easy. To improve your products, services, communications, and interpersonal skills, and for you and your organization to excel, you need to encourage creative thinking and find innovative solutions that work.

CPS asks you to separate your "divergent" and "convergent" thinking as a way to do this. Divergent thinking is the process of generating lots of potential solutions and possibilities, otherwise known as brainstorming. And convergent thinking involves evaluating those options and choosing the most promising one. Often, we use a combination of the two to develop new ideas or solutions. However, using them simultaneously can result in unbalanced or biased decisions, and can stifle idea generation.

For more on divergent and convergent thinking, and for a useful diagram, see the book "Facilitator's Guide to Participatory Decision-Making." [3]

Core Principles of Creative Problem Solving

CPS has four core principles. Let's explore each one in more detail:

• Divergent and convergent thinking must be balanced. The key to creativity is learning how to identify and balance divergent and convergent thinking (done separately), and knowing when to practice each one.
• Ask problems as questions. When you rephrase problems and challenges as open-ended questions with multiple possibilities, it's easier to come up with solutions. Asking these types of questions generates lots of rich information, while asking closed questions tends to elicit short answers, such as confirmations or disagreements. Problem statements tend to generate limited responses, or none at all.
• Defer or suspend judgment. As Alex Osborn learned from his work on brainstorming, judging solutions early on tends to shut down idea generation. Instead, there's an appropriate and necessary time to judge ideas during the convergence stage.
• Focus on "Yes, and," rather than "No, but." Language matters when you're generating information and ideas. "Yes, and" encourages people to expand their thoughts, which is necessary during certain stages of CPS. Using the word "but" – preceded by "yes" or "no" – ends conversation, and often negates what's come before it.

How to Use the Tool

Let's explore how you can use each of the four steps of the CPS Learner's Model (shown in figure 1, below) to generate innovative ideas and solutions.

Figure 1 – CPS Learner's Model

Explore the Vision

Identify your goal, desire or challenge. This is a crucial first step because it's easy to assume, incorrectly, that you know what the problem is. However, you may have missed something or have failed to understand the issue fully, and defining your objective can provide clarity. Read our article, 5 Whys , for more on getting to the root of a problem quickly.

Gather Data

Once you've identified and understood the problem, you can collect information about it and develop a clear understanding of it. Make a note of details such as who and what is involved, all the relevant facts, and everyone's feelings and opinions.

Formulate Questions

When you've increased your awareness of the challenge or problem you've identified, ask questions that will generate solutions. Think about the obstacles you might face and the opportunities they could present.

Explore Ideas

Generate ideas that answer the challenge questions you identified in step 1. It can be tempting to consider solutions that you've tried before, as our minds tend to return to habitual thinking patterns that stop us from producing new ideas. However, this is a chance to use your creativity .

Brainstorming and Mind Maps are great ways to explore ideas during this divergent stage of CPS. And our articles, Encouraging Team Creativity , Problem Solving , Rolestorming , Hurson's Productive Thinking Model , and The Four-Step Innovation Process , can also help boost your creativity.

See our Brainstorming resources within our Creativity section for more on this.

Formulate Solutions

This is the convergent stage of CPS, where you begin to focus on evaluating all of your possible options and come up with solutions. Analyze whether potential solutions meet your needs and criteria, and decide whether you can implement them successfully. Next, consider how you can strengthen them and determine which ones are the best "fit." Our articles, Critical Thinking and ORAPAPA , are useful here.

4. Implement

Formulate a plan.

Once you've chosen the best solution, it's time to develop a plan of action. Start by identifying resources and actions that will allow you to implement your chosen solution. Next, communicate your plan and make sure that everyone involved understands and accepts it.

There have been many adaptations of CPS since its inception, because nobody owns the idea.

For example, Scott Isaksen and Donald Treffinger formed The Creative Problem Solving Group Inc . and the Center for Creative Learning , and their model has evolved over many versions. Blair Miller, Jonathan Vehar and Roger L. Firestien also created their own version, and Dr Gerard J. Puccio, Mary C. Murdock, and Marie Mance developed CPS: The Thinking Skills Model. [4] Tim Hurson created The Productive Thinking Model , and Paul Reali developed CPS: Competencies Model. [5]

Sid Parnes continued to adapt the CPS model by adding concepts such as imagery and visualization , and he founded the Creative Studies Project to teach CPS. For more information on the evolution and development of the CPS process, see Creative Problem Solving Version 6.1 by Donald J. Treffinger, Scott G. Isaksen, and K. Brian Dorval. [6]

Creative Problem Solving (CPS) Infographic

See our infographic on Creative Problem Solving .

Creative problem solving (CPS) is a way of using your creativity to develop new ideas and solutions to problems. The process is based on separating divergent and convergent thinking styles, so that you can focus your mind on creating at the first stage, and then evaluating at the second stage.

There have been many adaptations of the original Osborn-Parnes model, but they all involve a clear structure of identifying the problem, generating new ideas, evaluating the options, and then formulating a plan for successful implementation.

[1] Entrepreneur (2012). James Dyson on Using Failure to Drive Success [online]. Available here . [Accessed May 27, 2022.]

[2] Creative Education Foundation (2015). The CPS Process [online]. Available here . [Accessed May 26, 2022.]

[3] Kaner, S. et al. (2014). 'Facilitator′s Guide to Participatory Decision–Making,' San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

[4] Puccio, G., Mance, M., and Murdock, M. (2011). 'Creative Leadership: Skils That Drive Change' (2nd Ed.), Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

[5] OmniSkills (2013). Creative Problem Solving [online]. Available here . [Accessed May 26, 2022].

[6] Treffinger, G., Isaksen, S., and Dorval, B. (2010). Creative Problem Solving (CPS Version 6.1). Center for Creative Learning, Inc. & Creative Problem Solving Group, Inc. Available here .

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What is creative problem-solving?

Table of Contents

An introduction to creative problem-solving.

Creative problem-solving is an essential skill that goes beyond basic brainstorming . It entails a holistic approach to challenges, melding logical processes with imaginative techniques to conceive innovative solutions. As our world becomes increasingly complex and interconnected, the ability to think creatively and solve problems with fresh perspectives becomes invaluable for individuals, businesses, and communities alike.

Importance of divergent and convergent thinking

At the heart of creative problem-solving lies the balance between divergent and convergent thinking. Divergent thinking encourages free-flowing, unrestricted ideation, leading to a plethora of potential solutions. Convergent thinking, on the other hand, is about narrowing down those options to find the most viable solution. This dual approach ensures both breadth and depth in the problem-solving process.

Emphasis on collaboration and diverse perspectives

No single perspective has a monopoly on insight. Collaborating with individuals from different backgrounds, experiences, and areas of expertise offers a richer tapestry of ideas. Embracing diverse perspectives not only broadens the pool of solutions but also ensures more holistic and well-rounded outcomes.

Nurturing a risk-taking and experimental mindset

The fear of failure can be the most significant barrier to any undertaking. It's essential to foster an environment where risk-taking and experimentation are celebrated. This involves viewing failures not as setbacks but as invaluable learning experiences that pave the way for eventual success.

The role of intuition and lateral thinking

Sometimes, the path to a solution is not linear. Lateral thinking and intuition allow for making connections between seemingly unrelated elements. These 'eureka' moments often lead to breakthrough solutions that conventional methods might overlook.

Stages of the creative problem-solving process

The creative problem-solving process is typically broken down into several stages. Each stage plays a crucial role in understanding, addressing, and resolving challenges in innovative ways.

Clarifying: Understanding the real problem or challenge

Before diving into solutions, one must first understand the problem at its core. This involves asking probing questions, gathering data, and viewing the challenge from various angles. A clear comprehension of the problem ensures that effort and resources are channeled correctly.

Ideating: Generating diverse and multiple solutions

Once the problem is clarified, the focus shifts to generating as many solutions as possible. This stage champions quantity over quality, as the aim is to explore the breadth of possibilities without immediately passing judgment.

Developing: Refining and honing promising solutions

With a list of potential solutions in hand, it's time to refine and develop the most promising ones. This involves evaluating each idea's feasibility, potential impact, and any associated risks, then enhancing or combining solutions to maximize effectiveness.

Implementing: Acting on the best solutions

Once a solution has been honed, it's time to put it into action. This involves planning, allocating resources, and monitoring the results to ensure the solution is effectively addressing the problem.

Techniques for creative problem-solving

Solving complex problems in a fresh way can be a daunting task to start on. Here are a few techniques that can help kickstart the process:

Brainstorming

Brainstorming is a widely-used technique that involves generating as many ideas as possible within a set timeframe. Variants like brainwriting (where ideas are written down rather than spoken) and reverse brainstorming (thinking of ways to cause the problem) can offer fresh perspectives and ensure broader participation.

Mind mapping

Mind mapping is a visual tool that helps structure information, making connections between disparate pieces of data. It is particularly useful in organizing thoughts, visualizing relationships, and ensuring a comprehensive approach to a problem.

SCAMPER technique

SCAMPER stands for Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to another use, Eliminate, and Reverse. This technique prompts individuals to look at existing products, services, or processes in new ways, leading to innovative solutions.

Benefits of creative problem-solving

Creative problem-solving offers numerous benefits, both at the individual and organizational levels. Some of the most prominent advantages include:

Finding novel solutions to old problems

Traditional problems that have resisted conventional solutions often succumb to creative approaches. By looking at challenges from fresh angles and blending different techniques, we can unlock novel solutions previously deemed impossible.

Enhanced adaptability in changing environments

In our rapidly evolving world, the ability to adapt is critical. Creative problem-solving equips individuals and organizations with the agility to pivot and adapt to changing circumstances, ensuring resilience and longevity.

Building collaborative and innovative teams

Teams that embrace creative problem-solving tend to be more collaborative and innovative. They value diversity of thought, are open to experimentation, and are more likely to challenge the status quo, leading to groundbreaking results.

Fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement

Creative problem-solving is not just about finding solutions; it's also about continuous learning and improvement. By encouraging an environment of curiosity and exploration, organizations can ensure that they are always at the cutting edge, ready to tackle future challenges head-on.

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Creative Problem Solving Explained

Creative problem solving is based on the belief that everyone is creative and can enhance their creative abilities with discipline.

Creative problem solving is a deliberate approach to solving complex problems. While creativity is an innate part of creative problem solving, the process uses a variety of steps and strategies designed to bring to the table solutions that are actionable and effective.

It’s a proven approach to use innovative ideas and views of a problem to develop viable options that can be brought to bear on the challenge. It can also redefine the problem, coming at it from a new perspective that results in an effective solution.

It also has powerful applications for addressing your greatest workflow challenges. Using creative problem solving lets you identify, refine, iterate, and select the best options to improve workflows using new technologies like automation.

Fundamentals of Creative Problem Solving

Many people hear “creative problem solving” and think it’s about brainstorming answers. However, creative problem solving is about much more. Creative answers to problems do not just appear magically but are the result of deliberate processes.

To work well, creative problem solving is rooted in two assumptions:

• Everyone is creative in some manner
• You can learn and enhance someone’s creative abilities

Those are powerful assumptions. They help to dispel the idea that there are “creative types” and “noncreative types.” All participants can be empowered to engage in the process by supporting and reinforcing the innate presence of creativity.

Alex Osborn helped define and formalize the idea of creative problem solving. He believed that two types of thinking are critical to creative problem solving.

Convergent Thinking focuses on the norms of problem solving and focuses on finding a singular solution that's well defined. Divergent Thinking is the opposite, with multiple options being considered after fostering creativity as part of the problem solving process.

Both play a role and have value in problem solving. Typically, both are used as part of the process.

For example, divergent thinking can create multiple ideas for possible solutions. Convergent thinking can whittle those down to a few or one idea to implement.

Principles of Creative Problem Solving

Here is a closer look at some key tenets of creative problem solving.

Reframe the Problem as a Question

Begin by restating the problem as a question or series of open-ended questions. The problem becomes more approachable with multiple possibilities available, and participants can be invited into the process.

By contrast, problems presented as declarative statements are often met by silence. These statements often lead to a limited response or no response at all.

There's a shift when asked as a question rather than a statement. The challenge is not an obstacle but rather an opportunity to solve. It opens the door to brainstorming and ideation.

Suspend Judgment

All too often, ideas that are generated in problem solving spaces are quickly dismissed. This instantaneous judgment has short- and long-term impacts.

First, it immediately dismisses the presented idea and the presenter. What’s more, the dismissal can have a chilling effect on others, stymieing the idea generation process.

There’s a time when judging presented ideas – when convergent thinking is at play. In the beginning, immediate judgment should be suspended.

Even the most implausible ideas presented at the beginning of the process may play a role later as long as they are still considered viable. If poisoned early in the process, they will unlikely be given any value later.

‘Yes, And’ Instead of ‘No, But’

The word “no” can have a similarly stifling effect on the creative problem solving work. "But," whether preceded by "yes” or "no," can close the conversation. It acts to negate everything that has come before.

You can create and maintain a more positive, encouraging tone using "yes, and" language instead of "no, but" language.

More positive language helps build on previously generated ideas. It creates an additive approach to the process instead of a dismissive one.

One Approach to Creative Problem Solving

Having a clearly defined approach to solving problems helps participants understand the scope and scale of the work. While multiple approaches can be used, here is one way to frame the engagement.

1. Clarify the Problem

The most critical step to creative problem solving is identifying and articulating the problem or goal. While it may appear to be easy to do so, often, what people think the problem is is not the true problem.

The critical step is to break down the problem, analyze it and understand the core issue.

One approach is to use the "five whys." Start by asking yourself, "Why is this a problem?" Once you have the answer, ask, "Why else?" four more times.

This iterative process can often refine and revise to unearth the true issue that needs to be addressed. You can ask other questions to further refine, such as:

• Why is this problem important to us?
• What is stopping us from solving this problem?
• Where will we be differently 6-12 months after solving the problem?

2. Define Evaluation Criteria

The creative problem solving process is likely to generate many potential ideas. It’s important to establish the process by which the ideas will be evaluated and, if selected, deployed.

These processes may have important factors, such as budget, staffing and time. The process needs to address what you seek to accomplish, avoid and act on. The process should be articulated to the participants in the problem solving and those affected by the outcomes.

3. Research the Problem

You want a clear understanding of the problem, which may require lots or a little research. Understand the common problem, how others may deal with it, and potential solutions.

4. Develop Creative Challenges

Once the problem is articulated and researched, it’s time to frame them. “Creative challenges” are simple and brief, question-based concepts. For example, "How can we …" or “What would it mean if …" These challenges will form the basis of your problem solving. They should be broadly focused and not include any evaluation criteria.

5. Create Ideas

Idea generation is what most people envision when they think of brainstorming or solving problems.

Start by taking just one of the creative challenges. Give yourself or the team some time to build at least 50 ideas. That may seem like a lot, but it can spark conversation and construction.

The ideas may or may not solve the presented challenge. By capturing them on paper or a computer (many programs support idea generation), you can have them readily available to organize, expand on, evaluate, and flesh out.

Be sure to use the following rules in this stage:

• Write down every idea
• Ensure no one critiques presented ideas
• Don’t stop until you’ve reached 50
• Present the full list of ideas and then ask if anyone has anything else to add
• If you have time, sleep on the ideas and return the next day. Try to add 25 more.

6. Sort and Assess Ideas

Take a break and reconvene to look at the ideas using the evaluation criteria. Combine ideas, then use the evaluation criteria to whittle down the list.

Some ideas may be implementable immediately. Others may need further analysis to prioritize.

7. Create a Plan

When you have your shortlist, create an action plan that outlines the steps necessary to implement the ideas. By breaking down the ideas into actionable steps, you’ll be better able to put them into play and see the results.

Problem Solving Your Workflows

When it comes to coming up with creative answers to your workflow problems, we have a variety of resources for you listed below. In addition, we're always interested in providing objective, experienced ideas through our Customer Success and Services teams.

• Reframe Your Business Processes
• Process Redesign Tips
• What is Business Process Re-Engineering?
• Process Improvement Examples
• https://online.hbs.edu/blog/post/what-is-creative-problem-solving
• https://www.mindtools.com/a2j08rt/creative-problem-solving
• https://www.creativeeducationfoundation.org/what-is-cps/
• https://innovationmanagement.se/2010/06/02/the-basics-of-creative-problem-solving-cps/
• https://asana.com/resources/convergent-vs-divergent

Tags creativity   problem solving   process improvement  

Categories Business Ideas   Workflow Ideas   Project Management  

Marketing the world's best workflow automation software and drinking way too much coffee. Connect with me on LinkedIn at  https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelraia/

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Creative Problem Solving

Taught in English

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There are 4 modules in this course

This course deals directly with your ability for creativity which is a critical skill in any field. It focuses on divergent thinking, the ability to develop multiple ideas and concepts to solve problems. Through a series of creativity building exercises, short lectures, and readings, learners develop both an understanding of creativity and increase their own ability.

This course will help you understand the role of creativity and innovation in your own work and in other disciplines. It will challenge you to move outside of your existing comfort zone and to recognize the value of that exploration. This course will help you understand the importance of diverse ideas, and to convey that understanding to others. The principal learning activity in the course is a series of "differents" where you are challenged to identify and change your own cultural, habitual, and normal patterns of behavior. Beginning with a prompt, e.g. "eat something different", you will begin to recognize your own = limits and to overcome them. In addition, you are encouraged to understand that creativity is based on societal norms, and that by it's nature, it will differ from and be discouraged by society. In this course, the persistence of the creative person is developed through practice. At the same time, these exercises are constrained by concerns of safety, legality, and economics, which are addressed in their creative process.

Introduction to the Course

Creativity is a skill that can be developed. It requires extensive work by learners, but the lessons, while not conveying traditional content, will change you in ways you do not foresee, but ways which are valuable. The course is a hybrid; it will involve reading, writing, discussions, as well as specific exercises designed to increase and improve your creative skills. You will do work online as well as in the real world; it is designed to be fun and to change your ability for creativity.

What's included

8 videos 3 readings 1 quiz 1 peer review 1 discussion prompt

8 videos • Total 43 minutes

• Welcome/Introduction • 3 minutes • Preview module
• Course Methods: Creative Skill Development • 7 minutes
• Idea Generation: Brick Activity • 4 minutes
• DSD General Introduction • 5 minutes
• DSD 1 Eat introduction • 1 minute
• Critiquing and Making Improvements • 2 minutes
• Brief tutorial on shooting pictures for the class • 16 minutes
• Dr. Sauman Chu: Programs Offered at the College of Design • 3 minutes

3 readings • Total 30 minutes

• Introduction - read this first • 10 minutes
• The Creativity Crisis [ published in Newsweek 2010 ] • 10 minutes
• Learn more about the College of Design, University of Minnesota • 10 minutes

1 quiz • Total 30 minutes

• #1: Newsweek • 30 minutes

1 peer review • Total 60 minutes

• DSD 1: Eat Something Different - turn in here and critique others • 60 minutes

1 discussion prompt • Total 10 minutes

• Share and reflect on your work from DSD1 : Eat • 10 minutes

Divergent and Convergent Thinking

In this unit we'll look as some of the ways we can describe creativity and examine the concepts of divergent and convergent thinking. We'll look at generating more ideas, how to critique and make improvements, and continue to practice our development of ideas. Practice and exploration continue as these are the means we will continue to improve our own creativity.

4 videos 1 reading 2 quizzes 1 peer review 1 discussion prompt

4 videos • Total 35 minutes

• Divergent and Convergent Thinking • 9 minutes • Preview module
• Play and Creativity • 7 minutes
• DSD 2: Child • 0 minutes
• Steven JohnsonTED talk: Where Good Ideas Come From • 17 minutes

1 reading • Total 10 minutes

• Steven Johnson - Where Good Ideas Come From • 10 minutes

2 quizzes • Total 5 minutes

• Originality Development Engine #1 [do this each week] • 5 minutes
• Where Good Ideas Come From Introduction • 0 minutes

1 peer review • Total 240 minutes

• DSD2: [Child]: Turn in your project and critique others • 240 minutes
• Post and discuss Do Something Different 2 - Child • 10 minutes

Creativity, Motivation and Observation

Sometimes, we need external methods to help us touch all the bases in our creative capability. Here, we'll look at a couple of good methods for helping us generate new ideas.There are a wide range of creativity exercises available; these are but a few. Finding and practicing the development of ideas is an important aspect to becoming more creative.

7 videos 1 reading 1 quiz 1 peer review 1 discussion prompt

7 videos • Total 23 minutes

• Applying Divergent and Convergent Thinking • 3 minutes • Preview module
• Creativity and Motivation • 4 minutes
• Mindmapping • 3 minutes
• Beliefs, Habits, Skills and Knowledge • 2 minutes
• Give Differently Introduction • 0 minutes
• Attribute Listing: Observation and Application • 4 minutes
• Bricolage + Exquisite Corpse as Creativity Techniques • 3 minutes
• Chapter 1: Developing Creative Thinking Skills • 10 minutes

1 quiz • Total 5 minutes

• Originality Development Engine #2 [do this each week] • 5 minutes
• DSD 3 [Give]: Submission and critique of others • 240 minutes
• Do Something Different 3: Give • 10 minutes

Creativity and Observation

A lot of the time, creativity can be spurred by something in the environment, triggering connections with new ideas. We react to things we have seen and our experiences; that is from where we build our new ideas. While much of this course has focused on ways to improve your own creativity, the larger goal of the course is for you to continue to develop your own creativity, in your own way and in your own life. This module continues the development creativity and give you the chance to begin planning your continued development.

7 videos 2 readings 1 quiz 1 discussion prompt

7 videos • Total 30 minutes

• Creativity and Motivation • 4 minutes • Preview module
• Brush Your Teeth • 2 minutes
• Left Brain/Right Brain Thinking • 5 minutes
• Top 10 Things About Creativity • 8 minutes
• Moving Forward • 5 minutes
• Conclusion • 1 minute
• Creativity Models and Theories • 4 minutes

2 readings • Total 30 minutes

• An external evaluation of your creative lifestyle • 20 minutes
• Creativity Resources and Tools • 10 minutes
• Originality Development Engine #3 [do this each week] PC • 5 minutes
• Develop your own ideas for doing something different • 10 minutes

The University of Minnesota is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation’s most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

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Learner reviews

Showing 3 of 2331

2,331 reviews

Reviewed on Jun 16, 2017

This is really good Course, if we apply creative ideas in our life on our daily basis work in diffrent way...you can understand....How much is easy to live with ppl and family friends....

Reviewed on Oct 1, 2017

Excellent premise, good suggestions. Some technical issues with repeated videos & lack of experience w/talking to a camera instead of a person, but nothing too distracting.

Reviewed on Apr 26, 2020

It is a nice class to teach you how to look differently at problems and that there are more than one way to solve it. Very basic course in problem solving but still enjoyable nonetheless

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Creative Problem-Solving Approach: Skills, Framework, 3 Real-life Examples

What is creative problem-solving, creative problem-solving framework, 3 real-life examples of creative problem solving:, skills to develop for creative problem-solving.

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• Identifying the Real Problem : Imagine you wake up to a cold shower. The obvious problem? No hot water! But before you start dismantling the showerhead, take a step back. Is it a faulty heating element, a low thermostat setting, or a bigger issue with the building’s plumbing? This initial step is crucial. Ask yourself questions like “What are the symptoms?” and “When did this problem start?”. In our shower scenario, identifying the root cause (a faulty heating element) saves you time and unnecessary tinkering.
• Generating Wild Ideas : Now, it’s time to unleash your creativity! Remember that brainstorming session in school where every idea, no matter how wacky, was welcome? That’s the spirit! Back to our chilly shower situation, ideas might include: boiling water on the stove for a makeshift bath (not ideal!), calling the landlord for repairs (the most likely solution!), or – if you’re feeling adventurous – installing a solar water heater (hey, it could work!).
• Evaluating Ideas: Okay, so you have a list of ideas, from the practical to the downright peculiar. Here comes the filter. Evaluate each idea based on realistic criteria. For the shower scenario, fixing the heating element is likely the most feasible and impactful solution. While a solar water heater might be innovative, the cost and practicality might not make it the best choice at this moment.
• From Idea to Action Plan: We’ve identified the best course of action (fixing the heating element). Now, it’s time to develop a concrete solution. This might involve calling a plumber, gathering the necessary tools, or researching DIY repair tutorials (if you’re handy!). The key is to create a clear plan that addresses the problem directly.
• Putting Your Solution to the Test : The plan is in place, it’s time to implement! In our case, this means calling the plumber and getting that heating element fixed. Once the repair is done, take a celebratory hot shower! But remember, even the best plans can have hiccups. If the hot water issue persists, you might need to re-evaluate your initial diagnosis or call the plumber back for further troubleshooting.
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• Netflix:  The company revolutionized how we watch TV shows and movies. However, when the company started, it faced a big challenge – getting people to watch their content when they were not a well-known brand. Instead of relying on traditional advertising, Netflix used creative problem-solving to develop a unique solution. They created an algorithm recommending TV shows and movies based on a user’s viewing history, leading to a highly personalized viewing experience. This recommendation engine became a critical factor in the company’s success, helping them attract and retain customers.
• NASA:  NASA had to devise an instant solution to save the Apollo 13 mission and their team. Their spacecraft was damaged, and they needed a solution to bring their astronauts safely back to Earth. The team fitted a square CO2 filter into a round hole using available materials on the spacecraft; the team used creative problem-solving to develop this approach. This innovative solution allowed the astronauts to return safely to Earth and set this incident as a classic creative solving example.
• IKEA:  IKEA makes stylish and affordable furniture and is a well-versed company. However, they faced significant challenges entering the Japanese market. Japanese apartments are comparatively smaller than the rest of the world, so the regular product range was irrelevant to Japanese customers. So, IKEA used creative problem-solving to develop a solution appealing to the Japanese market. They launched a variety of products specially created for smaller spaces that are easy to assemble and disassemble—they also introduced a range of futons designed to look like beds, appealing to Japanese customers who prefer sleeping on the floor. This innovative and creative approach helped IKEA successfully enter the Japanese market.

• Flexibility:  Being able to adapt to changing circumstances and consider multiple perspectives.
• Open-mindedness:  Being open to new ideas and willing to challenge assumptions.
• Curiosity:  Seek more information by questioning and better understanding the problem.
• Persistence:  If a solution does not work, apply another solution, but continue until the problem is solved.
• Divergent thinking:  Generating multiple ideas and exploring different possibilities.
• Convergent thinking:  Evaluating and selecting the best ideas based on specific criteria.
• Visualization:  Using mental imagery to explore solutions and ideas.
• Collaboration:  Working with others to combine different perspectives and knowledge.
• Risk-taking:  Being willing to take calculated risks and try new approaches.
• Innovation:  Combining ideas and approaches in novel ways to create new solutions.

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Creative problem-solving is defined as a way to find solutions when conventional thinking has failed to come up with useful options. It encourages you to think about problems in new ways, or from different perspectives. It also allows you to think about solutions without necessarily fully defining the problem—an essential step in conventional problem-solving approaches.

It is therefore particularly helpful for big, intractable or complex problems, or times when you may get ‘stuck’ in definitions. However, techniques from creative problem-solving can also be useful in other circumstances. This page provides some information about the background and principles of creative problem-solving, and suggests some techniques you might try.

What Is Creative Problem-Solving?

Creative problem-solving is a term used for a model of problem-solving that does not follow a conventional approach.

Our page on Problem-Solving outlines the conventional approach, including identifying and structuring the problem, looking for possible solutions, making a decision, implementing it, and then seeking feedback.

Creative problem-solving takes a different approach. It does not require the problem to be precisely defined and structured before solutions can be identified. Instead, you simply need to understand the basic causes and issues that you are trying to address. This may be particularly helpful for large and complex problems, where groups can get bogged down in definitions, and never move onto ideas and solutions.

The origins of creative problem-solving

The concept of creative problem-solving was first developed by Alex Osborn in the 1940s.

Interestingly, Osborn was also allegedly the person who coined the term ‘brainstorming’. He and Sid Parnes developed the Osborn–Parnes Creative Problem-Solving Model. This is a relatively simple model, and other academics have developed it further more recently. The basic model is still widely used despite its age because of its sheer applicability.

Principles of Creative Problem-Solving

Most models of creative problem-solving use four key principles:

1. Balancing Divergent and Convergent Thinking

The key to creative problem-solving is understanding two key types of thinking: divergent and convergent thinking.

Divergent thinking is generating ideas, the more the better

It uses techniques such as brainstorming. It also involves looking at issues from different perspectives as a way to shake up your thinking.

You can find out more about divergent thinking in our page on Problem-solving: Investigating Ideas and Solutions . You may also find it helpful to visit our page on Brainstorming Techniques for some useful ways to generate ideas.

Convergent thinking is narrowing down those ideas to find a suitable solution.

It involves analysing and assessing ideas to see which ones may be most useful or suitable, or which may be most easily implemented. It may also require some testing of ideas through approaches such as prototyping or customer focus groups.

There is more about convergent thinking in our pages on the Creative Process and Idea Validation .

Good creative problem-solving needs both divergent and convergent thinking.

You need first to have lots of ideas, and then you need to evaluate them, and narrow them down, so that you can turn your ideas into a shortlist of genuinely practical possible solutions. It is certainly no good stopping at the first idea—but it is also unhelpful if you never implement any of your ideas because you simply don’t know where to start.

2. Reframe Problems as Questions

The second principle is to reframe problems as questions (see box).

Examples of Reframing

Some examples of reframing problems include:

“Nobody wants to buy our products” becomes “How can we persuade customers to buy our products?”

“Staff don’t want to work here” becomes “How can we attract staff to this location?”

“Nobody wants to attend our events” becomes “How can we develop events that people will want to attend?”

In carrying out this process of reframing, you shift your focus away from barriers, towards how to address those obstacles.

This makes it easier to come up with ideas to solve the issues, and get past the barriers. All the issues in the box look much less tricky when framed as ‘ How can we...? ’ Effectively, this technique forces you to see everything as a solvable, and nothing as intractable.

3. Defer Judgement of Ideas

This is a key rule in any brainstorming session: defer judgement.

In other words, don’t be tempted to start to analyse your possible solutions immediately—either positively or negatively. Instead, keep going on the idea generation. This is because moving to judge and analyse uses a different part of your brain. You want to keep the creative side going for longer, and then apply logic later.

Balancing convergence and divergence?

This ‘suspending judgement’ process is a key example of balancing convergent and divergent thinking. Idea generation is divergent. Analysis and judgement is convergent. There is a time and place for both—but you cannot do them at the same time, and you need sufficient time to do each one in turn.

4. Use Positive Language and Thinking

The classic example of this is to ban the use of the phrase ‘No, but...’, and focus instead on ‘Yes, and...’

Why does this matter? Because using ‘Yes, and...’ encourages people to build on each other’s contributions, rather than rushing to judgement. There is also some evidence that using negative words (like ‘no’ and ‘but’) discourages creative thinking. Using more positive language encourages it.

Models of Creative Problem-Solving

Broadly speaking, most models of creative problem-solving have several phases, which usually include:

Clarifying the problem , which may need techniques like the ‘five whys’, an approach based on root cause analysis (you can find out more about this technique in our page on Brainstorming Techniques ).

Coming up with ideas to solve the problem , for example, by using brainstorming techniques, or other creative thinking techniques .

Developing those ideas into a solution , which includes narrowing down your full list of ideas into a shortlist, and carrying out some prototyping and other testing (our pages on Design Thinking and Idea Validation explain more about this part of the process).

Implementing the solution , which includes consideration of who will be responsible for this part of the process, and the practical steps that need to be taken. You may find our pages on Project Planning and Project Management are helpful here.

The original creative problem-solving model of Osborn and Parnes, and some of its later adaptations, used the terms ‘clarify, ideate, develop, implement’. The Center for Creative Learning uses a three-phase approach of ‘understanding the challenge, generating ideas, and preparing for action’. This therefore combines ‘developing the ideas’ and ‘implementing the solution’ into a single ‘preparing for action’.

A Final Thought: Does the Precise Model Matter?

In creative problem-solving, the issue is probably not the precise terms that you use to describe each phase.

Instead, it is about finding a process that will help you to understand your problem better, come up with ideas, and then narrow down those ideas and find a way of implementing your chosen solution. Separating convergent and divergent thinking (also known as ‘not rushing to judge’) is probably the most important part of this because it allows sufficient time for the creative process to occur.

Continue to: Strategic Thinking Skills Creative Thinking Skills Self-Assessment

See also: Innovation Skills Decision Making Understanding Design Thinking

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Creative problem-solving: navigating challenges.

Have you ever faced a challenge that seemed impossible to overcome? Whether it’s a personal dilemma or a professional roadblock, we all encounter obstacles that require us to think outside the box and find innovative solutions. This is where creative problem-solving comes into play. In this article, we will explore the art of navigating challenges through the power of creativity. Join us on this journey and unlock your creative potential as we delve into different strategies and techniques to overcome obstacles and find unique solutions.

Understanding Creative Problem-Solving

Creative problem-solving is a powerful skill that enables individuals to approach challenges in non-traditional ways. It involves thinking creatively and critically, exploring multiple perspectives, and generating innovative ideas. By embracing a creative mindset, individuals can find solutions that may not have been initially apparent.

Creative problem-solving is not limited to specific industries or professions. In fact, it is a valuable skill in various fields, including business, technology, arts, and everyday life. Whether you are an entrepreneur seeking to launch a new product, a student facing a difficult assignment, or a parent trying to resolve a family conflict, creative problem-solving can be applied to navigate these challenges effectively.

The Power of Creative Thinking

Creative thinking is at the core of creative problem-solving. It involves approaching challenges with an open mind, embracing curiosity, and exploring possibilities beyond the obvious. Creative thinking allows us to break free from conventional thought patterns and discover new perspectives and solutions.

When we tap into our creative thinking abilities, we can approach challenges from different angles. It encourages us to ask questions, challenge assumptions, and consider alternative solutions. By engaging our creative minds, we can overcome mental blocks and find unique pathways to success.

The Importance of Embracing Challenges

While challenges may seem daunting, they are essential for personal and professional growth. Embracing challenges allows us to step out of our comfort zones, push our boundaries, and discover new capabilities. It is through overcoming challenges that we develop resilience, adaptability, and problem-solving skills.

When we view challenges as opportunities for growth and improvement, we shift our mindset from one of fear and avoidance to one of curiosity and excitement. Each obstacle becomes a chance to learn, innovate, and become better versions of ourselves. By embracing challenges, we can unlock our creative potential and navigate through them with confidence.

Strategies for Creative Problem-Solving

Now that we understand the importance of creative problem-solving, let’s explore some strategies and techniques to enhance our problem-solving abilities. While there are numerous approaches to creative problem-solving, we will focus on the following four key strategies:

1. Divergent and Convergent Thinking

Divergent thinking involves generating a wide range of ideas and possibilities. It encourages free-flowing, out-of-the-box thinking without limitations. Convergent thinking, on the other hand, involves narrowing down and evaluating the ideas generated during the divergent thinking phase. It helps us identify the most feasible and effective solutions.

To apply this strategy, start by brainstorming as many ideas as possible without judgment or evaluation. Allow your mind to wander and explore various possibilities. Once you have a list of ideas, evaluate each one based on their feasibility, effectiveness, and alignment with your goals. This process of alternating between divergent and convergent thinking will help you uncover creative solutions to your challenges.

2. Mind Mapping

Mind mapping is a visual technique that allows you to organize and connect ideas in a non-linear manner. It involves creating a central idea or problem statement and branching out into subtopics or potential solutions. By visually representing the connections between different ideas, mind maps help stimulate creative thinking and generate new insights.

To create a mind map, start by writing down your central problem statement or idea in the center of a blank page. Then, draw branches radiating from the center and jot down relevant subtopics or potential solutions on each branch. You can further expand each subtopic with additional branches and ideas. This visual representation of your thoughts will help you explore different perspectives and uncover innovative solutions.

3. Role-Playing and Perspective Shifting

Role-playing and perspective shifting involves stepping into someone else’s shoes and viewing the challenge from their perspective. By adopting different roles or considering the problem from various viewpoints, we can gain new insights and uncover alternative solutions.

To apply this strategy, imagine yourself as a different person who is directly affected by the challenge. How would they approach the problem? What solutions would they propose? By temporarily shifting your perspective, you can gain fresh insights and discover unique approaches to your challenge.

4. Prototyping and Experimentation

Prototyping and experimentation involve creating tangible representations of your ideas and testing them in a real or simulated environment. It allows you to quickly identify strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement in your solutions. By embracing a mindset of continuous iteration and improvement, you can refine your ideas and find the most effective solution.

To implement this strategy, create a prototype or a small-scale version of your solution. Test it in a controlled environment, gather feedback, and make necessary adjustments. Repeat this process until you achieve a refined solution that addresses the challenge effectively. Through prototyping and experimentation, you can navigate through uncertainties and discover innovative solutions.

The Benefits of Creative Problem-Solving

Creative problem-solving offers numerous benefits that extend beyond finding solutions to immediate challenges. Let’s explore some of the key advantages of embracing a creative mindset:

• Enhanced Critical Thinking Skills: Creative problem-solving enhances critical thinking skills by encouraging individuals to analyze problems, evaluate different perspectives, and make informed decisions.
• Increased Innovation and Adaptability: By embracing creativity, individuals can discover innovative solutions and adapt to changing circumstances more effectively.
• Collaborative Problem-Solving: Creative problem-solving promotes collaboration and teamwork by encouraging individuals to share ideas and perspectives, leading to collective intelligence and better solutions.
• Improved Decision-Making: Creative thinking allows individuals to consider a wide range of factors, evaluate alternatives, and make informed decisions that lead to better outcomes.
• Personal Growth and Self-Discovery: Through creative problem-solving, individuals can challenge their own limitations, discover new strengths, and develop a growth mindset.

In this journey of creative problem-solving, we have explored the power of embracing challenges and adopting a creative mindset. By thinking creatively, exploring different perspectives, and using various strategies, we can navigate through challenges and find innovative solutions. Remember, creative problem-solving is a skill that can be developed and honed with practice. So, embrace the challenges that come your way, unleash your creative potential, and navigate through them with confidence. Your ability to find unique solutions will not only benefit you but also inspire others to approach challenges with a creative mindset. Let your creativity be the compass that guides you to success.

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How to Boost Your Creative Problem Solving Abilities

Introduction.

In today’s fast-paced and ever-evolving world, creative problem-solving skills have become increasingly important. Whether you’re faced with a complex work task, a personal challenge, or a creative project, the ability to think creatively and come up with innovative solutions can make all the difference. Enhancing your creative problem-solving abilities not only helps you tackle problems more effectively but also opens up new opportunities and improves your overall decision-making skills.

The aim of this blog post is to provide you with practical tips and techniques to boost your creative problem-solving abilities. We will explore the key characteristics of creative problem solvers, discuss the importance of cultivating a creative mindset, and provide various techniques to enhance your creativity. Additionally, we will explore strategies for overcoming mental blocks that often hinder creative problem-solving and demonstrate how these skills can be applied in different areas of life.

By the end of this post, you will have a deeper understanding of creative problem solving and the tools needed to become a more effective creative problem solver. So let’s dive in and unlock your creative potential!

Understanding Creative Problem Solving

Creative problem solving is a cognitive process that involves generating innovative solutions to complex problems. Unlike conventional problem solvers who rely on known techniques and established methodologies, creative problem solvers think outside the box, challenge assumptions, and approach problems from different angles. They are able to come up with fresh ideas and unique perspectives, often leading to breakthrough solutions.

In various aspects of life, creative problem solving is highly relevant. Whether it’s at work, in personal relationships, or during creative endeavors, the ability to think creatively and solve problems efficiently can make a significant difference. Creative problem solvers are valued for their ability to come up with innovative strategies, tackle challenges head-on, and identify opportunities that others may overlook.

So, what sets creative problem solvers apart? They possess certain key characteristics that enable them to approach problems in a unique and unconventional manner. These characteristics include curiosity, open-mindedness, flexibility, and adaptability. Creative problem solvers are not limited by the boundaries of conventional thinking, but rather thrive in exploring new possibilities.

In contrast, conventional problem solvers tend to rely on established methods and tried-and-true solutions. They may have a narrow focus and struggle to adapt when faced with unfamiliar or complex problems. While conventional problem solvers can be effective in situations where solutions are well-defined and straightforward, their approach may not be suitable for more complex or ambiguous problems.

To become a creative problem solver, it is important to cultivate a mindset that fosters creativity and encourages out-of-the-box thinking. One key factor is developing a growth mindset. This involves believing that intelligence and creativity can be developed through effort and practice, rather than being fixed traits. With a growth mindset, individuals are more likely to embrace challenges, persist in the face of setbacks, and view failures as learning opportunities.

To develop a creative mindset, it is also essential to nurture curiosity and open-mindedness. Curiosity fuels exploration and enables individuals to seek new knowledge and perspectives. Open-mindedness, on the other hand, allows for considering different viewpoints and ideas without judgment. By embracing diverse perspectives and ideas, creative problem solvers can expand their thinking and come up with more innovative solutions.

Another important aspect of nurturing a creative mindset is practicing mindfulness and self-reflection. Mindfulness helps individuals stay present and fully engaged in the problem-solving process, enabling them to notice details and make connections that may have otherwise been overlooked. Self-reflection allows for evaluating one’s own thoughts and actions, identifying strengths and weaknesses, and continuously learning and growing.

In conclusion, creative problem solving is a valuable skill that can be developed and enhanced by cultivating a creative mindset. By embracing curiosity, open-mindedness, and the willingness to challenge conventional thinking, individuals can become more effective problem solvers. In the following sections, we will explore various techniques and strategies that can further enhance creative problem-solving abilities.

Cultivating a Creative Mindset

To enhance your creative problem-solving abilities, it is crucial to develop a creative mindset. A creative mindset involves having the right attitude, habits, and beliefs that foster creativity. Here are some tips on how to cultivate a creative mindset:

Embrace curiosity and open-mindedness : Curiosity is the fuel that drives creativity. Be curious about the world around you, ask questions, and explore different perspectives. Approach problems with an open mind, ready to consider unconventional solutions.

View failure as a learning opportunity : Creativity thrives on experimentation and taking risks. Instead of fearing failure, see it as a valuable learning opportunity. Embrace the mindset that every failure brings you closer to success. Reflect on your failures, learn from them, and use those lessons to fuel your creative problem-solving process.

Practice mindfulness and self-reflection : Mindfulness is the practice of being fully present and aware of your thoughts, emotions, and surroundings. Cultivating mindfulness can help you tap into your creativity by quieting your mind and allowing space for new ideas to emerge. Set aside time for self-reflection, meditation, or journaling to deepen your understanding of yourself and enhance your creative thinking.

Engage in divergent thinking : Divergent thinking is a key component of creative problem solving. It involves generating multiple possibilities and exploring various perspectives. Encourage brainstorming sessions, mind mapping, and free association exercises to stimulate divergent thinking. These techniques can help you generate a wide range of ideas and options.

Foster lateral thinking : Lateral thinking involves thinking outside the box and making unconventional connections. Use metaphors, analogies, and random stimuli to spark new ideas and perspectives. Challenge yourself to find unique solutions by stepping out of your comfort zone and exploring unfamiliar concepts.

Utilize visual thinking : Visual aids and diagrams can be powerful tools for enhancing creative problem solving. Visual thinking helps you organize your thoughts, spot patterns, and make connections. Use drawings, charts, or diagrams to visually represent the problem and potential solutions. This visual representation can stimulate your creativity and uncover new insights.

Develop critical thinking skills : Critical thinking is essential for evaluating ideas and making informed decisions. It involves analyzing information, questioning assumptions, and considering different perspectives. Enhance your critical thinking skills by actively seeking out diverse opinions, challenging your own assumptions, and considering alternative viewpoints.

By cultivating a creative mindset, you can unlock your full creative potential and enhance your problem-solving abilities. Remember to approach challenges with curiosity, embrace failure as a learning opportunity, practice mindfulness, engage in divergent thinking, foster lateral thinking, utilize visual thinking, and develop critical thinking skills. With persistence and dedication, you can become a proficient creative problem solver in various aspects of your life.

Techniques for Enhancing Creative Problem Solving

To enhance your creative problem-solving abilities, there are various techniques and approaches you can incorporate into your problem-solving process. These techniques help you think outside the box, generate innovative ideas, and overcome mental blocks. Let’s explore some of these techniques:

Divergent Thinking

Divergent thinking involves generating multiple ideas and possibilities. It encourages breaking away from traditional or linear thinking and exploring new perspectives. Here are some techniques that can help you engage in divergent thinking:

• Brainstorming: Brainstorming is a popular technique for generating creative ideas. It involves gathering a group of people or engaging in solo brainstorming sessions to generate multiple ideas without judgment. The goal is to encourage free-flowing and unrestricted thinking.
• Mind mapping: Mind mapping is a visual brainstorming technique that helps you organize and connect ideas. Start with a central idea and branch out into subtopics or related ideas. Mind maps can be created on paper or using software tools.
• Free association: Free association involves making connections between unrelated concepts or ideas. Start with a word or a problem and let your mind wander freely, linking it to different thoughts or objects that come to mind. This technique encourages thinking beyond the obvious.

Lateral Thinking

Lateral thinking involves approaching problems from unconventional angles and using methods that are not immediately obvious. It involves using metaphors, analogies, and random stimuli to trigger new insights. Here are some techniques that can help you engage in lateral thinking:

• Metaphorical Thinking: This technique involves using metaphors and analogies to explore new perspectives. For example, if you’re trying to solve a problem related to communication, you can ask yourself, “How is communication like a dance? What can we learn from that analogy?”
• Random stimuli: Introduce random stimuli, such as images, objects, or unrelated words, to stimulate your imagination and trigger new connections. You can use random word generators or flip through magazines to find stimuli that you can incorporate into your problem-solving process.

Visual Thinking

Visual thinking involves utilizing visual aids and diagrams to enhance problem-solving abilities. Visual representations can help you gain new insights, organize information, and communicate ideas effectively. Here are some techniques that can help you engage in visual thinking:

• Concept mapping: Concept mapping is a technique that helps you visually represent relationships between ideas. It involves creating diagrams or flowcharts that showcase connections and hierarchies between different concepts.
• Sketching: Sketching involves visually representing ideas or problems through drawings or diagrams. It can help you understand complex problems, identify patterns, and generate new ideas.

Critical Thinking

Critical thinking involves analyzing and evaluating ideas from different perspectives. It helps you question assumptions, overcome biases, and consider multiple viewpoints. Here are some techniques that can help you engage in critical thinking:

• Problem reframing: Reframe the problem by looking at it from different angles or by breaking it down into smaller components. This technique helps you gain new insights and identify alternative solutions.
• Perspective-taking: Put yourself in someone else’s shoes and try to understand their perspective. This technique helps you challenge your own assumptions and consider alternative viewpoints.

By incorporating these techniques into your problem-solving process, you can enhance your creative problem-solving abilities. Remember to embrace curiosity, be open-minded, and practice mindfulness and self-reflection throughout the journey. Creative problem solving is a skill that can be developed with practice, persistence, and a willingness to think outside the box.

Breaking Through Mental Blocks

Mental blocks are barriers that prevent us from thinking creatively and finding innovative solutions to problems. These blocks can arise from various factors such as fear of failure, self-doubt, and rigid thinking patterns. However, by employing certain strategies, we can overcome these mental blocks and unlock our creative problem-solving abilities.

Take breaks and engage in activities unrelated to the problem

Taking breaks and engaging in activities unrelated to the problem at hand can significantly help in breaking through mental blocks. It allows our minds to rest and reset, giving us a fresh perspective when we return to the problem. Activities such as going for a walk, listening to music, or engaging in a hobby can stimulate creativity and help us see the problem from a different angle.

“The best way to get good ideas is to get lots of ideas and throw the bad ones away.” - Linus Pauling

Seek inspiration from different sources

Seeking inspiration from different sources can provide new ideas and perspectives that can help overcome mental blocks. Reading books, exploring art, observing nature, or attending lectures and workshops can expand our thinking and spark creativity. Exposing ourselves to diverse ideas and experiences can break us out of our comfort zones and open up new possibilities for problem-solving.

Collaborate with others and gather different opinions

Involving others in the problem-solving process can be an effective way to break through mental blocks. Collaborating with individuals who have different backgrounds and expertise can provide fresh insights and alternative ways of approaching the problem. Their perspectives and opinions can challenge our own thinking and help us overcome mental constraints.

“Great things in business are never done by one person. They’re done by a team of people.” - Steve Jobs

Embrace discomfort and uncertainty

Overcoming mental blocks often requires stepping outside of our comfort zones and embracing discomfort and uncertainty. It is important to recognize that failure and mistakes are a natural part of the creative problem-solving process. By letting go of the fear of failure and being open to taking risks, we can break free from rigid thinking patterns and explore new possibilities.

Cultivate a positive mindset

Maintaining a positive mindset is crucial for breaking through mental blocks. Negative thoughts and self-doubt can limit our creative thinking abilities. Instead, we should focus on cultivating a growth mindset, which emphasizes the belief that our abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work. By reframing challenges as opportunities for growth and learning, we can overcome mental blocks and approach problems with a fresh perspective.

“The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.” - Franklin D. Roosevelt

In conclusion, breaking through mental blocks is essential for enhancing creative problem-solving abilities. By taking breaks, seeking inspiration from various sources, collaborating with others, embracing discomfort, and cultivating a positive mindset, we can overcome these blocks and tap into our full creative potential. So, the next time you face a mental block, remember to try these strategies and unlock your creative problem-solving abilities.

Applying Creative Problem Solving in Real-Life Situations

Work and career.

Creative problem-solving skills are crucial for success in the workplace. By thinking outside the box and finding innovative solutions, individuals can improve efficiency, productivity, and overall job performance.

In a work setting, creative problem-solving can be applied in various ways:

Identifying and addressing inefficiencies : By analyzing processes and workflows, creative problem solvers can identify inefficiencies and develop innovative solutions to improve productivity and save time and resources.

Conflict resolution : In a team or organizational setting, conflicts are bound to arise. Creative problem-solving skills can help individuals effectively resolve conflicts by understanding different perspectives, finding common ground, and devising win-win solutions.

Decision-making : Creative problem-solving allows individuals to consider multiple options, evaluate potential outcomes, and make well-informed decisions. By thinking creatively, individuals can explore alternatives and anticipate potential risks and benefits before reaching a conclusion.

Innovation and growth : Creative problem-solving skills are essential for innovation and maximizing growth opportunities. By encouraging diverse thinking and generating out-of-the-box ideas, individuals can contribute to developing new products, services, and strategies that position the organization for success.

Personal Life

Creative problem-solving skills are not limited to the professional sphere. They also play a significant role in personal life, aiding in decision-making, resolving conflicts, and achieving personal goals.

In a personal context, creative problem-solving can be applied in the following ways:

Resolving conflicts : Whether it’s a disagreement with a loved one or a conflict within a group of friends, creative problem-solving skills can help find mutually beneficial solutions. By effectively listening, considering different perspectives, and brainstorming innovative approaches, individuals can work towards resolving conflicts amicably.

Decision-making : From choosing a career path to making everyday choices, creative problem-solving allows individuals to explore different options, weigh pros and cons, and make decisions aligned with their goals and values. By thinking creatively, individuals can avoid conventional thinking patterns and explore alternative possibilities before making important decisions.

Goal attainment : Creative problem-solving skills can be beneficial in goal setting and achieving personal objectives. By approaching challenges with a creative mindset, individuals can overcome obstacles, adapt their strategies, and find new ways to reach their desired outcomes.

Creative Projects

Creative problem-solving is essential for individuals engaged in creative endeavors such as artists, writers, designers, and innovators. It enables them to generate unique ideas, overcome obstacles, and bring their projects to fruition.

In creative projects, individuals can employ creative problem-solving techniques such as:

Developing unique ideas : Creative problem-solving allows individuals to think outside the box, explore unconventional ideas, and come up with innovative concepts for their creative projects. By embracing divergent thinking and utilizing techniques like brainstorming and mind mapping, individuals can generate a wide range of ideas and choose the most promising ones.

Overcoming obstacles : Creative projects often encounter obstacles and challenges that can hinder progress. Creative problem-solving skills can help individuals view obstacles as opportunities for growth and find innovative solutions to overcome them. By practicing lateral thinking and utilizing playful approaches like metaphorical thinking and random stimuli, individuals can uncover new perspectives and break through creative blocks.

Adapting and iterating : Creative problem-solving skills enable individuals to adapt their approaches and iterate on their ideas. By embracing critical thinking and evaluating their work from different perspectives, individuals can refine their creative projects and improve their overall quality.

Overall, creative problem-solving skills are valuable assets in both personal and professional realms. By cultivating a creative mindset and applying creative problem-solving techniques, individuals can enhance their ability to tackle challenges, find innovative solutions, and unlock their full creative potential.

Practice and Persistence

To truly enhance your creative problem-solving abilities, it is crucial to engage in regular practice and demonstrate persistence. Creative problem solving is a skill that can be developed and refined over time, much like any other skill. Here are some tips and strategies to help you practice and persist in your journey towards becoming a more effective creative problem solver:

1. Set aside dedicated time for practice

Make it a habit to allocate specific time slots during your day or week for practicing creative problem-solving. Treat it as a priority and commit to this practice time consistently. By creating a routine and sticking to it, you can gradually train your mind to think more creatively and solve problems in unique ways.

2. Engage in creative exercises and activities

To strengthen your creative problem-solving abilities, it is essential to engage in exercises and activities that stimulate your creativity. Experiment with different techniques such as brainstorming, mind mapping, or free association. These exercises encourage you to generate a multitude of ideas and explore different perspectives.

3. Challenge yourself with new and diverse problems

Don’t shy away from tackling complex or unfamiliar problems. Push yourself beyond your comfort zone and seek out opportunities to solve a diverse range of problems. The more you challenge yourself, the more you will discover your creative problem-solving potential.

4. Reflect on your problem-solving process

After solving a problem, take time to reflect on your approach. Consider what worked well and what could have been improved. By analyzing your problem-solving process, you can identify areas that need refinement and continuously improve your skills.

5. Seek feedback from others

Don’t hesitate to seek feedback from trusted colleagues, mentors, or friends. Others’ perspectives can provide valuable insights and perspectives that may enhance your problem-solving abilities. Actively listen to their feedback, be open to constructive criticism, and use it to refine your creative problem-solving skills.

6. Embrace failure as a learning opportunity

Failure is an inherent part of the creative problem-solving process. Instead of being discouraged by failure, see it as an opportunity for growth and learning. Analyze what went wrong and embrace the lessons it offers. A resilient mindset that embraces failure will fuel your persistence in pursuing creative solutions.

7. Surround yourself with a supportive community

Building a support network of like-minded individuals interested in creative problem solving can provide encouragement, motivation, and fresh perspectives. Engage in discussions, join forums or communities where you can collaborate with others and exchange ideas. This community can serve as a source of inspiration and encouragement as you practice and persist in developing your creative problem-solving abilities.

Remember, excellence in creative problem-solving does not happen overnight. It requires consistent practice, dedication, and a willingness to push beyond your comfort zone. By incorporating these strategies into your daily routine and embracing persistence, you will steadily enhance your creative problem-solving abilities and unlock your full potential to tackle challenges with innovative solutions. So, commit yourself to this journey, and reap the countless rewards that await.

In conclusion, enhancing your creative problem-solving abilities is crucial in today’s complex and unpredictable world. By developing a creative mindset, employing various techniques, and breaking through mental blocks, you can become a more effective problem solver.

Throughout this blog post, we have highlighted the importance of having a growth mindset for creativity. By cultivating curiosity, embracing failure as a learning opportunity, and practicing mindfulness and self-reflection, you can create a fertile ground for creative problem solving to thrive.

We have explored various techniques and approaches to enhance your creative problem-solving abilities. Divergent thinking techniques such as brainstorming, mind mapping, and free association can help you generate a multitude of ideas. Lateral thinking techniques utilizing metaphors, analogies, and random stimuli can open up new perspectives and solutions. Visual thinking techniques, such as using visual aids and diagrams, can help you make connections and see patterns. Lastly, critical thinking techniques involving analyzing and evaluating ideas from different perspectives can lead to more innovative and effective solutions.

We have also discussed common mental blocks that hinder creative problem-solving and provided strategies for overcoming them. Taking breaks, seeking inspiration from different sources, and collaborating with others can help overcome these blocks and unlock new possibilities.

Applying creative problem-solving skills in real-life situations can have far-reaching benefits. Whether it’s in your work and career, personal life, or creative projects, the ability to find innovative solutions, resolve conflicts, make decisions, and overcome obstacles is invaluable.

However, developing these skills requires practice and persistence. By incorporating exercises and activities into your daily routines, you can continually refine your creative problem-solving abilities. Remember, it’s not about overnight success but about consistent effort and continuous improvement.

In conclusion, by actively working on improving your creative problem-solving abilities, you can become a more adaptable, resilient, and innovative problem solver. Embrace the challenges, embrace your creativity, and unlock the potential within you to overcome any problem that comes your way.

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7 Problem Solving Skills That Aren’t Just Buzzwords (+ Resume Example)

• Julia Mlcuchova , 
• Updated April 8, 2024 9 min read

Problem-solving skills are something everybody should include on their resume, yet only a few seem to understand what these skills actually are. If you've always felt that the term "problem-solving skills" is rather vague and wanted to know more, you've come to the right place.

In this article, we're going to explain what problem-solving skills really mean. We'll talk about what makes up good problem-solving skills and give you tips on how to get better at them. You'll also find out how to make your problem-solving abilities look more impressive to those who might want to hire you.

Sounds good, right? Curious to learn more? 

In this article we’ll show you:

• What are problem solving skills;
• Why are they important; 
• Specific problem solving skills examples;
• How to develop your problem solving skills;
• And, how to showcase them on your resume.

Table of Contents

Click on a section to skip

What are problem solving skills?

Why are problem solving skills important, the best 7 problem solving skills examples, how to develop problem solving skills, problem solving skills resume example, key takeaways: problem solving skills.

First of all, they're more than just a buzzword!

Problem-solving skills are a set of specific abilities that allow you to deal with unexpected situations in the workplace, whether it be job related or team related. 

It's a complex process that involves several “sub skills” or “sub steps,” namely:

• Recognizing and identifying the issue at hand.
• Breaking the problem down into smaller parts and analyzing how they relate to one another. 
• Creating potential solutions to the problem, evaluating them and picking the best one.  
• Applying the chosen solution and assessing its outcome. 
• Learning from the whole process to deal with future problems more effectively. 

As you can see, it's not just about solving problems that are right in front of us, but also about predicting potential issues and being prepared to deal with them before they arise.  

Despite what you may believe, problem-solving skills aren't just for managers . 

Think about it this way: Why do employers hire employees in the first place? To solve problems for them!

And, as we all know, problems don't discriminate. In other words, it doesn't matter whether you're just an intern, an entry-level professional, or a seasoned veteran, you'll constantly face some kind of challenges. And the only difference is in how complex they will get.

This is also reflected in the way employers assess suitability of potential job candidates. 

In fact, research shows that the ability to deal with unexpected complications is prioritized by an overwhelming 60% of employers across all industries, making it one of the most compelling skills on your resume.

So, regardless of your job description or your career level, you're always expected to find solutions for problems, either independently or as a part of a team. 

And that's precisely what makes problem-solving skills so invaluable and universal ! 

Wondering how good is your resume?

Find out with our AI Resume Checker! Just upload your resume and see what can be improved.

As we've said before, problem-solving isn't really just one single skill. 

Instead, your ability to handle workplace issues with composure depends on several different “sub-skills”. 

So, which specific skills make an employee desirable even for the most demanding of recruiters? 

In no particular order, you should focus on these 7 skills : 

• Analytical skills
• Research skills
• Critical thinking 
• Decision-making
• Collaboration
• Having a growth mindset

Let's have a look at each of them in greater detail!

#1 Analytical skills

Firstly, to truly understand complex problems, you need to break them down into more manageable parts . Then, you observe them closely and ask yourself: “ Which parts work and which don't,” How do these parts contribute to the problem as a whole,” and "What exactly needs to be fixed?” In other words, you gather data , you study it, and compare it - all to pinpoint the cause of the issue as closely as possible.

#2 Research skills

Another priceless tool is your research skills (sometimes relying on just one source of information isn't enough). Besides, to make a truly informed decision , you'll have to dig a little deeper. Being a good researcher means looking for potential solutions to a problem in a wider context. For example: going through team reports, customer feedback, quarterly sales or current market trends.  

#3 Critical thinking

Every employer wants to hire people who can think critically. Yet, the ability to evaluate situations objectively and from different perspectives , is actually pretty hard to come by. But as long as you stay open-minded, inquisitive, and with a healthy dose of skepticism, you'll be able to assess situations based on facts and evidence more successfully. Plus, critical thinking comes in especially handy when you need to examine your own actions and processes. 

 #4 Creativity

Instead of following the old established processes that don't work anymore, you should feel comfortable thinking outside the box. The thing is, problems have a nasty habit of popping up unexpectedly and rapidly. And sometimes, you have to get creative in order to solve them fast. Especially those that have no precedence. But this requires a blend of intuition, industry knowledge, and quick thinking - a truly rare combination. 

#5 Decision-making

The analysis, research, and brainstorming are done. Now, you need to look at the possible solutions, and make the final decision (informed, of course). And not only that, you also have to stand by it ! Because once the train gets moving, there's no room for second guessing. Also, keep in mind that you need to be prepared to take responsibility for all decisions you make. That's no small feat! 

#6 Collaboration

Not every problem you encounter can be solved by yourself alone. And this is especially true when it comes to complex projects. So, being able to actively listen to your colleagues, take their ideas into account, and being respectful of their opinions enables you to solve problems together. Because every individual can offer a unique perspective and skill set. Yes, democracy is hard, but at the end of the day, it's teamwork that makes the corporate world go round. 

#7 Having a growth mindset

Let's be honest, no one wants their work to be riddled with problems. But facing constant challenges and changes is inevitable. And that can be scary! However, when you're able to see these situations as opportunities to grow instead of issues that hold you back, your problem solving skills reach new heights. And the employers know that too!

Now that we've shown you the value problem-solving skills can add to your resume, let's ask the all-important question: “How can I learn them?”

Well…you can't. At least not in the traditional sense of the word. 

Let us explain: Since problem-solving skills fall under the umbrella of soft skills , they can't be taught through formal education, unlike computer skills for example. There's no university course that you can take and graduate as a professional problem solver. 

But, just like other interpersonal skills, they can be nurtured and refined over time through practice and experience. 

Unfortunately, there's no one-size-fits-all approach, but the following tips can offer you inspiration on how to improve your problem solving skills:

• Cultivate a growth mindset. Remember what we've said before? Your attitude towards obstacles is the first step to unlocking your problem-solving potential. 
• Gain further knowledge in your specialized field. Secondly, it's a good idea to delve a little deeper into your chosen profession. Because the more you read on a subject, the easier it becomes to spot certain patterns and relations.  
• Start with small steps. Don't attack the big questions straight away — you'll only set yourself up for failure. Instead, start with more straightforward tasks and work your way up to more complex problems. 
• Break problems down into more digestible pieces. Complex issues are made up of smaller problems. And those can be further divided into even smaller problems, and so on. Until you're left with only the basics. 
• Don't settle for a single solution. Instead, keep on exploring other possible answers.
• Accept failure as a part of the learning process. Finally, don't let your failures discourage you. After all, you're bound to misstep a couple of times before you find your footing. Just keep on practicing. 

How to improve problem solving skills with online courses

While it’s true that formal education won’t turn you into a master problem solver, you can still hone your skills with courses and certifications offered by online learning platforms :

• Analytical skills. You can sharpen your analytical skills with Data Analytics Basics for Everyone from IBM provided by edX (Free); or Decision Making and Analytical Thinking: Fortune 500 provided by Udemy (＄21,74).
• Creativity. And, to unlock your inner creative mind, you can try Creative Thinking: Techniques and Tools for Success from the Imperial College London provided by Coursera (Free).
• Critical thinking. Try Introduction to Logic and Critical Thinking Specialization from Duke University provided by Coursera (Free); or Logical and Critical Thinking offered by The University of Auckland via FutureLearn.  
• Decision-making. Or, you can learn how to become more confident when it's time to make a decision with Decision-Making Strategies and Executive Decision-Making both offered by LinkedIn Learning (1 month free trial).
• Communication skills . Lastly, to improve your collaborative skills, check out Communicating for Influence and Impact online at University of Cambridge. 

The fact that everybody and their grandmothers put “ problem-solving skills ” on their CVs has turned the phrase into a cliche. 

But there's a way to incorporate these skills into your resume without sounding pretentious and empty. Below, we've prepared a mock-up resume that manages to do just that.

FYI, if you like this design, you can use the template to create your very own resume. Just click the red button and fill in your information (or let the AI do it for you).

Problem solving skills on resume example

This resume was written by our experienced resume writers specifically for this profession.

Why this example works?

• Firstly, the job description itself is neatly organized into bullet points .  
• Instead of simply listing soft skills in a skills section , you can incorporate them into the description of your work experience entry.  
• Also, the language here isn't vague . This resume puts each problem-solving skill into a real-life context by detailing specific situations and obstacles. 
• And, to highlight the impact of each skill on your previous job position, we recommend quantifying your results whenever possible. 
• Finally, starting each bullet point with an action verb (in bold) makes you look more dynamic and proactive.

To sum it all up, problem-solving skills continue gaining popularity among employers and employees alike. And for a good reason!

Because of them, you can overcome any obstacles that stand in the way of your professional life more efficiently and systematically. 

In essence, problem-solving skills refer to the ability to recognize a challenge, identify its root cause, think of possible solutions , and then implement the most effective one. 

Believing that these skills are all the same would be a serious misconception. In reality, this term encompasses a variety of different abilities , including:

In short, understanding, developing, and showcasing these skills, can greatly boost your chances at getting noticed by the hiring managers. So, don't hesitate and start working on your problem-solving skills right now!

Julia has recently joined Kickresume as a career writer. From helping people with their English to get admitted to the uni of their dreams to advising them on how to succeed in the job market. It would seem that her career is on a steadfast trajectory. Julia holds a degree in Anglophone studies from Metropolitan University in Prague, where she also resides. Apart from creative writing and languages, she takes a keen interest in literature and theatre.

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What Is Creative Problem Solving?

Ever wondered what sets apart creative problem solvers from the rest?

The ability to think outside the box and come up with innovative solutions is a skill highly sought after in today’s dynamic world.

But how exactly does one cultivate this skill?

By exploring the essence of creative problem solving, you can uncover valuable insights that may just revolutionize the way you approach challenges.

Stay tuned to discover the key elements that make creative problem solving a game-changer in various aspects of life.

Table of Contents

Key Takeaways

• Embrace curiosity and experimentation for innovative solutions.
• Challenge the status quo and think outside the box.
• Welcome failure as a path to innovation and growth.
• Approach problems with fresh perspectives and new methods.

Understanding Creative Problem Solving

When tackling creative problem solving, you need to embrace a mindset that thrives on curiosity and experimentation. Creative approaches involve thinking outside the box, exploring unconventional solutions, and challenging the status quo. To excel in problem-solving strategies, you must be willing to take risks, push boundaries, and welcome failure as a stepping stone towards innovation. By approaching problems with a fresh perspective and a willingness to try new methods, you can reveal hidden opportunities and discover unique solutions that traditional approaches may overlook.

Creativity in problem solving isn’t just about coming up with wild ideas; it’s about strategically applying innovative thinking to address complex issues effectively. Embracing creative problem solving allows you to break free from conventional thought patterns and explore uncharted territories. By blending creativity with analytical thinking, you can develop holistic solutions that consider multiple perspectives and factors. Remember, creativity isn’t a talent reserved for a select few but a skill that can be nurtured and honed through practice and persistence. So, dare to be different, experiment boldly, and watch your problem-solving abilities soar to new heights.

Importance of Creativity in Problem Solving

To truly elevate your problem-solving capabilities, you must recognize the pivotal role that creativity plays in managing complex challenges. Creative thinking isn’t just a nice-to-have skill; it’s a necessity in today’s dynamic and fast-paced world. Problem-solving creativity allows you to approach issues from unique angles, leading to innovative solutions that traditional methods might overlook.

• Sparking Innovation : Creativity in problem-solving opens doors to new ideas and innovative approaches that can revolutionize how challenges are addressed.
• Enhancing Adaptability : Creative problem solvers are better equipped to adapt to unexpected obstacles and find alternative pathways to success.
• Fostering Collaboration : Creativity encourages collaboration by creating an environment where diverse perspectives are valued, leading to richer problem-solving processes and outcomes.

Embracing creativity in your problem-solving endeavors can open hidden potential and empower you to navigate even the most challenging obstacles with confidence and ingenuity.

Characteristics of Creative Problem Solvers

Discover your potential as a problem solver by embodying the key characteristics of creativity that set innovative thinkers apart. Creative problem solvers possess a unique blend of skills that enable them to tackle challenges in fresh and effective ways. One of the defining traits is their ability to think outside the box and approach problems with innovative approaches. They aren’t afraid to experiment, take risks, and push boundaries to find solutions that others may overlook.

Critical thinking is another essential characteristic of creative problem solvers. They have a knack for analyzing situations from different angles, questioning assumptions, and identifying underlying issues. This allows them to uncover hidden opportunities and devise strategies that address the root cause of a problem rather than just its symptoms. By combining critical thinking with creativity, these individuals can develop holistic solutions that are both innovative and practical.

To become a more effective problem solver, cultivate your creativity by embracing new ideas, seeking diverse perspectives, and challenging conventional wisdom. By honing your innovative approaches and sharpening your critical thinking skills, you can reveal your full potential to tackle challenges with confidence and ingenuity.

Benefits of Implementing Creative Solutions

Embodying the characteristics of creative problem solvers can lead to a multitude of benefits, particularly in the field of implementing innovative solutions. When you embrace creative problem solving in business and education, you open doors to a world of advantages:

• Enhanced Adaptability: Creative solutions encourage flexibility and adaptability in ever-changing environments. By thinking outside the box, you become more resilient to challenges and can pivot quickly when needed.
• Increased Engagement: Implementing creative problem-solving techniques fosters engagement among team members or students. When individuals are encouraged to think creatively, they become more invested in finding solutions and actively contribute to the process.
• Improved Innovation: Creative problem solving fuels innovation by pushing boundaries and exploring new ideas. In both business and education, innovative solutions often stem from the ability to think creatively and approach problems from different angles.

Techniques for Creative Problem Solving

Ready to take your problem-solving skills to the next level? Let’s start by brainstorming ideas together, mapping out solutions, and immersing ourselves in role-playing scenarios.

These techniques will help you think outside the box, foster creativity, and tackle challenges with a fresh perspective.

Are you ready to ignite your creative problem-solving potential?

Brainstorming Ideas Together

To enhance your creative problem-solving skills, engage in collaborative brainstorming sessions to generate innovative ideas collectively.

• Create a Safe Space : Encourage open communication and remove judgment to foster a supportive environment for sharing diverse thoughts.
• Divergent Thinking : Embrace wild ideas without immediately evaluating them, allowing for unique and unconventional solutions to emerge.
• Build on Each Other’s Ideas : Use the ‘Yes, and…’ technique to expand on suggestions, leading to more refined and creative outcomes.

Collaborative brainstorming and group ideation can spark a synergy that drives forward-thinking solutions. By leveraging the collective intelligence and creativity of a group, you can uncover fresh perspectives and breakthrough ideas to tackle even the most complex problems.

Mind Mapping Solutions

Explore the interconnected web of ideas through mind mapping techniques to navigate and solve complex problems with creativity and insight. Mind mapping is a powerful tool for visual brainstorming and collaborative mapping. By creating a visual representation of your thoughts and ideas, you can see connections, identify patterns, and uncover new possibilities.

Reveal the potential of your mind and release innovative solutions with mind mapping techniques.

Role-playing Scenarios

Engage in dynamic role-playing scenarios to unlock your creative problem-solving potential and cultivate innovative solutions through immersive experiences.

Immerse into the world of improvisational exercises, interactive workshops, and simulation activities that challenge your thinking and push you to explore new perspectives.

By immersing yourself in these scenarios, you can break free from traditional problem-solving constraints and discover unconventional solutions to complex problems.

Through interactive workshops, you can collaborate with others, share ideas, and experiment with different approaches in a safe and supportive environment.

These immersive experiences provide a platform for you to think outside the box, test out ideas, and refine your problem-solving skills in a fun and engaging way.

Real-World Applications of Creative Problem Solving

Let’s get real-world practical now!

You’re facing a complex issue at work, and the traditional solutions just don’t cut it anymore.

It’s time to roll up your sleeves and witness some innovative problem-solving magic in action.

Practical Problem-Solving Examples

In real-world scenarios, creative problem solving is exemplified through innovative approaches that result in practical solutions for complex challenges. When faced with difficult problems, consider these examples:

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Bringing together diverse teams to tackle multifaceted issues, leveraging different perspectives and expertise.
• Design Thinking Workshops: Utilizing structured processes to encourage creativity and empathy, leading to unique and effective solutions.
• Prototyping and Testing: Building quick prototypes to test ideas, gather feedback, and refine solutions efficiently.

These practical problem-solving examples showcase how innovative thinking can lead to tangible solutions that address real-world problems effectively.

Innovative Solutions in Action

Accessing the power of creative problem-solving requires a dynamic blend of imagination and strategic thinking, paving the way for innovative solutions to thrive in real-world challenges. When looking at case studies and success stories, you can see how creative problem-solving has transformed businesses and industries. Here is a glimpse into some remarkable examples:

These examples showcase the tangible benefits of employing creative problem-solving techniques in various scenarios, proving its effectiveness in driving innovation and success.

Enhancing Problem-Solving Skills Through Creativity

Enhancing problem-solving skills involves infusing creativity into your approach, leading to novel solutions and breakthroughs. To hone your problem-solving creativity, consider the following:

• Creative Brainstorming: Engage in free-flowing idea generation sessions where no suggestion is too wild. Encouraging unconventional thinking can lead to unique solutions.
• Mind Mapping: Visualize your thoughts by creating a mind map to connect ideas and uncover new perspectives. This technique can help you see relationships between different elements of a problem.
• Role Play: Step into different roles related to the issue at hand to gain diverse viewpoints. By embodying various perspectives, you can approach the problem from different angles and identify innovative solutions.

So, as you can see, creative problem solving is like a breeze in a stuffy room of challenges. It allows you to think outside the box, break free from limitations, and unlock your full potential.

By embracing creativity, you can tackle problems with a new perspective, find innovative solutions, and pave the way for success.

So, go ahead and let your creative juices flow – the world is waiting for your unique solutions!

The eSoft Editorial Team, a blend of experienced professionals, leaders, and academics, specializes in soft skills, leadership, management, and personal and professional development. Committed to delivering thoroughly researched, high-quality, and reliable content, they abide by strict editorial guidelines ensuring accuracy and currency. Each article crafted is not merely informative but serves as a catalyst for growth, empowering individuals and organizations. As enablers, their trusted insights shape the leaders and organizations of tomorrow.

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Creative Thinking Abilities: Measures for Various Domains

• First Online: 01 January 2013

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• Eunsook Hong 4  

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Although creativity and creative thinking have been mentioned in schools as part of an identification process of gifted and talented students, they have been largely neglected in the mainstream education scene. The measurement issue is one of the reasons for neglect in the development of creative talent, along with the high-stakes testing environment of recent years which has narrowed the curriculum to exclude the teaching and assessment of creativity. In this chapter, the need for measures of creative potential will be discussed by describing macro components that are foundations for realizing creative potential along with the need for developing quality measures of creative potential. Clarifying definitions of creativity and creative thinking are offered, as an informative definition for any psychological construct is a condition for developing quality measures. The chapter, then, focuses on the measures of creative-thinking ability, distinguishing domain generality and domain specificity of creative-thinking ability. As most of the creative-thinking measures have been domain-general, the chapter briefly describes the domain-general measures, followed by an in-depth description of domain-specific measures, especially C reative Real Life Problem Solving measures (e.g., Creative Real Life Problem Solving: Thinking and Imagination, Las Vegas, NV), with a hope that the measures of creative potential discussed will enable researchers and practitioners helping individuals learn to be more creative.

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Hong, E. (2014). Creative Thinking Abilities: Measures for Various Domains. In: O'Neil, H., Perez, R., Baker, E. (eds) Teaching and Measuring Cognitive Readiness. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-7579-8_11

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35 problem-solving techniques and methods for solving complex problems

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All teams and organizations encounter challenges as they grow. There are problems that might occur for teams when it comes to miscommunication or resolving business-critical issues . You may face challenges around growth , design , user engagement, and even team culture and happiness. In short, problem-solving techniques should be part of every team’s skillset.

Problem-solving methods are primarily designed to help a group or team through a process of first identifying problems and challenges , ideating possible solutions , and then evaluating the most suitable .

Finding effective solutions to complex problems isn’t easy, but by using the right process and techniques, you can help your team be more efficient in the process.

So how do you develop strategies that are engaging, and empower your team to solve problems effectively?

In this blog post, we share a series of problem-solving tools you can use in your next workshop or team meeting. You’ll also find some tips for facilitating the process and how to enable others to solve complex problems.

Let’s get started! 

How do you identify problems?

How do you identify the right solution.

• Tips for more effective problem-solving

Complete problem-solving methods

• Problem-solving techniques to identify and analyze problems
• Problem-solving techniques for developing solutions

Problem-solving warm-up activities

Closing activities for a problem-solving process.

Before you can move towards finding the right solution for a given problem, you first need to identify and define the problem you wish to solve. 

Here, you want to clearly articulate what the problem is and allow your group to do the same. Remember that everyone in a group is likely to have differing perspectives and alignment is necessary in order to help the group move forward. 

Identifying a problem accurately also requires that all members of a group are able to contribute their views in an open and safe manner. It can be scary for people to stand up and contribute, especially if the problems or challenges are emotive or personal in nature. Be sure to try and create a psychologically safe space for these kinds of discussions.

Remember that problem analysis and further discussion are also important. Not taking the time to fully analyze and discuss a challenge can result in the development of solutions that are not fit for purpose or do not address the underlying issue.

Successfully identifying and then analyzing a problem means facilitating a group through activities designed to help them clearly and honestly articulate their thoughts and produce usable insight.

With this data, you might then produce a problem statement that clearly describes the problem you wish to be addressed and also state the goal of any process you undertake to tackle this issue.  

Finding solutions is the end goal of any process. Complex organizational challenges can only be solved with an appropriate solution but discovering them requires using the right problem-solving tool.

After you’ve explored a problem and discussed ideas, you need to help a team discuss and choose the right solution. Consensus tools and methods such as those below help a group explore possible solutions before then voting for the best. They’re a great way to tap into the collective intelligence of the group for great results!

Remember that the process is often iterative. Great problem solvers often roadtest a viable solution in a measured way to see what works too. While you might not get the right solution on your first try, the methods below help teams land on the most likely to succeed solution while also holding space for improvement.

Every effective problem solving process begins with an agenda . A well-structured workshop is one of the best methods for successfully guiding a group from exploring a problem to implementing a solution.

In SessionLab, it’s easy to go from an idea to a complete agenda . Start by dragging and dropping your core problem solving activities into place . Add timings, breaks and necessary materials before sharing your agenda with your colleagues.

The resulting agenda will be your guide to an effective and productive problem solving session that will also help you stay organized on the day!

Tips for more effective problem solving

Problem-solving activities are only one part of the puzzle. While a great method can help unlock your team’s ability to solve problems, without a thoughtful approach and strong facilitation the solutions may not be fit for purpose.

Let’s take a look at some problem-solving tips you can apply to any process to help it be a success!

Clearly define the problem

Jumping straight to solutions can be tempting, though without first clearly articulating a problem, the solution might not be the right one. Many of the problem-solving activities below include sections where the problem is explored and clearly defined before moving on.

This is a vital part of the problem-solving process and taking the time to fully define an issue can save time and effort later. A clear definition helps identify irrelevant information and it also ensures that your team sets off on the right track.

Don’t jump to conclusions

It’s easy for groups to exhibit cognitive bias or have preconceived ideas about both problems and potential solutions. Be sure to back up any problem statements or potential solutions with facts, research, and adequate forethought.

The best techniques ask participants to be methodical and challenge preconceived notions. Make sure you give the group enough time and space to collect relevant information and consider the problem in a new way. By approaching the process with a clear, rational mindset, you’ll often find that better solutions are more forthcoming.  

Try different approaches  

Problems come in all shapes and sizes and so too should the methods you use to solve them. If you find that one approach isn’t yielding results and your team isn’t finding different solutions, try mixing it up. You’ll be surprised at how using a new creative activity can unblock your team and generate great solutions.

Don’t take it personally 

Depending on the nature of your team or organizational problems, it’s easy for conversations to get heated. While it’s good for participants to be engaged in the discussions, ensure that emotions don’t run too high and that blame isn’t thrown around while finding solutions.

You’re all in it together, and even if your team or area is seeing problems, that isn’t necessarily a disparagement of you personally. Using facilitation skills to manage group dynamics is one effective method of helping conversations be more constructive.

Get the right people in the room

Your problem-solving method is often only as effective as the group using it. Getting the right people on the job and managing the number of people present is important too!

If the group is too small, you may not get enough different perspectives to effectively solve a problem. If the group is too large, you can go round and round during the ideation stages.

Creating the right group makeup is also important in ensuring you have the necessary expertise and skillset to both identify and follow up on potential solutions. Carefully consider who to include at each stage to help ensure your problem-solving method is followed and positioned for success.

Document everything

The best solutions can take refinement, iteration, and reflection to come out. Get into a habit of documenting your process in order to keep all the learnings from the session and to allow ideas to mature and develop. Many of the methods below involve the creation of documents or shared resources. Be sure to keep and share these so everyone can benefit from the work done!

Bring a facilitator 

Facilitation is all about making group processes easier. With a subject as potentially emotive and important as problem-solving, having an impartial third party in the form of a facilitator can make all the difference in finding great solutions and keeping the process moving. Consider bringing a facilitator to your problem-solving session to get better results and generate meaningful solutions!

Develop your problem-solving skills

It takes time and practice to be an effective problem solver. While some roles or participants might more naturally gravitate towards problem-solving, it can take development and planning to help everyone create better solutions.

You might develop a training program, run a problem-solving workshop or simply ask your team to practice using the techniques below. Check out our post on problem-solving skills to see how you and your group can develop the right mental process and be more resilient to issues too!

Design a great agenda

Workshops are a great format for solving problems. With the right approach, you can focus a group and help them find the solutions to their own problems. But designing a process can be time-consuming and finding the right activities can be difficult.

Check out our workshop planning guide to level-up your agenda design and start running more effective workshops. Need inspiration? Check out templates designed by expert facilitators to help you kickstart your process!

In this section, we’ll look at in-depth problem-solving methods that provide a complete end-to-end process for developing effective solutions. These will help guide your team from the discovery and definition of a problem through to delivering the right solution.

If you’re looking for an all-encompassing method or problem-solving model, these processes are a great place to start. They’ll ask your team to challenge preconceived ideas and adopt a mindset for solving problems more effectively.

• Six Thinking Hats
• Lightning Decision Jam
• Problem Definition Process
• Discovery & Action Dialogue

Design Sprint 2.0

• Open Space Technology

1. Six Thinking Hats

Individual approaches to solving a problem can be very different based on what team or role an individual holds. It can be easy for existing biases or perspectives to find their way into the mix, or for internal politics to direct a conversation.

Six Thinking Hats is a classic method for identifying the problems that need to be solved and enables your team to consider them from different angles, whether that is by focusing on facts and data, creative solutions, or by considering why a particular solution might not work.

Like all problem-solving frameworks, Six Thinking Hats is effective at helping teams remove roadblocks from a conversation or discussion and come to terms with all the aspects necessary to solve complex problems.

2. Lightning Decision Jam

Featured courtesy of Jonathan Courtney of AJ&Smart Berlin, Lightning Decision Jam is one of those strategies that should be in every facilitation toolbox. Exploring problems and finding solutions is often creative in nature, though as with any creative process, there is the potential to lose focus and get lost.

Unstructured discussions might get you there in the end, but it’s much more effective to use a method that creates a clear process and team focus.

In Lightning Decision Jam, participants are invited to begin by writing challenges, concerns, or mistakes on post-its without discussing them before then being invited by the moderator to present them to the group.

From there, the team vote on which problems to solve and are guided through steps that will allow them to reframe those problems, create solutions and then decide what to execute on. 

By deciding the problems that need to be solved as a team before moving on, this group process is great for ensuring the whole team is aligned and can take ownership over the next stages. 

Lightning Decision Jam (LDJ)   #action   #decision making   #problem solving   #issue analysis   #innovation   #design   #remote-friendly   The problem with anything that requires creative thinking is that it’s easy to get lost—lose focus and fall into the trap of having useless, open-ended, unstructured discussions. Here’s the most effective solution I’ve found: Replace all open, unstructured discussion with a clear process. What to use this exercise for: Anything which requires a group of people to make decisions, solve problems or discuss challenges. It’s always good to frame an LDJ session with a broad topic, here are some examples: The conversion flow of our checkout Our internal design process How we organise events Keeping up with our competition Improving sales flow

3. Problem Definition Process

While problems can be complex, the problem-solving methods you use to identify and solve those problems can often be simple in design. 

By taking the time to truly identify and define a problem before asking the group to reframe the challenge as an opportunity, this method is a great way to enable change.

Begin by identifying a focus question and exploring the ways in which it manifests before splitting into five teams who will each consider the problem using a different method: escape, reversal, exaggeration, distortion or wishful. Teams develop a problem objective and create ideas in line with their method before then feeding them back to the group.

This method is great for enabling in-depth discussions while also creating space for finding creative solutions too!

Problem Definition   #problem solving   #idea generation   #creativity   #online   #remote-friendly   A problem solving technique to define a problem, challenge or opportunity and to generate ideas.

4. The 5 Whys 

Sometimes, a group needs to go further with their strategies and analyze the root cause at the heart of organizational issues. An RCA or root cause analysis is the process of identifying what is at the heart of business problems or recurring challenges. 

The 5 Whys is a simple and effective method of helping a group go find the root cause of any problem or challenge and conduct analysis that will deliver results. 

By beginning with the creation of a problem statement and going through five stages to refine it, The 5 Whys provides everything you need to truly discover the cause of an issue.

The 5 Whys   #hyperisland   #innovation   This simple and powerful method is useful for getting to the core of a problem or challenge. As the title suggests, the group defines a problems, then asks the question “why” five times, often using the resulting explanation as a starting point for creative problem solving.

5. World Cafe

World Cafe is a simple but powerful facilitation technique to help bigger groups to focus their energy and attention on solving complex problems.

World Cafe enables this approach by creating a relaxed atmosphere where participants are able to self-organize and explore topics relevant and important to them which are themed around a central problem-solving purpose. Create the right atmosphere by modeling your space after a cafe and after guiding the group through the method, let them take the lead!

Making problem-solving a part of your organization’s culture in the long term can be a difficult undertaking. More approachable formats like World Cafe can be especially effective in bringing people unfamiliar with workshops into the fold. 

World Cafe   #hyperisland   #innovation   #issue analysis   World Café is a simple yet powerful method, originated by Juanita Brown, for enabling meaningful conversations driven completely by participants and the topics that are relevant and important to them. Facilitators create a cafe-style space and provide simple guidelines. Participants then self-organize and explore a set of relevant topics or questions for conversation.

6. Discovery & Action Dialogue (DAD)

One of the best approaches is to create a safe space for a group to share and discover practices and behaviors that can help them find their own solutions.

With DAD, you can help a group choose which problems they wish to solve and which approaches they will take to do so. It’s great at helping remove resistance to change and can help get buy-in at every level too!

This process of enabling frontline ownership is great in ensuring follow-through and is one of the methods you will want in your toolbox as a facilitator.

Discovery & Action Dialogue (DAD)   #idea generation   #liberating structures   #action   #issue analysis   #remote-friendly   DADs make it easy for a group or community to discover practices and behaviors that enable some individuals (without access to special resources and facing the same constraints) to find better solutions than their peers to common problems. These are called positive deviant (PD) behaviors and practices. DADs make it possible for people in the group, unit, or community to discover by themselves these PD practices. DADs also create favorable conditions for stimulating participants’ creativity in spaces where they can feel safe to invent new and more effective practices. Resistance to change evaporates as participants are unleashed to choose freely which practices they will adopt or try and which problems they will tackle. DADs make it possible to achieve frontline ownership of solutions.

7. Design Sprint 2.0

Want to see how a team can solve big problems and move forward with prototyping and testing solutions in a few days? The Design Sprint 2.0 template from Jake Knapp, author of Sprint, is a complete agenda for a with proven results.

Developing the right agenda can involve difficult but necessary planning. Ensuring all the correct steps are followed can also be stressful or time-consuming depending on your level of experience.

Use this complete 4-day workshop template if you are finding there is no obvious solution to your challenge and want to focus your team around a specific problem that might require a shortcut to launching a minimum viable product or waiting for the organization-wide implementation of a solution.

8. Open space technology

Open space technology- developed by Harrison Owen – creates a space where large groups are invited to take ownership of their problem solving and lead individual sessions. Open space technology is a great format when you have a great deal of expertise and insight in the room and want to allow for different takes and approaches on a particular theme or problem you need to be solved.

Start by bringing your participants together to align around a central theme and focus their efforts. Explain the ground rules to help guide the problem-solving process and then invite members to identify any issue connecting to the central theme that they are interested in and are prepared to take responsibility for.

Once participants have decided on their approach to the core theme, they write their issue on a piece of paper, announce it to the group, pick a session time and place, and post the paper on the wall. As the wall fills up with sessions, the group is then invited to join the sessions that interest them the most and which they can contribute to, then you’re ready to begin!

Everyone joins the problem-solving group they’ve signed up to, record the discussion and if appropriate, findings can then be shared with the rest of the group afterward.

Open Space Technology   #action plan   #idea generation   #problem solving   #issue analysis   #large group   #online   #remote-friendly   Open Space is a methodology for large groups to create their agenda discerning important topics for discussion, suitable for conferences, community gatherings and whole system facilitation

Techniques to identify and analyze problems

Using a problem-solving method to help a team identify and analyze a problem can be a quick and effective addition to any workshop or meeting.

While further actions are always necessary, you can generate momentum and alignment easily, and these activities are a great place to get started.

We’ve put together this list of techniques to help you and your team with problem identification, analysis, and discussion that sets the foundation for developing effective solutions.

Let’s take a look!

• The Creativity Dice
• Fishbone Analysis
• Problem Tree
• SWOT Analysis
• Agreement-Certainty Matrix
• The Journalistic Six
• LEGO Challenge
• What, So What, Now What?
• Journalists

Individual and group perspectives are incredibly important, but what happens if people are set in their minds and need a change of perspective in order to approach a problem more effectively?

Flip It is a method we love because it is both simple to understand and run, and allows groups to understand how their perspectives and biases are formed. 

Participants in Flip It are first invited to consider concerns, issues, or problems from a perspective of fear and write them on a flip chart. Then, the group is asked to consider those same issues from a perspective of hope and flip their understanding.  

No problem and solution is free from existing bias and by changing perspectives with Flip It, you can then develop a problem solving model quickly and effectively.

Flip It!   #gamestorming   #problem solving   #action   Often, a change in a problem or situation comes simply from a change in our perspectives. Flip It! is a quick game designed to show players that perspectives are made, not born.

10. The Creativity Dice

One of the most useful problem solving skills you can teach your team is of approaching challenges with creativity, flexibility, and openness. Games like The Creativity Dice allow teams to overcome the potential hurdle of too much linear thinking and approach the process with a sense of fun and speed. 

In The Creativity Dice, participants are organized around a topic and roll a dice to determine what they will work on for a period of 3 minutes at a time. They might roll a 3 and work on investigating factual information on the chosen topic. They might roll a 1 and work on identifying the specific goals, standards, or criteria for the session.

Encouraging rapid work and iteration while asking participants to be flexible are great skills to cultivate. Having a stage for idea incubation in this game is also important. Moments of pause can help ensure the ideas that are put forward are the most suitable. 

The Creativity Dice   #creativity   #problem solving   #thiagi   #issue analysis   Too much linear thinking is hazardous to creative problem solving. To be creative, you should approach the problem (or the opportunity) from different points of view. You should leave a thought hanging in mid-air and move to another. This skipping around prevents premature closure and lets your brain incubate one line of thought while you consciously pursue another.

11. Fishbone Analysis

Organizational or team challenges are rarely simple, and it’s important to remember that one problem can be an indication of something that goes deeper and may require further consideration to be solved.

Fishbone Analysis helps groups to dig deeper and understand the origins of a problem. It’s a great example of a root cause analysis method that is simple for everyone on a team to get their head around. 

Participants in this activity are asked to annotate a diagram of a fish, first adding the problem or issue to be worked on at the head of a fish before then brainstorming the root causes of the problem and adding them as bones on the fish. 

Using abstractions such as a diagram of a fish can really help a team break out of their regular thinking and develop a creative approach.

Fishbone Analysis   #problem solving   ##root cause analysis   #decision making   #online facilitation   A process to help identify and understand the origins of problems, issues or observations.

12. Problem Tree 

Encouraging visual thinking can be an essential part of many strategies. By simply reframing and clarifying problems, a group can move towards developing a problem solving model that works for them. 

In Problem Tree, groups are asked to first brainstorm a list of problems – these can be design problems, team problems or larger business problems – and then organize them into a hierarchy. The hierarchy could be from most important to least important or abstract to practical, though the key thing with problem solving games that involve this aspect is that your group has some way of managing and sorting all the issues that are raised.

Once you have a list of problems that need to be solved and have organized them accordingly, you’re then well-positioned for the next problem solving steps.

Problem tree   #define intentions   #create   #design   #issue analysis   A problem tree is a tool to clarify the hierarchy of problems addressed by the team within a design project; it represents high level problems or related sublevel problems.

13. SWOT Analysis

Chances are you’ve heard of the SWOT Analysis before. This problem-solving method focuses on identifying strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats is a tried and tested method for both individuals and teams.

Start by creating a desired end state or outcome and bare this in mind – any process solving model is made more effective by knowing what you are moving towards. Create a quadrant made up of the four categories of a SWOT analysis and ask participants to generate ideas based on each of those quadrants.

Once you have those ideas assembled in their quadrants, cluster them together based on their affinity with other ideas. These clusters are then used to facilitate group conversations and move things forward. 

SWOT analysis   #gamestorming   #problem solving   #action   #meeting facilitation   The SWOT Analysis is a long-standing technique of looking at what we have, with respect to the desired end state, as well as what we could improve on. It gives us an opportunity to gauge approaching opportunities and dangers, and assess the seriousness of the conditions that affect our future. When we understand those conditions, we can influence what comes next.

14. Agreement-Certainty Matrix

Not every problem-solving approach is right for every challenge, and deciding on the right method for the challenge at hand is a key part of being an effective team.

The Agreement Certainty matrix helps teams align on the nature of the challenges facing them. By sorting problems from simple to chaotic, your team can understand what methods are suitable for each problem and what they can do to ensure effective results. 

If you are already using Liberating Structures techniques as part of your problem-solving strategy, the Agreement-Certainty Matrix can be an invaluable addition to your process. We’ve found it particularly if you are having issues with recurring problems in your organization and want to go deeper in understanding the root cause. 

Agreement-Certainty Matrix   #issue analysis   #liberating structures   #problem solving   You can help individuals or groups avoid the frequent mistake of trying to solve a problem with methods that are not adapted to the nature of their challenge. The combination of two questions makes it possible to easily sort challenges into four categories: simple, complicated, complex , and chaotic .  A problem is simple when it can be solved reliably with practices that are easy to duplicate.  It is complicated when experts are required to devise a sophisticated solution that will yield the desired results predictably.  A problem is complex when there are several valid ways to proceed but outcomes are not predictable in detail.  Chaotic is when the context is too turbulent to identify a path forward.  A loose analogy may be used to describe these differences: simple is like following a recipe, complicated like sending a rocket to the moon, complex like raising a child, and chaotic is like the game “Pin the Tail on the Donkey.”  The Liberating Structures Matching Matrix in Chapter 5 can be used as the first step to clarify the nature of a challenge and avoid the mismatches between problems and solutions that are frequently at the root of chronic, recurring problems.

Organizing and charting a team’s progress can be important in ensuring its success. SQUID (Sequential Question and Insight Diagram) is a great model that allows a team to effectively switch between giving questions and answers and develop the skills they need to stay on track throughout the process. 

Begin with two different colored sticky notes – one for questions and one for answers – and with your central topic (the head of the squid) on the board. Ask the group to first come up with a series of questions connected to their best guess of how to approach the topic. Ask the group to come up with answers to those questions, fix them to the board and connect them with a line. After some discussion, go back to question mode by responding to the generated answers or other points on the board.

It’s rewarding to see a diagram grow throughout the exercise, and a completed SQUID can provide a visual resource for future effort and as an example for other teams.

SQUID   #gamestorming   #project planning   #issue analysis   #problem solving   When exploring an information space, it’s important for a group to know where they are at any given time. By using SQUID, a group charts out the territory as they go and can navigate accordingly. SQUID stands for Sequential Question and Insight Diagram.

16. Speed Boat

To continue with our nautical theme, Speed Boat is a short and sweet activity that can help a team quickly identify what employees, clients or service users might have a problem with and analyze what might be standing in the way of achieving a solution.

Methods that allow for a group to make observations, have insights and obtain those eureka moments quickly are invaluable when trying to solve complex problems.

In Speed Boat, the approach is to first consider what anchors and challenges might be holding an organization (or boat) back. Bonus points if you are able to identify any sharks in the water and develop ideas that can also deal with competitors!   

Speed Boat   #gamestorming   #problem solving   #action   Speedboat is a short and sweet way to identify what your employees or clients don’t like about your product/service or what’s standing in the way of a desired goal.

17. The Journalistic Six

Some of the most effective ways of solving problems is by encouraging teams to be more inclusive and diverse in their thinking.

Based on the six key questions journalism students are taught to answer in articles and news stories, The Journalistic Six helps create teams to see the whole picture. By using who, what, when, where, why, and how to facilitate the conversation and encourage creative thinking, your team can make sure that the problem identification and problem analysis stages of the are covered exhaustively and thoughtfully. Reporter’s notebook and dictaphone optional.

The Journalistic Six – Who What When Where Why How   #idea generation   #issue analysis   #problem solving   #online   #creative thinking   #remote-friendly   A questioning method for generating, explaining, investigating ideas.

18. LEGO Challenge

Now for an activity that is a little out of the (toy) box. LEGO Serious Play is a facilitation methodology that can be used to improve creative thinking and problem-solving skills. 

The LEGO Challenge includes giving each member of the team an assignment that is hidden from the rest of the group while they create a structure without speaking.

What the LEGO challenge brings to the table is a fun working example of working with stakeholders who might not be on the same page to solve problems. Also, it’s LEGO! Who doesn’t love LEGO! 

LEGO Challenge   #hyperisland   #team   A team-building activity in which groups must work together to build a structure out of LEGO, but each individual has a secret “assignment” which makes the collaborative process more challenging. It emphasizes group communication, leadership dynamics, conflict, cooperation, patience and problem solving strategy.

19. What, So What, Now What?

If not carefully managed, the problem identification and problem analysis stages of the problem-solving process can actually create more problems and misunderstandings.

The What, So What, Now What? problem-solving activity is designed to help collect insights and move forward while also eliminating the possibility of disagreement when it comes to identifying, clarifying, and analyzing organizational or work problems. 

Facilitation is all about bringing groups together so that might work on a shared goal and the best problem-solving strategies ensure that teams are aligned in purpose, if not initially in opinion or insight.

Throughout the three steps of this game, you give everyone on a team to reflect on a problem by asking what happened, why it is important, and what actions should then be taken. 

This can be a great activity for bringing our individual perceptions about a problem or challenge and contextualizing it in a larger group setting. This is one of the most important problem-solving skills you can bring to your organization.

W³ – What, So What, Now What?   #issue analysis   #innovation   #liberating structures   You can help groups reflect on a shared experience in a way that builds understanding and spurs coordinated action while avoiding unproductive conflict. It is possible for every voice to be heard while simultaneously sifting for insights and shaping new direction. Progressing in stages makes this practical—from collecting facts about What Happened to making sense of these facts with So What and finally to what actions logically follow with Now What . The shared progression eliminates most of the misunderstandings that otherwise fuel disagreements about what to do. Voila!

20. Journalists  

Problem analysis can be one of the most important and decisive stages of all problem-solving tools. Sometimes, a team can become bogged down in the details and are unable to move forward.

Journalists is an activity that can avoid a group from getting stuck in the problem identification or problem analysis stages of the process.

In Journalists, the group is invited to draft the front page of a fictional newspaper and figure out what stories deserve to be on the cover and what headlines those stories will have. By reframing how your problems and challenges are approached, you can help a team move productively through the process and be better prepared for the steps to follow.

Journalists   #vision   #big picture   #issue analysis   #remote-friendly   This is an exercise to use when the group gets stuck in details and struggles to see the big picture. Also good for defining a vision.

Problem-solving techniques for developing solutions 

The success of any problem-solving process can be measured by the solutions it produces. After you’ve defined the issue, explored existing ideas, and ideated, it’s time to narrow down to the correct solution.

Use these problem-solving techniques when you want to help your team find consensus, compare possible solutions, and move towards taking action on a particular problem.

• Improved Solutions
• Four-Step Sketch
• 15% Solutions
• How-Now-Wow matrix
• Impact Effort Matrix

21. Mindspin  

Brainstorming is part of the bread and butter of the problem-solving process and all problem-solving strategies benefit from getting ideas out and challenging a team to generate solutions quickly. 

With Mindspin, participants are encouraged not only to generate ideas but to do so under time constraints and by slamming down cards and passing them on. By doing multiple rounds, your team can begin with a free generation of possible solutions before moving on to developing those solutions and encouraging further ideation. 

This is one of our favorite problem-solving activities and can be great for keeping the energy up throughout the workshop. Remember the importance of helping people become engaged in the process – energizing problem-solving techniques like Mindspin can help ensure your team stays engaged and happy, even when the problems they’re coming together to solve are complex. 

MindSpin   #teampedia   #idea generation   #problem solving   #action   A fast and loud method to enhance brainstorming within a team. Since this activity has more than round ideas that are repetitive can be ruled out leaving more creative and innovative answers to the challenge.

22. Improved Solutions

After a team has successfully identified a problem and come up with a few solutions, it can be tempting to call the work of the problem-solving process complete. That said, the first solution is not necessarily the best, and by including a further review and reflection activity into your problem-solving model, you can ensure your group reaches the best possible result. 

One of a number of problem-solving games from Thiagi Group, Improved Solutions helps you go the extra mile and develop suggested solutions with close consideration and peer review. By supporting the discussion of several problems at once and by shifting team roles throughout, this problem-solving technique is a dynamic way of finding the best solution. 

Improved Solutions   #creativity   #thiagi   #problem solving   #action   #team   You can improve any solution by objectively reviewing its strengths and weaknesses and making suitable adjustments. In this creativity framegame, you improve the solutions to several problems. To maintain objective detachment, you deal with a different problem during each of six rounds and assume different roles (problem owner, consultant, basher, booster, enhancer, and evaluator) during each round. At the conclusion of the activity, each player ends up with two solutions to her problem.

23. Four Step Sketch

Creative thinking and visual ideation does not need to be confined to the opening stages of your problem-solving strategies. Exercises that include sketching and prototyping on paper can be effective at the solution finding and development stage of the process, and can be great for keeping a team engaged. 

By going from simple notes to a crazy 8s round that involves rapidly sketching 8 variations on their ideas before then producing a final solution sketch, the group is able to iterate quickly and visually. Problem-solving techniques like Four-Step Sketch are great if you have a group of different thinkers and want to change things up from a more textual or discussion-based approach.

Four-Step Sketch   #design sprint   #innovation   #idea generation   #remote-friendly   The four-step sketch is an exercise that helps people to create well-formed concepts through a structured process that includes: Review key information Start design work on paper,  Consider multiple variations , Create a detailed solution . This exercise is preceded by a set of other activities allowing the group to clarify the challenge they want to solve. See how the Four Step Sketch exercise fits into a Design Sprint

24. 15% Solutions

Some problems are simpler than others and with the right problem-solving activities, you can empower people to take immediate actions that can help create organizational change. 

Part of the liberating structures toolkit, 15% solutions is a problem-solving technique that focuses on finding and implementing solutions quickly. A process of iterating and making small changes quickly can help generate momentum and an appetite for solving complex problems.

Problem-solving strategies can live and die on whether people are onboard. Getting some quick wins is a great way of getting people behind the process.   

It can be extremely empowering for a team to realize that problem-solving techniques can be deployed quickly and easily and delineate between things they can positively impact and those things they cannot change. 

15% Solutions   #action   #liberating structures   #remote-friendly   You can reveal the actions, however small, that everyone can do immediately. At a minimum, these will create momentum, and that may make a BIG difference.  15% Solutions show that there is no reason to wait around, feel powerless, or fearful. They help people pick it up a level. They get individuals and the group to focus on what is within their discretion instead of what they cannot change.  With a very simple question, you can flip the conversation to what can be done and find solutions to big problems that are often distributed widely in places not known in advance. Shifting a few grains of sand may trigger a landslide and change the whole landscape.

25. How-Now-Wow Matrix

The problem-solving process is often creative, as complex problems usually require a change of thinking and creative response in order to find the best solutions. While it’s common for the first stages to encourage creative thinking, groups can often gravitate to familiar solutions when it comes to the end of the process. 

When selecting solutions, you don’t want to lose your creative energy! The How-Now-Wow Matrix from Gamestorming is a great problem-solving activity that enables a group to stay creative and think out of the box when it comes to selecting the right solution for a given problem.

Problem-solving techniques that encourage creative thinking and the ideation and selection of new solutions can be the most effective in organisational change. Give the How-Now-Wow Matrix a go, and not just for how pleasant it is to say out loud. 

How-Now-Wow Matrix   #gamestorming   #idea generation   #remote-friendly   When people want to develop new ideas, they most often think out of the box in the brainstorming or divergent phase. However, when it comes to convergence, people often end up picking ideas that are most familiar to them. This is called a ‘creative paradox’ or a ‘creadox’. The How-Now-Wow matrix is an idea selection tool that breaks the creadox by forcing people to weigh each idea on 2 parameters.

26. Impact and Effort Matrix

All problem-solving techniques hope to not only find solutions to a given problem or challenge but to find the best solution. When it comes to finding a solution, groups are invited to put on their decision-making hats and really think about how a proposed idea would work in practice. 

The Impact and Effort Matrix is one of the problem-solving techniques that fall into this camp, empowering participants to first generate ideas and then categorize them into a 2×2 matrix based on impact and effort.

Activities that invite critical thinking while remaining simple are invaluable. Use the Impact and Effort Matrix to move from ideation and towards evaluating potential solutions before then committing to them. 

Impact and Effort Matrix   #gamestorming   #decision making   #action   #remote-friendly   In this decision-making exercise, possible actions are mapped based on two factors: effort required to implement and potential impact. Categorizing ideas along these lines is a useful technique in decision making, as it obliges contributors to balance and evaluate suggested actions before committing to them.

27. Dotmocracy

If you’ve followed each of the problem-solving steps with your group successfully, you should move towards the end of your process with heaps of possible solutions developed with a specific problem in mind. But how do you help a group go from ideation to putting a solution into action? 

Dotmocracy – or Dot Voting -is a tried and tested method of helping a team in the problem-solving process make decisions and put actions in place with a degree of oversight and consensus. 

One of the problem-solving techniques that should be in every facilitator’s toolbox, Dot Voting is fast and effective and can help identify the most popular and best solutions and help bring a group to a decision effectively. 

Dotmocracy   #action   #decision making   #group prioritization   #hyperisland   #remote-friendly   Dotmocracy is a simple method for group prioritization or decision-making. It is not an activity on its own, but a method to use in processes where prioritization or decision-making is the aim. The method supports a group to quickly see which options are most popular or relevant. The options or ideas are written on post-its and stuck up on a wall for the whole group to see. Each person votes for the options they think are the strongest, and that information is used to inform a decision.

All facilitators know that warm-ups and icebreakers are useful for any workshop or group process. Problem-solving workshops are no different.

Use these problem-solving techniques to warm up a group and prepare them for the rest of the process. Activating your group by tapping into some of the top problem-solving skills can be one of the best ways to see great outcomes from your session.

• Check-in/Check-out
• Doodling Together
• Show and Tell
• Constellations
• Draw a Tree

28. Check-in / Check-out

Solid processes are planned from beginning to end, and the best facilitators know that setting the tone and establishing a safe, open environment can be integral to a successful problem-solving process.

Check-in / Check-out is a great way to begin and/or bookend a problem-solving workshop. Checking in to a session emphasizes that everyone will be seen, heard, and expected to contribute. 

If you are running a series of meetings, setting a consistent pattern of checking in and checking out can really help your team get into a groove. We recommend this opening-closing activity for small to medium-sized groups though it can work with large groups if they’re disciplined!

Check-in / Check-out   #team   #opening   #closing   #hyperisland   #remote-friendly   Either checking-in or checking-out is a simple way for a team to open or close a process, symbolically and in a collaborative way. Checking-in/out invites each member in a group to be present, seen and heard, and to express a reflection or a feeling. Checking-in emphasizes presence, focus and group commitment; checking-out emphasizes reflection and symbolic closure.

29. Doodling Together  

Thinking creatively and not being afraid to make suggestions are important problem-solving skills for any group or team, and warming up by encouraging these behaviors is a great way to start. 

Doodling Together is one of our favorite creative ice breaker games – it’s quick, effective, and fun and can make all following problem-solving steps easier by encouraging a group to collaborate visually. By passing cards and adding additional items as they go, the workshop group gets into a groove of co-creation and idea development that is crucial to finding solutions to problems. 

Doodling Together   #collaboration   #creativity   #teamwork   #fun   #team   #visual methods   #energiser   #icebreaker   #remote-friendly   Create wild, weird and often funny postcards together & establish a group’s creative confidence.

30. Show and Tell

You might remember some version of Show and Tell from being a kid in school and it’s a great problem-solving activity to kick off a session.

Asking participants to prepare a little something before a workshop by bringing an object for show and tell can help them warm up before the session has even begun! Games that include a physical object can also help encourage early engagement before moving onto more big-picture thinking.

By asking your participants to tell stories about why they chose to bring a particular item to the group, you can help teams see things from new perspectives and see both differences and similarities in the way they approach a topic. Great groundwork for approaching a problem-solving process as a team! 

Show and Tell   #gamestorming   #action   #opening   #meeting facilitation   Show and Tell taps into the power of metaphors to reveal players’ underlying assumptions and associations around a topic The aim of the game is to get a deeper understanding of stakeholders’ perspectives on anything—a new project, an organizational restructuring, a shift in the company’s vision or team dynamic.

31. Constellations

Who doesn’t love stars? Constellations is a great warm-up activity for any workshop as it gets people up off their feet, energized, and ready to engage in new ways with established topics. It’s also great for showing existing beliefs, biases, and patterns that can come into play as part of your session.

Using warm-up games that help build trust and connection while also allowing for non-verbal responses can be great for easing people into the problem-solving process and encouraging engagement from everyone in the group. Constellations is great in large spaces that allow for movement and is definitely a practical exercise to allow the group to see patterns that are otherwise invisible. 

Constellations   #trust   #connection   #opening   #coaching   #patterns   #system   Individuals express their response to a statement or idea by standing closer or further from a central object. Used with teams to reveal system, hidden patterns, perspectives.

32. Draw a Tree

Problem-solving games that help raise group awareness through a central, unifying metaphor can be effective ways to warm-up a group in any problem-solving model.

Draw a Tree is a simple warm-up activity you can use in any group and which can provide a quick jolt of energy. Start by asking your participants to draw a tree in just 45 seconds – they can choose whether it will be abstract or realistic. 

Once the timer is up, ask the group how many people included the roots of the tree and use this as a means to discuss how we can ignore important parts of any system simply because they are not visible.

All problem-solving strategies are made more effective by thinking of problems critically and by exposing things that may not normally come to light. Warm-up games like Draw a Tree are great in that they quickly demonstrate some key problem-solving skills in an accessible and effective way.

Draw a Tree   #thiagi   #opening   #perspectives   #remote-friendly   With this game you can raise awarness about being more mindful, and aware of the environment we live in.

Each step of the problem-solving workshop benefits from an intelligent deployment of activities, games, and techniques. Bringing your session to an effective close helps ensure that solutions are followed through on and that you also celebrate what has been achieved.

Here are some problem-solving activities you can use to effectively close a workshop or meeting and ensure the great work you’ve done can continue afterward.

• One Breath Feedback
• Who What When Matrix
• Response Cards

How do I conclude a problem-solving process?

All good things must come to an end. With the bulk of the work done, it can be tempting to conclude your workshop swiftly and without a moment to debrief and align. This can be problematic in that it doesn’t allow your team to fully process the results or reflect on the process.

At the end of an effective session, your team will have gone through a process that, while productive, can be exhausting. It’s important to give your group a moment to take a breath, ensure that they are clear on future actions, and provide short feedback before leaving the space. 

The primary purpose of any problem-solving method is to generate solutions and then implement them. Be sure to take the opportunity to ensure everyone is aligned and ready to effectively implement the solutions you produced in the workshop.

Remember that every process can be improved and by giving a short moment to collect feedback in the session, you can further refine your problem-solving methods and see further success in the future too.

33. One Breath Feedback

Maintaining attention and focus during the closing stages of a problem-solving workshop can be tricky and so being concise when giving feedback can be important. It’s easy to incur “death by feedback” should some team members go on for too long sharing their perspectives in a quick feedback round. 

One Breath Feedback is a great closing activity for workshops. You give everyone an opportunity to provide feedback on what they’ve done but only in the space of a single breath. This keeps feedback short and to the point and means that everyone is encouraged to provide the most important piece of feedback to them. 

One breath feedback   #closing   #feedback   #action   This is a feedback round in just one breath that excels in maintaining attention: each participants is able to speak during just one breath … for most people that’s around 20 to 25 seconds … unless of course you’ve been a deep sea diver in which case you’ll be able to do it for longer.

34. Who What When Matrix 

Matrices feature as part of many effective problem-solving strategies and with good reason. They are easily recognizable, simple to use, and generate results.

The Who What When Matrix is a great tool to use when closing your problem-solving session by attributing a who, what and when to the actions and solutions you have decided upon. The resulting matrix is a simple, easy-to-follow way of ensuring your team can move forward. 

Great solutions can’t be enacted without action and ownership. Your problem-solving process should include a stage for allocating tasks to individuals or teams and creating a realistic timeframe for those solutions to be implemented or checked out. Use this method to keep the solution implementation process clear and simple for all involved. 

Who/What/When Matrix   #gamestorming   #action   #project planning   With Who/What/When matrix, you can connect people with clear actions they have defined and have committed to.

35. Response cards

Group discussion can comprise the bulk of most problem-solving activities and by the end of the process, you might find that your team is talked out! 

Providing a means for your team to give feedback with short written notes can ensure everyone is head and can contribute without the need to stand up and talk. Depending on the needs of the group, giving an alternative can help ensure everyone can contribute to your problem-solving model in the way that makes the most sense for them.

Response Cards is a great way to close a workshop if you are looking for a gentle warm-down and want to get some swift discussion around some of the feedback that is raised. 

Response Cards   #debriefing   #closing   #structured sharing   #questions and answers   #thiagi   #action   It can be hard to involve everyone during a closing of a session. Some might stay in the background or get unheard because of louder participants. However, with the use of Response Cards, everyone will be involved in providing feedback or clarify questions at the end of a session.

Save time and effort discovering the right solutions

A structured problem solving process is a surefire way of solving tough problems, discovering creative solutions and driving organizational change. But how can you design for successful outcomes?

With SessionLab, it’s easy to design engaging workshops that deliver results. Drag, drop and reorder blocks  to build your agenda. When you make changes or update your agenda, your session  timing   adjusts automatically , saving you time on manual adjustments.

Collaborating with stakeholders or clients? Share your agenda with a single click and collaborate in real-time. No more sending documents back and forth over email.

Explore  how to use SessionLab  to design effective problem solving workshops or  watch this five minute video  to see the planner in action!

Over to you

The problem-solving process can often be as complicated and multifaceted as the problems they are set-up to solve. With the right problem-solving techniques and a mix of creative exercises designed to guide discussion and generate purposeful ideas, we hope we’ve given you the tools to find the best solutions as simply and easily as possible.

Is there a problem-solving technique that you are missing here? Do you have a favorite activity or method you use when facilitating? Let us know in the comments below, we’d love to hear from you! 

thank you very much for these excellent techniques

Certainly wonderful article, very detailed. Shared!

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Using Creative Assignments to Reinforce Innovation, Problem Solving, Creativity, and Critical-Thinking Skills

• Carmen Saunders-Russell California State University, Northridge Author

The author explains how using creative assignments reinforces invention, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills in undergraduate health administration students. While several studies look at the use of creative assignments to help students develop these skills, few studies exist on their use in health administration. In addition, the use of assignment transparency is explored as a means to explain how integrative learning helps students connect concepts developed in creative assignments to real-world experiences. The author provides a framework for using this method of instruction with today’s learners and future healthcare leaders.

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17 Fun Problem Solving Activities for Kids

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As a child, I would spend hours putting together puzzles… whether it was 3-D puzzles or figuring out a crossword. I also loved it when teachers would give the class an open-ended question and we had to work in groups to figure out the answer in our own way.

Even something as simple as playing checkers with my brothers gave me the chance to use strategy as a way to win the game. I honestly believe that it’s so important for kids to solve problems at a young age, as it helps them think critically and outside the box.

Table of Contents

So, Why Is It Important To Teach Kids Problem Solving?

I think these kinds of activities are so important for kids to do because it helps them learn how to think analytically and solve problems on their own. It's a great way to get kids to use their imaginations and be creative.

Rote memorization simply does not have the same effect. This type of learning is great for learning facts like historical dates, but it’s not going to help kids figure out how events in history happened and the results.

We take these problem-solving skills into college, the workforce, and travel . My ability to problem solve since childhood has certainly got me through many sticky situations while in a new city or country.

Additionally, problem-solving helps children learn how to find creative solutions to challenges they may face both in and out of the classroom . These activities can also be fun and used in cohesion with school or playtime.

17 Fun Problem-Solving Activities for Kids

1. marble mazes.

This activity was selected because it requires them to think spatially. Spatial learning will benefit kids when they start driving, riding a bike, playing sports,etc.

To do this activity in its simplest form, you will need a piece of paper, a pencil, and some marbles. First, draw a maze on a piece of paper using a pencil.

Make sure to create a start and finish point. Then, place the marbles at the start of the maze. The goal is to get the marbles from the start to the finish by tilting the paper and using gravity to guide the marbles through the maze.

Another example of a marble maze can involve using toilet paper rolls taped together to create a three-dimensional maze. The larger the maze, the harder you can make it.

Check Price on Amazon!

If you are not into the DIY method, you can always buy a toy maze on Amazon. A good 48 piece puzzle is the Melissa & Doug Underwater Ocean Floor puzzle.

2. The Tower Challenge

Building a tower gives kids the chance to think about gravity, structure, and balance.

To do this activity, you will need some building materials like legos, blocks, or even toilet paper rolls. The challenge is to see how high they can stack the materials without the tower toppling over.

This can be done individually or in teams. An activity like this is good for younger kids and is the building block to learning about harder topics like engineering.

3. The Egg Drop Challenge

The egg drop challenge helps kids learn how to engineer a solution that prevents something from breaking. It requires them to think critically about which materials will best protect something fragile like an egg when dropped from a height.

To do this activity, you will need some eggs and various materials such as straws, cotton balls, bubble wrap, etc. The goal is to construct a device that will protect an egg from breaking upon impact.

This can be done individually or in teams . Teams can even have a competition for the best egg drop device.

As children begin handling, shopping for, and cooking their own food, activities like this will help them understand how to handle breakable items like bottles, eggs, delicate fruit,.etc. Ideally, this is best for age groups 8 and up.

4. The Penny Drop Challenge

This activity was selected because it requires kids to think about physics and how different materials affect sound.

To do this activity, you will need a penny ( or another coin), a cup, and various materials such as paper towels, cotton balls, etc.

The goal is to drop the penny into the cup without making any noise. Begin by placing different materials into the cup and then drop the penny into it. The children should also drop the penny from different heights into the same material to see if/how the impact from a higher drop affects sound.

Group kids into teams or let them try it on their own.

Kids should make note of what type of sounds are made when the penny hits different materials. This is a great activity for kids who are interested in science and physics.

5. The Balloon Race Challenge

This activity was selected because it helps kids learn about aerodynamics and Bernoulli’s principle . It also requires them to think creatively about how to design a balloon-powered vehicle.

To do this activity, you will need balloons, straws, masking tape, and markers. The goal is to design a balloon-powered vehicle that can travel a distance of at least 10 feet. Kids can begin this activity by sketching out their designs on paper.

After they have a basic design, they can begin building their vehicle from various materials. Then kids can explain why they think the balloon traveled or did not travel as far as it did.

6. The Marshmallow Challenge

Marshmallows are not only delicious, but they are also soft and malleable. So kids can have fun using it for some construction projects.

This activity was selected because it requires kids to think creatively about how to build a structure using limited materials. It also helps them learn about engineering and work as a team.

To do this activity, you will need marshmallows and spaghetti noodles. The goal is to build the tallest free-standing structure possible using only marshmallows and spaghetti noodles. If you don't have spaghetti noodles, use something similar like pretzel sticks.

You may even want to establish certain rules like each team can only use a certain number of marshmallows or noodles. A time limit can also make it more fun and challenging.

For more fun activities, check out our post on problem solving exercises for team building .

7. The Balloon Pop Challenge

If you remember your childhood, you probably remember popping balloons for fun at times. But this activity is different because it requires kids to use strategy and critical thinking.

This activity was selected because it helps kids learn about patterns and problem-solving. It is also a lot of fun for kids who like popping balloons. The goal is to create a device that will allow them to pop a balloon without using their hands.

To do this activity, you will need balloons and various materials such as straws, string, paper clips, etc.

8. Picture Pieces Puzzle Game

As mentioned earlier, puzzles are a great pastime – especially in childhood. Kids must think critically about how to put the pieces together to create a certain picture. It also helps them learn about shapes, colors, and other concepts.

You can take a medium to large picture and cut it into pieces. If you have younger kids, you may want to make the pieces larger. However, if you have kids closer to the 8-11 age range, you should be able to provide a challenge and make the pieces smaller.

9. Copy the Block Model

For this challenge, you can build a model out of blocks for the kids to copy. Put kids into groups and make sure each group has the same number of blocks you used for your model.

Make your model block as simple or complex as needed for your child's age group.

Set a time limit and make sure each group starts at the same time.

10. Team Scavenger Hunt

A scavenger hunt is great for kids because they have to search for items and use investigative skills. It is also a lot of fun and can be done both indoors and outdoors .

To do this activity, you will need to create a list of items for the kids to find. The items can be anything from common household items to things you would find outside.

These types of activities can also revolve around a theme like a holiday, movie, or book. For example, if the kids are fans of “Harry Potter” you can make a list of items to find that are related to the movie.

11. Obstacle Course

This activity requires kids to think creatively about how to get from one point to another while maneuvering around obstacles. If you have outdoor space, this can be done with common objects such as hula hoops, cones, etc.

If you don't have access to an outdoor space, you can use common household items to create an indoor obstacle course. For example, you can use chairs, blankets, pillows, etc.

Begin by setting up the course and then timing each child as they complete it. You can also have them race against each other to make it more fun.

Obstacle courses are also great because kids get to be physically active while they are thinking critically.

12. Reading Storybooks

There are many great benefits for kids that read storybooks.  One of the excellent benefits is the ability to problem-solve.  When they read the stories in the books, they see scenarios that cause them to be attached to the various characters they read about. 

So, when they encounter a real-life problem, it is often productive to ask a child how their favorite character would solve that problem.  Your kids can also be encouraged to come up with various options and possible outcomes for some of the situations they may encounter. 

This not only helps kids solve various problems but become more independent as well. 

13. Ask Them Open-Ended Questions

A good way to improve a child's ability to think critically and creatively and improve their ability to solve problems is by asking open-ended questions.  It also helps them to develop healthy personalities .

There are no right or wrong answers to these questions.  In addition, the solution requires more than a simple “yes” or “no” answer.  Furthermore, it allows kids to put some extra thought into their responses. 

Here are some examples of open-ended questions you may want to ask. 

• What did this experience teach you?
• Was this easy?  What was easy about it?
• What this difficult?  What is complicated about it?
• What may happen next in this situation?
• How did you come to this solution?
• What, if anything, would you do differently next time?
• What can we do to make things more fun next time?

14. Build Various Structures with Toys

Whether wooden blocks, LEGO blocks, or engineering blocks… giving your kid blocks to build whatever their minds can dream up is fun.  In addition, it requires them to think about how they will make a structure, put the pieces together, and creatively ensure the building's function and design. 

You may also want to challenge them to build something more complicated and watch them use their brain power to make it happen. 

15. Acting Out Skits

Impromptu activities like acting out skits help kids identify problems, develop solutions, and execute them.  This process works with multiple kids being divided into teams. 

First, you will want to write down different situations, such as resolving a disagreement between siblings or dealing with bullying on the playground on a piece of paper.  Second, you will fold the paper and place it in a hat or bowl.  

Third, each team will pick a scenario out of the hat.  Finally, you can give the kids a few minutes to discuss their solution and act out. 

16. Solving Moral Dilemmas   

In this simple game, you will help your kids solve simple dilemmas they may find themselves in.  You could write down a situation your child may find themselves in and help them learn the moral way to solve the problem.   

For instance, “The cashier gave them an additional $5 change back on my purchase.  What should they do?”  Another scenario could be, “I saw my friend cheating on a test.  Should I tell on them or let it go?”  A third one could be, “I caught my friends stealing some gum from the store.  What should I do?” 

After writing down the dilemmas and placing them in a bowl, get each child to select one and read it aloud.  Finally, you will help them devise morally correct solutions to the moral dilemma. 

17. Animal Pairing Game  

This is a fun and creative game to help your kids with focus, critical thinking, and team building skills .  In addition, this activity requires an even number of players to participate (4, 6, 8, etc.) 

Before starting the game, you will want to write the names of different animals twice, each on a separate slip of paper.  Then pass out the slips of paper to each individual or team member, instructing them not to share with anyone the name of the animal they received. 

Then the children will perform activities the animals might do without talking or making sounds.  Some of these activities might include:

• The way the animal cleans or grooms itself
• The way the animal sleeps
• The way the animal fights
• The way the animal eats or drinks
• The way the animal walks or runs

The goal is for each child to successfully pair up with the other child who has selected the same animal.

How Problem Solving in Childhood Helps in Adulthood

Children are not born with problem-solving skills. It is something that needs to be learned and developed over time .

From babies who learn how to communicate their needs to toddlers who figure out how to get what they want, to children who are starting to understand the consequences of their actions – problem-solving is a process that begins in childhood and continues into adulthood.

Some of the benefits of teaching problem-solving skills to children include:

• Improved critical thinking skills
• Better decision-making skills
• Enhanced creativity
• Improved communication and collaboration skills
• Increased confidence

There are many ways to teach problem-solving skills to children. The activities mentioned above are just a few examples. It is important to find activities that are appropriate for the age and abilities of the child.

With practice, children will develop these skills and be better prepared to face challenges in both childhood and adulthood.

Final Thoughts About Fun Problem Solving Activities For Kids

These are just a few ideas to get you started on teaching your child crucial problem solving skills. Perhaps they’ve inspired to come with some of your own, or seek out others? The important thing is to make sure the activity is age-appropriate and challenging enough to engage the kids.

Problem-solving skills are important for kids to learn because they can be applied to various situations in life. These skills also promote critical thinking, which is an important life skill.

There are many other problem-solving activities for kids out there. In time, you’ll find the ones that work best for your child.  And be sure not to forget about your own needs and self-improvement, both of which will make you a better parent and mentor. Here are some useful activities for adults to get your started.

Finally, if you want to level up your parenting skills, then check out this resource that will show you how to get your kids to listen WITHOUT yelling, nagging, or losing control .

Join L&T EduTech’s Faculty Immersion Program Exclusively for HODs & Senior Professors

10 - 15 June, 2024 Venue: L&T HQ, Manapakkam, Chennai

Unleashing Faculty Potential for Tangible Solutions

Shaping leaders through real world problem solving.

10-15 June 2024

L&T HQ, Chennai

Introduction

In today's fast-paced landscape, academia faces the ongoing challenges of evolving demands from diverse industries. Traditional problem-solving methods often fall short in addressing the dynamic needs of modern businesses, which have transitioned into what is now termed the project economy. Projects play a pivotal role in achieving organizational strategic objectives.

Effective leadership is essential for understanding stakeholder needs and translating creative ideas into successful outcomes. The essence of problem-solving lies in the ability to bridge the gap between creative ideation and successful execution. This entails transforming abstract concepts into actionable plans with clearly defined goals, timelines, and allocated resources. The iterative process of exploration, experimentation, and adaptation empowers academic leaders to deliver innovative solutions that not only tackle core challenges but also surpass expectations, driving sustainable long-term success.

The Faculty Immersion Program on Real World Problem Solving (FIP-RPS) aims to equip academicians with the skills and knowledge to prepare future-ready engineers and project managers. Rather than focusing solely on project management principles, this program adopts a problem-solving approach with an emphasis on effective leadership. Tailored for senior educators across various disciplines, this FIP-RPS stands as a beacon of empowerment in navigating the complexities of contemporary challenges.

About L&T IPM

The L&T Institute of Project Management (IPM) was established to offer long-term and short-term training programs on project management for the L&T group of companies and its eco-system partners (ONGC, HPCL, RIL, World Bank, Vedanta, TAFE, SAIL, Aditya Birla Group, Aramco IKTVA, and knowledge providers in the domain of civil and project management).

IPM has international and domestic academic collaborations with esteemed universities such as SDA Bocconi, Italy; University of Texas, Austin, USA; IIM Indore, India; and IIM Calcutta, India. L&T IPM also has collaborations with premier professional bodies, such as PMI (USA), AACE International (USA), RICS (UK), and the Construction Industry Institute (CII, University of Texas, USA).

The IPM has an excellent Knowledge Centre that provides a comprehensive collection of reference books, technical and professional periodicals. IPM has subscriptions to several prestigious journals and databases such as ProQuest, Emerald, SAGE, ASCE, and collections of DVDs on mega projects. These resources aid extensive research and teaching on project management.

IPM offers a wide range of learning paths tailor-made for the target audience, with a strong focus on the capability, competency, and maturity required to perform project management functions. We use modern pedagogies and teaching methods to provide exceptional project management education to the participants.

Faculty Immersion Program on Real World Problem Solving

L&T EduTech in collaboration with L&T Institute of Project Management (IPM) has customized this program exclusively for leading academicians across the Nation.

Program Outcomes

• To keep pace with the changing & current scenarios in technical education ensuring alignment with industry trends.
• To enhance skills and competencies to solve real world industry problems through project management techniques.
• To develop domain specific problem-solving competencies.
• To gain awareness of modern teaching tools and methodologies in academia.
• To engage in various research and academic skill development programs.
• To upgrade knowledge and skills of the Project Management across various aspects of theory & practice.

What to Expect

Interaction with practising experts to create experiential learning

Develop the skills to lead larger, more dispersed teams

Gain a comprehensive understanding of project management knowledge areas

Insights into shaping organizational culture and develop strategies for change management

Explore new pedagogical techniques and prepare students for problem-solving

Gain a competitive edge for professional advancement in academia

Immersive experience at L&T mega projects

Networking and collaboration with global industry leaders, practising experts and peers

Focus areas.

Effective Organizational Leadership

Problem Solving Expertise through Project Management

Industry Collaboration and Future Trends

Building Self-Awareness and Emotional Intelligence

Who can participate, this program is applicable to senior faculty members across various domains., l&t ipm certifications along with the pmi pdus (21 pdus), opportunities to associate with l&t ipm for project management advisory, paid training assignments for selected individuals*, probable research collaboration with the ipm faculty**, dissemination of industry trends and problem solving competency to students.

* as per the selection criteria of L&T IPM ** in the area of project management

Program Guidelines

The colleges shall nominate leading academicians across various domains for the Program.

Participants are obliged to carry both their government-issued ID proof and institutional ID card.

The participants will have to take care of their own travel and accommodation.

The participants are requested to report at the venue by 9:00 AM on the first day of the Program.

The Program fee includes lunch, refreshments and travel to sites.

A participation certificate will be awarded to all participants by Larsen & Toubro

Important Dates

09 April 2024

Registrations Open

15 May 2024

Registration Closes

4th Week of May 2024

Confirmation to Participation

Program Dates