Creative Problem Solving

Creative problem solving is the mental process of creating a solution to a problem. It is a special form of problem solving in which the solution is independently created rather than learned with assistance.

Creative problem solving always involves creativity. However, creativity often does not involve creative problem solving, especially in fields such as music, poetry, and art. Creativity requires newness or novelty as a characteristic of what is created, but creativity does not necessarily imply that what is created has value or is appreciated by other people.

To qualify as creative problem solving the solution must either have value, clearly solve the stated problem, or be appreciated by someone for whom the situation improves.

The situation prior to the solution does not need to be labeled as a problem. Alternate labels include a challenge, an opportunity, an improvable situation, or a situation in which there is room for improvement.

Solving school-assigned homework problems does not usually involve creative problem solving because such problems typically have well-known solutions.

If a created solution becomes widely used, the solution becomes an innovation and the word innovation also refers to the process of creating that innovation. A widespread and long-lived innovation typically becomes a new tradition. "All innovations [begin] as creative solutions, but not all creative solutions become innovations." Some innovations also qualify as inventions.

Inventing is a special kind of creative problem solving in which the created solution qualifies as an invention because it is a useful new object, substance, process, software, or other kind of marketable entity.

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Working towards understanding and having a concrete basis of a problems dynamic is an integral part to finding solutions. If you know how it works, what the problem really is, then you have a better problem-solving foundation.

Create a simple statement.
Identify the particulars and what their relationships with one another are. Take note of the things you stand to gain and stand to lose from the current problem. By doing this you have a simple statement to assist you in finding a realistic solution.

Take note of most of the constraints and assumptions you have towards the problem. Sometimes it is these very things that obstruct our view to possible solutions.

As you work further on a problem go from a general view towards the more detailed parts. This is called the top-down approach.

Solving the problem in parts.
Write down a question, and then come up with a one-sentence solution. The solutions should be a general statement of what will solve the problem. From here you can develop the solution further, and decrease its complexity little by little.

Although it helps to have critical thinking skills as you solve a problem, you must also keep a more creative voice at the back of your head.

Think of other perspectives.
Considering alternatives while working towards a solution actually provides you with more choices, a way to look at your problem in another way. As in #2 make sure to highlight the important points that need to be addressed.

It pays to remember that there may be more than just one solution being developed at one time. Smaller issues won't take as much thinking or working through as a larger problem.

Keeping track.
Writing things down gets them out of your head and onto paper. All the solutions and their developments can easily be written in shorthand on a single sheet of paper (smaller issues) or in a notebook (larger issues). No matter where you document your work, make sure timely topics do not get buried in your writing.

Ever heard, "Two heads are better than one"? Listening to and opening yourself to ideas from other people can be essential to solving a problem. This is especially true when a person has had experiences solving problems similar to yours.

Learning from other's experiences.
You don't have to be a solo hero to solve your problems. If you can organize collective thoughts on your subject, it may help boost your original thinking or steer you into a newly conceived direction!

Most problems are not solved overnight, remind yourself to be patient. As long as you persist, there is a greater chance that a solution will present itself.

Putting it all together.
Create...Work...Solve...Think...Track...Learn!

At the center of a piece of paper write any word that comes to mind. Thinking further, look at that word and write the first two words that come to your mind. From those words build your list of related terms. This goes on until you build a tree of related words, fortifying your creative process!

Next time you see a problem and are unable to realize the solution, think again. Combining your life and learned experiences, creative thinking, some planning, and or inner work the solution will be easier to conquer!

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