problem solving skills (1)

Problem Solving Skills

Presented byJude Iruthayaraj

Private and Confidential 2

Objectives:

Define creative problem solving.

Be familiar with common mental blocks to creative thinking process.

Explore ways to be more creative.

Know the steps to the creative problem solving process.

Be familiar with: Brainstorming, Mind mapping and Multivoting

Apply tools to solve a problem.


What is creative problem solving?

“Creative problem solving is - looking at the same thing as everyone else and thinking something different.”


Thoughts… The creative person uses information to form new ideas.

The real key to creative problem solving is what you do with the knowledge.

Creative problem solving requires an attitude that allows you to search for new ideas and use your knowledge and experience.

Change perspective and use knowledge to make the ordinary extraordinary and the usual commonplace.


Barriers that get in our way

Time

Why change?

Usually don’t need to be creative

Habit

Routine

Haven’t been taught to be creative

Mental blocks Mental blocks are reasons (attitudes) why we don’t “think something different.”


Be more creative

How can we be more creative?

Write down at least 3 ideas that come to your mind.

1________________

2________________

3________________


Problem solving process

STEP 1. State what appears to be the problem.

The real problem may not surface until facts are

gathered and analyzed. Therefore, start with what you

assume to be the problem, that can later be confirmed or

corrected.


STEP 2. Gather facts, feelings and opinions. What happened? Where, when and how did it occur? What is it’s size, scope, and severity? Who and what is affected? Likely to happen again? Need to be corrected? May need to assign priorities to critical elements.



STEP 3. Restate the problem.

The real facts help make this possible, and provide supporting data.

The actual problem may, or may not be the same as stated in Step 1.



STEP 4. Identify alternative solutions.

Generate ideas, Do not eliminate any possible solutions until several have been discussed.



STEP 5. Evaluate alternatives.

Which will provide the optimum solution? What are the risks? Are costs in keeping with the benefits? Will the solution create new problems?



STEP 6. Implement the decision.

Who must be involved? To what extent? How, when and where? Who will the decision impact? What might go wrong? How will the results be reported and verified?



STEP 7. Evaluate the results.

Test the solution against the desired results. Make revisions if necessary.



10 Questions to encourage ideas1. What if…?

2. How can we improve…?

3. How will the Optimist Member and/or the community benefit?

4. Are we forgetting anything?

5. What’s the next step?

6. What can we do better…?

7. What do you think about…?

8. What should we add?

9. What should we eliminate?

10. What other ideas do you have...?


Problem SolvingTools

&Techniques


Brainstorming:

Purpose:

To generate a large number of ideas in a short period of time.

Tools & Techniques


Brainstorming

Rules for Brainstorming:

– The more ideas the better!

– No discussion

– No idea is a bad idea

– Build on one another’s ideas

– Display all ideas


Guidelines:Practice question: How Do We Motivate our team?

Clarify to understand, Once all the ideas have been generated, review ideas offered

RememberCreativeThinking

What did you mean by that?!!!

Brainstorming


The brainstorming process is completed once the ideas have been offered, discussed and consolidated

Let’s combine ideas!!!

Are wedone yet?

Brainstorming

Guidelines:Combine items that are similar and eliminate duplicates

Completion.


Multivoting

Purpose:To help a group of people make a decision with which they are comfortable.

Definition:A way to vote to select the most important or popular items (alternatives) from a list.

Tools & Techniques


Multivoting

Steps:

1. Generate a list of items and number each item.

2. If two or more items seem similar, they may be combined.

3. If necessary, renumber the items.

Multivoting

List

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.


4. Write down the numbers of the items you feel are the major cause of the problem.

5. Share your votes by a show of hands.

6. Eliminate those items with the fewest votes.

7. Repeat steps 3 (renumber) through 6 on the list of remaining items. Continue this process until only a few items remain. If a clear favorite does not emerge, the group may discuss the items listed and make a choice.

Multivoting


Mind mappingPurpose :– Unblock our thinking.

– See an entire idea or several ideas on one sheet of paper.

– See how ideas relate to one another.– Look at things in a new and different way.– Look at an idea in depth.

Definition : A visual picture of a group of ideas, concepts or issues.

Tools & Techniques


Mind Mapping ExerciseOver-sized blank sheet of paper. Select word, phrase or problem statement

to serve as a focus for discussion.Print it in the middle of the paper. Enclose

it in a box or oval.Let a word pop out of your mind.

Print it anywhere on the paper.Underline it and connect the line with the

problem statement (or key phrase or word)you are working.

Record the next idea and connect it tooriginal focus point or the prior thought.

Continue printing and connecting words.

Think freely!!


Mind Mapping Exercise


Mind Mapping ExerciseHelpful Hints

Keep your printing large and easy to read.

Feel free to use symbols and or pictures.

Have some fun using different colors.


Mind Mapping - Video

Click on black screen to view the video:

Thank You!!!

problem solving skills (1)

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