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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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How to Solve Problems Using Mind Maps

Last Updated: August 4, 2021

This article was co-authored by Jeff Siegel . Jeff Siegel is a Holistic Life Coach and the Founder of Jeff Siegel Wellness. With nearly 10 years of experience, he specializes in mind-body medicine, life coaching, health and wellness coaching, mindfulness, corporate training, and transformational public speaking. He received a Master of Education from Harvard Graduate School of Education, a Master of Buddhist Studies from The University of Hong Kong, and a BSc in Neuroscience & Biology from Emory University. He’s also a certified personal trainer, a certified Eating Psychology Coach, and a certified Koru Mindfulness Teacher. This article has been viewed 88,558 times.

If you want to solve a problem, it's a good idea to combine

• mind mapping and
• problem solving tools (like brainstorming, asking questions, drawing a diagram...).

This way, you can profit from the benefits of each approach. (If you are not yet familiar with mind mapping, have a look at the wikiHow article How to Make a Mind Map)

• Avoid a description of your problem that is too narrow.

• I = identify problems and opportunities
• D = define alternative goals
• E = explore possible strategies
• A = anticipate and act
• L = look and learn.

• Develop your ideas in subbranches.
• Use problem solving tools for each stage.
• You find a collection of problem solving tools in the "Tips" section below.

• See the video below for an example.

Expert Q&A

• For each of the IDEAL stages, you can assemble a number of useful tools.
• Understand the problem
• Devise a plan
• Carry out the plan
• Review/extend
• For more detailed information, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_P%C3%B3lya

Things You'll Need

• blank paper, size A4 or larger
• pens, preferably in different colours
• optional: text markers
• this is great for keeping your tool map up to date
• Freeplane (download at http://freeplane.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page ) or
• FreeMind (download at http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page ).

You Might Also Like

• Bransford, J.D.; Stein, B.S.: The IDEAL Problem Solver. W.H. Freeman and Company, New York 1993 (Source for the IDEAL strategy)

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Nine essential problem solving tools: The ultimate guide to finding a solution

October 26, 2023 by MindManager Blog

Problem solving may unfold differently depending on the industry, or even the department you work in. However, most agree that before you can fix any issue, you need to be clear on what it is, why it’s happening, and what your ideal long-term solution will achieve.

Understanding both the nature and the cause of a problem is the only way to figure out which actions will help you resolve it.

Given that most problem-solving processes are part inspiration and part perspiration, you’ll be more successful if you can reach for a problem solving tool that facilitates collaboration, encourages creative thinking, and makes it easier to implement the fix you devise.

The problem solving tools include three unique categories: problem solving diagrams, problem solving mind maps, and problem solving software solutions.

They include:

• Fishbone diagrams
• Strategy maps
• Mental maps
• Concept maps
• Layered process audit software
• Charting software
• MindManager

In this article, we’ve put together a roundup of versatile problem solving tools and software to help you and your team map out and repair workplace issues as efficiently as possible.

Let’s get started!

Problem solving diagrams

Mapping your way out of a problem is the simplest way to see where you are, and where you need to end up.

Not only do visual problem maps let you plot the most efficient route from Point A (dysfunctional situation) to Point B (flawless process), problem mapping diagrams make it easier to see:

• The root cause of a dilemma.
• The steps, resources, and personnel associated with each possible solution.
• The least time-consuming, most cost-effective options.

A visual problem solving process help to solidify understanding. Furthermore, it’s a great way for you and your team to transform abstract ideas into a practical, reconstructive plan.

Here are three examples of common problem mapping diagrams you can try with your team:

1. Fishbone diagrams

Fishbone diagrams are a common problem solving tool so-named because, once complete, they resemble the skeleton of a fish.

With the possible root causes of an issue (the ribs) branching off from either side of a spine line attached to the head (the problem), dynamic fishbone diagrams let you:

• Lay out a related set of possible reasons for an existing problem
• Investigate each possibility by breaking it out into sub-causes
• See how contributing factors relate to one another

Fishbone diagrams are also known as cause and effect or Ishikawa diagrams.

2. Flowcharts

A flowchart is an easy-to-understand diagram with a variety of applications. But you can use it to outline and examine how the steps of a flawed process connect.

Made up of a few simple symbols linked with arrows indicating workflow direction, flowcharts clearly illustrate what happens at each stage of a process – and how each event impacts other events and decisions.

3. Strategy maps

Frequently used as a strategic planning tool, strategy maps also work well as problem mapping diagrams. Based on a hierarchal system, thoughts and ideas can be arranged on a single page to flesh out a potential resolution.

Once you’ve got a few tactics you feel are worth exploring as possible ways to overcome a challenge, a strategy map will help you establish the best route to your problem-solving goal.

Problem solving mind maps

Problem solving mind maps are especially valuable in visualization. Because they facilitate the brainstorming process that plays a key role in both root cause analysis and the identification of potential solutions, they help make problems more solvable.

Mind maps are diagrams that represent your thinking. Since many people struggle taking or working with hand-written or typed notes, mind maps were designed to let you lay out and structure your thoughts visually so you can play with ideas, concepts, and solutions the same way your brain does.

By starting with a single notion that branches out into greater detail, problem solving mind maps make it easy to:

• Explain unfamiliar problems or processes in less time
• Share and elaborate on novel ideas
• Achieve better group comprehension that can lead to more effective solutions

Mind maps are a valuable problem solving tool because they’re geared toward bringing out the flexible thinking that creative solutions require. Here are three types of problem solving mind maps you can use to facilitate the brainstorming process.

4. Mental maps

A mental map helps you get your thoughts about what might be causing a workplace issue out of your head and onto a shared digital space.

Because mental maps mirror the way our brains take in and analyze new information, using them to describe your theories visually will help you and your team work through and test those thought models.

5. Idea maps

Idea maps let you take advantage of a wide assortment of colors and images to lay down and organize your scattered thought process. Idea maps are ideal brainstorming tools because they allow you to present and explore ideas about the best way to solve a problem collaboratively, and with a shared sense of enthusiasm for outside-the-box thinking.

6. Concept maps

Concept maps are one of the best ways to shape your thoughts around a potential solution because they let you create interlinked, visual representations of intricate concepts.

By laying out your suggested problem-solving process digitally – and using lines to form and define relationship connections – your group will be able to see how each piece of the solution puzzle connects with another.

Problem solving software solutions

Problem solving software is the best way to take advantage of multiple problem solving tools in one platform. While some software programs are geared toward specific industries or processes – like manufacturing or customer relationship management, for example – others, like MindManager , are purpose-built to work across multiple trades, departments, and teams.

Here are three problem-solving software examples.

7. Layered process audit software

Layered process audits (LPAs) help companies oversee production processes and keep an eye on the cost and quality of the goods they create. Dedicated LPA software makes problem solving easier for manufacturers because it helps them see where costly leaks are occurring and allows all levels of management to get involved in repairing those leaks.

8. Charting software

Charting software comes in all shapes and sizes to fit a variety of business sectors. Pareto charts, for example, combine bar charts with line graphs so companies can compare different problems or contributing factors to determine their frequency, cost, and significance. Charting software is often used in marketing, where a variety of bar charts and X-Y axis diagrams make it possible to display and examine competitor profiles, customer segmentation, and sales trends.

9. MindManager

No matter where you work, or what your problem-solving role looks like, MindManager is a problem solving software that will make your team more productive in figuring out why a process, plan, or project isn’t working the way it should.

Once you know why an obstruction, shortfall, or difficulty exists, you can use MindManager’s wide range of brainstorming and problem mapping diagrams to:

• Find the most promising way to correct the situation
• Activate your chosen solution, and
• Conduct regular checks to make sure your repair work is sustainable

MindManager is the ultimate problem solving software.

Not only is it versatile enough to use as your go-to system for puzzling out all types of workplace problems, MindManager’s built-in forecasting tools, timeline charts, and warning indicators let you plan, implement, and monitor your solutions.

By allowing your group to work together more effectively to break down problems, uncover solutions, and rebuild processes and workflows, MindManager’s versatile collection of problem solving tools will help make everyone on your team a more efficient problem solver.

Download a free trial today to get started!

Ready to take the next step?

MindManager helps boost collaboration and productivity among remote and hybrid teams to achieve better results, faster.

Why choose MindManager?

MindManager® helps individuals, teams, and enterprises bring greater clarity and structure to plans, projects, and processes. It provides visual productivity tools and mind mapping software to help take you and your organization to where you want to be.

Explore MindManager

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What does a problem-solving mind map look like?

So what does a problem-solving mind map refer to? Well, when we think of mind mapping, we think of generating ideas or brainstorming. When you brainstorm ideas, it’s not about possible solutions; it’s about all the possibilities. The focus of a mind map is more on where to explore and find strategies. Yet with a stable framework, it can help to find solutions for complex problems.

This is yet another one of many mind map examples out there and one of the most efficient problem-solving strategies you can use. Mind maps are already powerful idea-generating tools to consider. They help with the complexities and chaos to get to the most efficient path.

It can be a particular problem or several problems where you’re trying to process the big picture. It helps to organize solutions that are hiding in the brain, whether those problems come from life or business. The structure of a problem-solving mind map slightly shifts, but the technique of mind mapping stays the same. Of course, it helps to understand how to see the big picture of how to solve a problem first.

Is mind mapping an efficient tool for problem-solving?

Short and long answer, a mind map is excellent for problem-solving. This is because it’ll have all the elements that are different in one place. The central idea instead is the actual problem, and the connections branch out. We now brainstorm ideas that are really there to point out the possible solutions.

If the problem is too complex, creating multiple simpler mind maps will help the brain to process possible solutions easier. A recent study shows how the brain can handle the essentials first against complex problems. This puts less stress on the brain and gives a better chance to solve the problem.

A mind map helps with the rest of the components of the study as well. You’re able to divide up the ideas and content, such as images or even a reference article. The benefit of creating a mind map is that central concept and base for all the detailed information. It all depends on how you use mind maps , to begin with.

How is a problem-solving mind map structured?

It’s a good idea to have the key skills required to make a normal mind map. Even before we get there, take a moment to do an exercise on paper. Write the problem down and try to connect or implement solutions throughout. You’ll quickly see the need to organize, and here you can stop and head back to your mind map software. It’s more just to see that structure is essential, as well as data and information collection.

Key skills include knowing typical structures, what main branches are, and mapping out the flows. Getting these key skills mean using a graphic organizer on a constant basis. Whether you make business mind maps , creativity mind maps, or education mind maps , make sure to have the right level of experience. You want this before attempting mind mapping to find solutions to a simple or complex problem.

Once you get the key skills required, the structure of the problem-solving mind map starts out the same.

Here we begin with a hierarchical approach, where the main branches are the problems to address. The sub-branches are either ideas or solutions to the problems. It benefits from the creativity and brainstorming that comes with mapping a mind map.

You can also go with a radiant thinking approach, where you start with the problem in the center. As the central idea, the ideas and solutions will radiant from the center. It’s ok to put imaginative solutions as well as more practical ones as a mind-mapping technique.

Consider colors and symbols

It may be a good idea to color code the sub-branches and write down what each color means. Writing notes is a standard aspect of mind maps focused on solving a problem. Don’t be shy to use images in your mind maps. These images can be of an individual problem, such as a roadblock that represents an obstacle. You can use positive symbols for your mind mapping to show ideas or a solution.

Doing mind maps this way actually ends up making them much more fun to use. That means you’ll be more prone to map out everything that you need to solve.

Mind map templates for problem-solving

You can start creating your mind map from scratch and get inspiration from existing mind map examples, or you can use a predefined template. Here are the most used templates you can copy and edit anytime:

1. Problem solving mind map template

This mind mapping template helps you solve a problem following the 5 step strategy: describe the problem, set goals, identify possible solutions, make an action plan, and add conclusions.

2. Manage a problem

This mind map helps you identify all the information on how the elements of problem management interact with each other. It’s more suitable for complex problems.

3. 6 Thinking Hats

The 6 thinking hats template allows looking at a problem from multiple perspectives. This way, you get significantly higher chances of solving it more effectively.

4. 5-Whys Root Cause analysis

This template will help you find the reasons behind the obvious reasons and go back to the root of your problem.

5. Means-end analysis

This is suitable for simple problems and has a similar backward process as the template above.

6. Fishbone diagram

The fishbone diagram is a fantastic example of a mind map for kids , and adults can also use it.

7. Problem description toolbox

Before starting to solve a problem, it is essential to describe and analyze it constructively and comprehensively. That is exactly what this template will guide you to do.

Mind mapping a problem is not a one-time solution

Problem-solving is typically an iterative approach, and that means your mind map will be a dynamic tool. That’s why it’s always best to use mind mapping software when possible so as to be able to keep track of everything. Whether you’re using it for problem-solving on your business plan or for making life choices, you want it fresh. Even if a particular problem has been resolved, adding on a new creative problem keeps the brain working to find a solution.

Don’t forget to take time to get fresh air once in a while to clear your head. Your daily life problems you’re trying to resolve will still be there. A clear mind will help bring in more ideas and eventually the desired result you were looking for. Problem-solving isn’t always meant to be easy. Mind maps can only be effective at problem-solving when you’re fresh as well.

Use the right mind-mapping tools

When you are creating a mind map for problem-solving, you want to start with an example of an excellent mind map. Mindomo helps you not only with the right starter example but with one ready to handle a problem.

It comes with tools to help organize your thoughts , focus on the moment’s problem, and show all the possibilities. You can place problems on one end and solutions on the other. Or you can map out the whole end-to-end route from problem to solution. Either way, it will help you solve problems.

 Get your problem-solving hat out and be amazed at how mind-mapping software removes the difficulties of getting started. Feel free to try out our flexible tool and simple solution today. You’ll find the answer to your complex problems in no time.

Keep it smart, simple, and creative! The Mindomo Team

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Making Mind Map for Problem-Solving Using the Most Appropriate Mind Mapping Tool

Are you worried about resolving problems? Do you want to make it a more creative way? Don't be concerned; a mind map is one of the most effective problem-solving tools. Mind mapping can help you find solutions to any issue quickly. However, problem-solving mind maps allow you to think logically and creatively wherein you can expand your critical thinking. This article will discover how mind mapping can help you lighten your load and calm down in stressful situations.

Part 1. What is Mind Mapping in Problem-Solving?

Part 2. the five benefits of using a mind map to solve problems, part 3. how mind map are used for problem-solving.

• Part 4. FAQs About Mind Map for Problem Solving

Problem-solving is where you can define a problem and figure out the cause. Making a mind mapping for problem-solving requires serious brainstorming for generating ideas and finding a solution to a problem. Moreover, working with problem-solving requires a better understanding and critical thinking, it is essential to understand the process wherein it is part of a systematic problem.

Furthermore, problem-solving refers to a person's ability to successfully manage and solve complex and unexpected problems. You can solve a problem when the time is right to find a better solution. One of the best options is to use a mind mapping tool; it is useful for problem-solving cases, great brainstorming, and as a note-taking method. It will undoubtedly assist you in enlightening your needs and reducing your stress.

1. Using a mind map to solve problems can also help you in your daily life by enlightening your information needs.

2. It can also help you in improving your ability and attempting to reach situations more professionally.

3. Using mind mapping software can help you manage your time. You can manage your time wisely and focus on what's important.

4. Using a mind map for problem-solving helps you understand relationships, and you can also identify opportunities in problems.

Mind maps are a one-of-a-kind way to stay organized while also sharing detailed information. Mind maps are an excellent way to be creative while also connecting your findings, whether you need to demonstrate a solution to a problem or present your research. Furthermore, mind maps can assist you if you have difficulty solving problems, and MindOnMap is the best option to meet your needs.

MindOnMap is the most convenient and one of the best problem-solving mind mapping software options for problem-solving. It can give you a brighter idea of how effective your instruction is throughout the process, whether you're developing a creative idea or sharing your thoughts. MindOnMap is also a versatile and expansive structure that can help you think. It can assist you in creating a structured design. Choose an appealing template design and then incorporate your thoughts and ideas into your composition.

Secure Download

Assess MindOnMap's resources and get started right away on your ideas. Here are the basics of making a problem-solving map using the best mind mapping software.

Visit the Official Page

To begin, visit MindOnMap 's official website and browse the program. Then, using your email address, create an account by clicking the Create Your Mind Map tab.

Select your Template

You can select the desired for your problem-solving map after you've created an account. Creating a problem-solving mind map in the recommended theme, on the other hand, is much easier.

Start Creating a Map

Begin creating your map. To make your templates more precise and flexible, click to add nodes and free nodes as needed.

Be Exceedingly Creative

To make your mind maps more appealing, you must be extremely creative. Just click the suggested themes, styles, and icons, then choose the options you want to use. Surely, you will enjoy making your map.

Save and Export your Work

At last, you can now export the mind map to images, office documents, PDF, and other formats and share it with others.

Further Reading

• How to Make a Mind Map for a Project Management Using The Most Convenient Mind Mapping Software
• Brainstorming Ideas Using the Best Collaborative Mind Mapping Tool

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How to Be a More Creative Problem-Solver at Work: 8 Tips

• 01 Mar 2022

The importance of creativity in the workplace—particularly when problem-solving—is undeniable. Business leaders can’t approach new problems with old solutions and expect the same result.

This is where innovation-based processes need to guide problem-solving. Here’s an overview of what creative problem-solving is, along with tips on how to use it in conjunction with design thinking.

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What Is Creative Problem-Solving?

Encountering problems with no clear cause can be frustrating. This occurs when there’s disagreement around a defined problem or research yields unclear results. In such situations, creative problem-solving helps develop solutions, despite a lack of clarity.

While creative problem-solving is less structured than other forms of innovation, it encourages exploring open-ended ideas and shifting perspectives—thereby fostering innovation and easier adaptation in the workplace. It also works best when paired with other innovation-based processes, such as design thinking .

Creative Problem-Solving and Design Thinking

Design thinking is a solutions-based mentality that encourages innovation and problem-solving. It’s guided by an iterative process that Harvard Business School Dean Srikant Datar outlines in four stages in the online course Design Thinking and Innovation :

• Clarify: This stage involves researching a problem through empathic observation and insights.
• Ideate: This stage focuses on generating ideas and asking open-ended questions based on observations made during the clarification stage.
• Develop: The development stage involves exploring possible solutions based on the ideas you generate. Experimentation and prototyping are both encouraged.
• Implement: The final stage is a culmination of the previous three. It involves finalizing a solution’s development and communicating its value to stakeholders.

Although user research is an essential first step in the design thinking process, there are times when it can’t identify a problem’s root cause. Creative problem-solving addresses this challenge by promoting the development of new perspectives.

Leveraging tools like design thinking and creativity at work can further your problem-solving abilities. Here are eight tips for doing so.

8 Creative Problem-Solving Tips

1. empathize with your audience.

A fundamental practice of design thinking’s clarify stage is empathy. Understanding your target audience can help you find creative and relevant solutions for their pain points through observing them and asking questions.

Practice empathy by paying attention to others’ needs and avoiding personal comparisons. The more you understand your audience, the more effective your solutions will be.

2. Reframe Problems as Questions

If a problem is difficult to define, reframe it as a question rather than a statement. For example, instead of saying, "The problem is," try framing around a question like, "How might we?" Think creatively by shifting your focus from the problem to potential solutions.

Consider this hypothetical case study: You’re the owner of a local coffee shop trying to fill your tip jar. Approaching the situation with a problem-focused mindset frames this as: "We need to find a way to get customers to tip more." If you reframe this as a question, however, you can explore: "How might we make it easier for customers to tip?" When you shift your focus from the shop to the customer, you empathize with your audience. You can take this train of thought one step further and consider questions such as: "How might we provide a tipping method for customers who don't carry cash?"

Whether you work at a coffee shop, a startup, or a Fortune 500 company, reframing can help surface creative solutions to problems that are difficult to define.

3. Defer Judgment of Ideas

If you encounter an idea that seems outlandish or unreasonable, a natural response would be to reject it. This instant judgment impedes creativity. Even if ideas seem implausible, they can play a huge part in ideation. It's important to permit the exploration of original ideas.

While judgment can be perceived as negative, it’s crucial to avoid accepting ideas too quickly. If you love an idea, don’t immediately pursue it. Give equal consideration to each proposal and build on different concepts instead of acting on them immediately.

4. Overcome Cognitive Fixedness

Cognitive fixedness is a state of mind that prevents you from recognizing a situation’s alternative solutions or interpretations instead of considering every situation through the lens of past experiences.

Although it's efficient in the short-term, cognitive fixedness interferes with creative thinking because it prevents you from approaching situations unbiased. It's important to be aware of this tendency so you can avoid it.

5. Balance Divergent and Convergent Thinking

One of the key principles of creative problem-solving is the balance of divergent and convergent thinking. Divergent thinking is the process of brainstorming multiple ideas without limitation; open-ended creativity is encouraged. It’s an effective tool for generating ideas, but not every idea can be explored. Divergent thinking eventually needs to be grounded in reality.

Convergent thinking, on the other hand, is the process of narrowing ideas down into a few options. While converging ideas too quickly stifles creativity, it’s an important step that bridges the gap between ideation and development. It's important to strike a healthy balance between both to allow for the ideation and exploration of creative ideas.

6. Use Creative Tools

Using creative tools is another way to foster innovation. Without a clear cause for a problem, such tools can help you avoid cognitive fixedness and abrupt decision-making. Here are several examples:

Problem Stories

Creating a problem story requires identifying undesired phenomena (UDP) and taking note of events that precede and result from them. The goal is to reframe the situations to visualize their cause and effect.

To start, identify a UDP. Then, discover what events led to it. Observe and ask questions of your consumer base to determine the UDP’s cause.

Next, identify why the UDP is a problem. What effect does the UDP have that necessitates changing the status quo? It's helpful to visualize each event in boxes adjacent to one another when answering such questions.

The problem story can be extended in either direction, as long as there are additional cause-and-effect relationships. Once complete, focus on breaking the chains connecting two subsequent events by disrupting the cause-and-effect relationship between them.

Alternate Worlds

The alternate worlds tool encourages you to consider how people from different backgrounds would approach similar situations. For instance, how would someone in hospitality versus manufacturing approach the same problem? This tool isn't intended to instantly solve problems but, rather, to encourage idea generation and creativity.

7. Use Positive Language

It's vital to maintain a positive mindset when problem-solving and avoid negative words that interfere with creativity. Positive language prevents quick judgments and overcomes cognitive fixedness. Instead of "no, but," use words like "yes, and."

Positive language makes others feel heard and valued rather than shut down. This practice doesn’t necessitate agreeing with every idea but instead approaching each from a positive perspective.

Using “yes, and” as a tool for further idea exploration is also effective. If someone presents an idea, build upon it using “yes, and.” What additional features could improve it? How could it benefit consumers beyond its intended purpose?

While it may not seem essential, this small adjustment can make a big difference in encouraging creativity.

8. Practice Design Thinking

Practicing design thinking can make you a more creative problem-solver. While commonly associated with the workplace, adopting a design thinking mentality can also improve your everyday life. Here are several ways you can practice design thinking:

• Learn from others: There are many examples of design thinking in business . Review case studies to learn from others’ successes, research problems companies haven't addressed, and consider alternative solutions using the design thinking process.
• Approach everyday problems with a design thinking mentality: One of the best ways to practice design thinking is to apply it to your daily life. Approach everyday problems using design thinking’s four-stage framework to uncover what solutions it yields.
• Study design thinking: While learning design thinking independently is a great place to start, taking an online course can offer more insight and practical experience. The right course can teach you important skills , increase your marketability, and provide valuable networking opportunities.

Ready to Become a Creative Problem-Solver?

Though creativity comes naturally to some, it's an acquired skill for many. Regardless of which category you're in, improving your ability to innovate is a valuable endeavor. Whether you want to bolster your creativity or expand your professional skill set, taking an innovation-based course can enhance your problem-solving.

If you're ready to become a more creative problem-solver, 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.

About the Author

• Techniques for Idea Generation: Mind Maps

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The Mind Mapping technique was created to be an effective way to produce ideas by association. It transforms a huge list of dull or tedious information into a highly organized, colorful and memorable pictorial representation that is in agreement with the brain’s normal manner of doing things. With respect to creative problem solving , mind maps help to show how different pieces of information or different ideas are connected.

© Shutterstock.com | Petr Vaclavek

From this article, you’ll learn 1) definition of mind mapping , 2) how did this ideation technique originate ? 3) essential features of a mind map , 4) how to build your own mind map , 5) applications of mind maps , 6) advantages of using mind maps , and 7) short note on mind mapping tools .

DEFINITION OF MIND MAPPING

A mind map is a graphical representation utilized to visually organize information. The process of mind mapping involves penning a central theme and coming up with new and associated ideas that branch out from the central idea. The central single idea is frequently in the format of an image drawn in the middle of a blank landscape page to which connected representations of ideas such as words, images, facts, figures, concepts or parts of words are added as they are thought up. Mind mapping utilizes the concept of “radiant thinking.” This means thoughts radiate (branch out) in different directions from a single idea. The branches may move forwards and backwards to and from the main (central) idea. This is in contrast to “linear thinking” which is a thought process following a step-by-step flow or known cycles where it is necessary to get the response to one step before moving to the next step.

As is the case with other mapping techniques, the objective of mind mapping is to concentrate attention and to acquire and frame knowledge to enable the sharing of concepts and ideas.

HOW DID THIS IDEATION TECHNIQUE ORIGINATE?

Tony Buzan is the name frequently used in connection with mind mapping. It is true that he popularized the term “mind map.” However, the utilization of diagrams that graphically “map” information using radial maps and branching, dates back centuries. Similar strategies were utilized in the 3 rd century by Porphyry of Tyros to conceptualize Aristotle’s ideas.

The semantic network was created in the late 1950s as a hypothesis to comprehend human learning that was further revised by M. Ross Quillian and Allan M. Collins at some point in the early 1960s. The radial structure of mind maps is similar to that of concept maps , created in the 1970s by learning specialists. However, the difference is that the former are made easier by concentrating around a central, single key concept.

Tony Buzan’s argument is that ‘traditional’ outlines call for the reader to scan information in a left to right, top to bottom manner that is in contrast to the brain’s natural propensity to scan the whole page in a non-linear manner. Buzan additionally utilizes widespread suppositions pertaining to the cerebral hemispheres so as to encourage the exclusive utilization of mind mapping in preference to other kinds of note making.

ESSENTIAL FEATURES OF A MIND MAP

Given below are five key characteristics of a mind map:

• There is a single key idea, focus, subject or concept graphically represented in the form of a central image.
• The key themes associated with the idea, focus, subject or concept radiate from the central picture as branches.
• Each branch carries a key word or image printed or drawn on the associated line.
• Other branches, shown as twigs are connected to the main branches. The twigs represent concepts of lesser importance.
• The branches create a linked nodal structure.

HOW TO BUILD YOUR OWN MIND MAP

If you are using a mind map to get employees in your business to come up with ideas/solutions, you may give them instructions as follows:

Prerequisite: Keep blank paper and colored pens ready. If A4 paper seems inadequate, you can consider A3 paper.

Step 1: Start with the topic

Put the topic, central concept or idea in image form, in the center of an empty page. Space on the page should be used wisely and yet freely so that the brain doesn’t feel unbridled, and there is space to occupy more and more ideas as they come. Beginning in the center provides the brain with freedom to move in all directions and reveal ideas/solutions more naturally and freely. It may be more convenient to position the page in landscape orientation because that makes drawing easier.

Step 2: Define the structure

Create the fundamental structure with which you would be organizing your ideas. The structure would include branches radiating out from the central idea and drawn as thick lines. These main branches are termed as Basic Organizing Ideas (BOIs).

Step 3: Define each branch

Put down a key image or word for each branch as your ideas come. Allow the ideas to flow freely and quickly (long pauses are not to be encouraged) without judgment on whether they are practical or crazy. Also no need to bother about aesthetics. Draw freely and unconcernedly.

Step 4: Highlight the priorities

The concepts of lesser importance can be represented as the twigs and drawn as thinner lines.

Step 5: Extend your mind map by additional ideas

As information and ideas keep coming, connect them to the mind map in a suitable manner.

Step 6: Review and revise

After the first attempt, allow your mind to settle. Once it has, you may want to revisit what you did. Review it and revise and/or reorder it. Sometimes, a different sheet of paper may be required for this.

How about two mind maps?

Another way to mind map and this is for problem-solving, is to create two different mind maps, one each for the problem and solutions. For the problem mind map, the problem would be the main idea represented in the center with causes and aspects of the problem connected by branches. Sub-branches can be used to examine the problem in more detail. For the solution mind map, the solution would be the key idea represented in the center. By way of the main branches, one can provide the routes that would help to solve the problem. One can incorporate organizations, colleagues, resources or techniques that would be of assistance and associated with those routes. Sub-branches can be added as one venture into the details.

Drawing two mind maps makes one realize that a single obstacle could have multiple potential solutions. It is up to the person drawing the mind map and others concerned to find that solution(s) which is most practical, cost-effective and/or time-saving. A final branch may be developed with the selected solution or blend of solutions, with the sub-branches connecting to and from the details of intended method(s) of implementation.

A properly done mind map is very easy to review as it is possible to frequently refresh information mentally just by a cursory glance. The mind map would depict the “shape” of the topic, the comparative significance of individual branches/twigs, and the manner in which facts are connected to one another. Remembering the structure and shape of the mind map can provide cues that would help to recollect the information within the map.

Suggestions/Tips/Techniques

• Use colors for the whole project. Colors give the mind map extra vitality and arouse the brain’s creative and visual faculties.
• Stick to single words or brief meaningful phrases for key words. Too many words would only cause cluttering.
• Similar information, if any, can be clustered together.
• Capital letters are to be preferred to small caps.
• It would be a good idea to make the branches curved instead of straight. Only straight lines in the map may come across as boring to the brain.
• Use as many images as possible. Besides being easy to remember, a picture is worth a thousand words.
• Use arrows to show connections between ideas.
• If the person wishes and if required, he can annotate the mind map. An example would be providing references to other sources, making them identifiable by writing them down in a different color of pen.
• One should feel free to adopt a personal style as this would boost the creative fire.
• Information in one section of the mind map may have some connection to another section. If this is the case, the person can draw lines to depict the cross-linkages. This would assist with comprehending how one aspect of the subject impacts another. It is also acceptable to use other visuals such as callouts or speech bubbles to depict the link to the key/central idea or theme.
• The person should stay calm throughout the mind mapping process. This suggestion may not be suitable for an office environment but is good for mind mapping at home. To do so, the person should distance himself from the topic to work on, by taking brief breaks and then coming back to it clearheaded and fresh. A short walk could help. By providing the brain with rest, one will find that it becomes more forthcoming with ideas.

APPLICATIONS OF MIND MAPS

As is the case with other diagramming tools, this idea generation technique may be utilized to generalize, structure, visualize and classify ideas. It also helps with triggering creativity and creative solutions, organizing information, making decisions and solving problems. Mind mapping is also used for brainstorming . Here, ideas are introduced into the map in a radial manner surrounding the central node, bereft of the implicit prioritization associated with sequential or hierarchy arrangements, and in which grouping and organizing is kept for later stages.

Data collected from mind maps may be utilized to enhance various other applications, examples being search engines and specialist search systems. To achieve this, the mind map may be examined with traditional techniques of information recovery to classify the author of the mind map or documents that are connected from inside the mind map.

Other applications include:

• Making notes, whether for presentations or essays, from lectures or from secondary sources such as books;
• Studying and remembering information (it has been propounded that mind mapping can enhance study/learning effectiveness by 15 percent more than traditional note-taking;
• Displaying information in a layout that depicts the structure of a subject taken as a whole;
• Simplifying a complicated idea;
• As a mnemonic;
• To team up in sessions of color pen creativity.

ADVANTAGES OF USING MIND MAPS

Mind maps help the user utilize the complete power of the brain, both the left which is more associated with logical and analytical thinking, and the right which is utilized for day dreaming, spatial awareness, color, imagination and a feeling of wholeness. This idea generation technique has several advantages including that it:

• Spurs one on to view the bigger picture;
• Requires less time to develop;
• Consumes less space than notes that are chronologically arranged;
• Allows large topics or projects to be broken down into manageable chunks and this broken-down form, therefore, facilitates effective planning and minimizes chances of forgetting key points and being overwhelmed;
• Increases concentration;
• Helps trigger more associations and ideas by applying radial thinking;
• Provides pleasure to the eyes (once completed, the mind map appears like a mini work of art to those who behold it).

SHORT NOTE ON MIND MAPPING TOOLS

Though in many cases, it is suitable to draw mind maps using the hand, software applications and tools can broaden the scope of mind-mapping by permitting those engaged in the process to map more than ideas and thoughts using information on the internet and computers, such as documents, spreadsheets, images and internet sites. A few of these tools are discussed below:

• iMindMap : This concept mapping software utilizes Tony Buzan’s trademark mind mapping techniques to develop maps for project management, brainstorming, creative thinking, organizing, and planning and delivery of presentations. ThinkBuzan developed the desktop application. The tool runs on Mac OS X and Microsoft Windows. iMindMap has focus applications, examples of which are Expand and Collapse Branches and Focus In and Out which can assist with moving around the problem and making the mind concentrate.
• Coggle : This is a freeware web application for mind mapping. Some of its prominent features are real-time collaboration, markdown text formatting, iOS support, sharing with individuals, organizations or through a private link, and LaTeX math support utilizing MathJax. Auto-save and revision features mean it is possible to view how the mind map looked prior to someone who was invited beginning to work with it. The software enables creation of linear and organic mind maps utilizing a keyboard, mouse, tablet computer or interactive keyboard.
• XMind : Created by XMind Lt.d, XMind software helps with both mind mapping and brainstorming. Apart from the management elements, the tool can clarify thinking, capture ideas, promote team collaboration and handle complicated information for greater productivity. In addition to mind maps, it supports spread sheets, fishbone diagrams, organization charts and tree diagrams.
• Miro Online Whiteboard : Miro is a fast, free, and simple-to-use online whiteboard built to help you collaborate with others. One of the biggest advantages of Miro is the big database of pre-built templates. You can kick off a project fast by using templates for business models canvases, user story maps and of course mind maps.

Mind maps are currently utilized by many millions of people across the globe. It appears that this idea generation technique will increase in popularity and continue to be used for many, many years to come.

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Problem-Solving Flowchart: A Visual Method to Find Perfect Solutions

Lucid Content

Reading time: about 7 min

“People ask me questions Lost in confusion Well, I tell them there's no problem Only solutions” —John Lennon, “Watching the Wheels”

Despite John Lennon’s lyrics, nobody is free from problems, and that’s especially true in business. Chances are that you encounter some kind of problem at work nearly every day, and maybe you’ve had to “put out a fire” before lunchtime once or twice in your career.

But perhaps what Lennon’s saying is that, no matter what comes our way, we can find solutions. How do you approach problems? Do you have a process in place to ensure that you and your co-workers come to the right solution?

In this article, we will give you some tips on how to find solutions visually through a problem-solving flowchart and other methods.

What is visual problem-solving?

If you are a literal thinker, you may think that visual problem-solving is something that your ophthalmologist does when your vision is blurry. For the rest of us, visual problem-solving involves executing the following steps in a visual way:

• Define the problem.
• Brainstorm solutions.
• Pick a solution.
• Implement solutions.
• Review the results.

How to make your problem-solving process more visual

Words pack a lot of power and are very important to how we communicate on a daily basis. Using words alone, you can brainstorm, organize data, identify problems, and come up with possible solutions. The way you write your ideas may make sense to you, but it may not be as easy for other team members to follow.

When you use flowcharts, diagrams, mind maps, and other visuals, the information is easier to digest. Your eyes dart around the page quickly gathering information, more fully engaging your brain to find patterns and make sense of the data.

Identify the problem with mind maps

So you know there is a problem that needs to be solved. Do you know what that problem is? Is there only one problem? Is the problem sum total of a bunch of smaller problems?

You need to ask these kinds of questions to be sure that you are working on the root of the issue. You don’t want to spend too much time and energy solving the wrong problem.

To help you identify the problem, use a mind map. Mind maps can help you visually brainstorm and collect ideas without a strict organization or structure. A mind map more closely aligns with the way a lot of our brains work—participants can bounce from one thought to the next defining the relationships as they go.

Mind mapping to solve a problem includes, but is not limited to, these relatively easy steps:

• In the center of the page, add your main idea or concept (in this case, the problem).
• Branch out from the center with possible root causes of the issue. Connect each cause to the central idea.
• Branch out from each of the subtopics with examples or additional details about the possible cause. As you add more information, make sure you are keeping the most important ideas closer to the main idea in the center.
• Use Collaborative AI to generate or expand on your ideas, so your mind map is as complete as possible.

Alternatively, you could use mind maps to brainstorm solutions once you discover the root cause. Try our free mind map template  or add the mind map shape library to quickly start your own mind map.

Create a problem-solving flowchart

A mind map is generally a good tool for non-linear thinkers. However, if you are a linear thinker—a person who thinks in terms of step-by-step progression making a flowchart may work better for your problem-solving strategy. A flowchart is a graphical representation of a workflow or process with various shapes connected by arrows representing each step.

Whether you are trying to solve a simple or complex problem, the steps you take to solve that problem with a flowchart are easy and straightforward. Using boxes and other shapes to represent steps, you connect the shapes with arrows that will take you down different paths until you find the logical solution at the end.

Flowcharts or decision trees are best used to solve problems or answer questions that are likely to come up multiple times. For example, Yoder Lumber , a family-owned hardwood manufacturer, built decision trees in Lucidchart to demonstrate what employees should do in the case of an injury.

To start your problem-solving flowchart, follow these steps:

• Draw a starting shape to state your problem.
• Draw a decision shape where you can ask questions that will give you yes-or-no answers.
• Based on the yes-or-no answers, draw arrows connecting the possible paths you can take to work through the steps and individual processes.
• Continue following paths and asking questions until you reach a logical solution to the stated problem.
• Try the solution. If it works, you’re done. If it doesn’t work, review the flowchart to analyze what may have gone wrong and rework the flowchart until you find the solution that works.

If your problem involves a process or workflow , you can also use flowcharts to visualize the current state of your process to find the bottleneck or problem that’s costing your company time and money.

Lucidchart has a large library of flowchart templates to help you analyze, design, and document problem-solving processes or any other type of procedure you can think of.

Draw a cause-and-effect diagram

A cause-and-effect diagram is used to analyze the relationship between an event or problem and the reason it happened. There is not always just one underlying cause of a problem, so this visual method can help you think through different potential causes and pinpoint the actual cause of a stated problem.

Cause-and-effect diagrams, created by Kaoru Ishikawa, are also known as Ishikawa diagrams, fishbone diagrams , or herringbone diagrams (because they resemble a fishbone when completed). By organizing causes and effects into smaller categories, these diagrams can be used to examine why things went wrong or might go wrong.

To perform a cause-and-effect analysis, follow these steps.

1. Start with a problem statement.

The problem statement is usually placed in a box or another shape at the far right of your page. Draw a horizontal line, called a “spine” or “backbone,” along the center of the page pointing to your problem statement.

2. Add the categories that represent possible causes.

For example, the category “Materials” may contain causes such as “poor quality,” “too expensive,” and “low inventory.” Draw angled lines (or “bones”) that branch out from the spine to these categories.

3. Add causes to each category.

Draw as many branches as you need to brainstorm the causes that belong in each category.

Like all visuals and diagrams, a cause-and-effect diagram can be as simple or as complex as you need it to be to help you analyze operations and other factors to identify causes related to undesired effects.

Collaborate with Lucidchart

You may have superior problem-solving skills, but that does not mean that you have to solve problems alone. The visual strategies above can help you engage the rest of your team. The more involved the team is in the creation of your visual problem-solving narrative, the more willing they will be to take ownership of the process and the more invested they will be in its outcome.

In Lucidchart, you can simply share the documents with the team members you want to be involved in the problem-solving process. It doesn’t matter where these people are located because Lucidchart documents can be accessed at any time from anywhere in the world.

Whatever method you decide to use to solve problems, work with Lucidchart to create the documents you need. Sign up for a free account today and start diagramming in minutes.

About Lucidchart

Lucidchart, a cloud-based intelligent diagramming application, is a core component of Lucid Software's Visual Collaboration Suite. This intuitive, cloud-based solution empowers teams to collaborate in real-time to build flowcharts, mockups, UML diagrams, customer journey maps, and more. Lucidchart propels teams forward to build the future faster. Lucid is proud to serve top businesses around the world, including customers such as Google, GE, and NBC Universal, and 99% of the Fortune 500. Lucid partners with industry leaders, including Google, Atlassian, and Microsoft. Since its founding, Lucid has received numerous awards for its products, business, and workplace culture. For more information, visit lucidchart.com.

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How to Use Mind Mapping for Problem Solving

Why create a mind map.

Mind mapping is among the business analysis techniques that provides a visual representation of ideas, thoughts, problems… anything. It’s a great brainstorming tool for generating new ideas and exploring a problem. There’s no real rules to using mind maps. You just enter your central idea, maybe it’s a requirement or a problem, and then start adding everything that comes to mind. Mind maps are excellent in interviews and workshops, or as a personal thinking tool.

In this post you will be given the steps to creating a mind map.

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Step 1 – Identify the central idea and add it to your mind map

Maybe you’ve been told to develop requirements for a new system. The business has stated “We need a new bug management system because we are getting too many product bugs reported back to us by our customers.” At this point it would be easy to assume that we should indeed investigate a new system or, exploring the issue closer, there may be other factors that could be resolved first.

I use the free software called FreeMind  to create my mind maps. However, some requirements management tools, such as Sparx Enterprise Architect, also offer mind mapping functionality. You could also use Visio, Powerpoint or any tool that can draw circles and lines.

Step 2 – Identify the main areas that impact the problem

When you’ve added to the central concept to the mind map just start adding your ideas around it. To organise my thinking I use the  six categories for describing a problem: strategy, service, process, applications, information and infrastructure.  It helps to have some structure or starting point for generating ideas. The diagram below shows the “high level of product bugs” example with the six categories as a starting point for generating ideas.

Step 3 – Brainstorm things that impact each of the 6 categories

Around the central idea or, in this case, the central problem, I added six categories and then let loose on a few things that may be a contributing factor to the “high level of reported product bugs” problem. The ideas were written down as they were identified and in no particular order. Reordering and culling can come later.

The important thing is to continue generating ideas until all of the obvious ones are exhausted. This way the real thinking and creativity in exploring the problem can begin.

Mind maps are a powerful business analysis technique for brainstorming ideas and uncovering the root cause of problems.

As you can see in the example above, a lot of ideas were generated from a quick 20 minute session with a mind map. The new identified ideas could be used as central concepts for further analysis. For example, under the “process” category above, the issue identifying poor QA and release processes could be used as a central concept for further exploration. This is because maybe a new system is not required.

A review of current processes, some re-engineering, and re-configuration of the current system may shed better light on how well bugs are being managed and resolved before they are found by the customer. That way management can implement new strategies to reduce the level of report product bugs.

Creative Problem-Solving

• Reference work entry
• First Online: 01 January 2023
• Cite this reference work entry

• Gerard J. Puccio 2 ,
• Barry Klarman 2 &
• Pamela A. Szalay 2  

121 Accesses

Life and work in the beginning of the twenty-first century has been described as volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous. In this fast changing, innovation-driven environment, Creative Problem-Solving has been identified as a fundamental skill for success. In contrast to routine problem-solving, with straightforward and repeatable solution paths, today’s problems are described as being complex and wicked. To generate the possibilities that can effectively address complex problems, individuals need to draw on the highest level of human thought – creativity. Creative Problem-Solving explicitly draws on, and promotes, effective creative thinking. The purpose of this entry is to describe and distinguish Creative Problem-Solving from other forms of problems-solving. Moreover, as Creative Problem-Solving is a deliberate creativity methodology, this chapter also provides a description of the more specific thinking skills that are embodied by the higher-order skill of creative thinking and are explicitly called on in Creative Problem-Solving. Complex problems require complex thinking, and Creative Problem-Solving provides a structured process that allows individuals to more easily and efficiently deploy their creative thinking skills.

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Puccio, G.J., Klarman, B., Szalay, P.A. (2022). Creative Problem-Solving. In: Glăveanu, V.P. (eds) The Palgrave Encyclopedia of the Possible. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-90913-0_41

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Brainstorming: 24 Techniques for Effective Brainstorming [+ How-to]

Home » Brainstorming   | 🕑 

Gust de Backer

November 11, 2023.

Every company does brainstorming , but some companies are better at it than others….

So why is that?

I’m going to show you:

• What different brainstorming techniques there are.
• How to prioritize brainstorm ideas.
• And how to be creative during your brainstorming sessions.

Let’s start..

Table of Contents

What is brainstorming?

Brainstorming is a technique for working with a group to find creative ideas for a specific problem.

In short, brainstorming is a method to creatively solve a problem . In this, it is important that everyone has a good understanding of what the problem is in order for people to brainstorm accurate solutions.

Do’s and don’ts

Why is brainstorming important.

Creative thinking shows us that there are multiple solutions to a problem and multiple ways to look at a problem.

People are often stuck in their ways of thinking because of the patterns they see, which is extremely bad for innovation.

Creative thinking helps to challenge our assumptions, discover new things, see from new perspectives and keep us mentally sharp.

24 brainstorming techniques

Brainstorming is not about the quality, but about the quantity of ideas.

You’re going to come up with as many ideas for a problem as possible, possibly with a group of people, for a set amount of time.

There are 24 methods you can use to make brainstorming more effective:

1. Brainwriting / Purge

Each member of the group has a certain amount of time to write down all his/her ideas. This has two main advantages:

• Introverts get a chance to share their ideas.
• It ensures that no one or two ideas dominate the brainstorming.

The result is a wide range of ideas that would not have surfaced if a few ideas had been discussed from the beginning.

2. The 5 Why’s Analysis

The 5 why’s analysis has become popular because Toyota used it as a standard process for root-cause analysis.

By asking “why?” 5 times in response to an answer you will get to the root of the problem or solution which allows for a broader perspective and better dialogue.

3. Starbursting

The starbursting technique pushes you to think about the who, what, where, when, why and how of an idea. Place your idea or problem in the center of the star diagram and at the ends put the questions:

4. Mind mapping

You place your problem or idea in the center of the board and start adding to it with new parts:

This also directly ensures that there is structure and that everything is broken down into certain topics.

5. Rolestorming

Try to imagine yourself as another person, it may be someone familiar or someone you know from your immediate environment.

If you can imagine yourself to be another person, ask yourself again how that would solve your problem?

6. Gap filling

See what situation you are in now (ready state) and see where you want to go (target state). Then ask yourself the question, how do we go from the ready state to the target state? What is needed for that?

The gap filling way is a good brainstorming technique to get from A to B.

7. Brain-netting

Using online software, write down ideas that belong to a particular problem or issue.

This is especially useful in preparation for a brainstorm so that people have enough time in advance to think about possible solutions without a lot of email traffic.

8. Round robin brainstorming

In round robin brainstorming, there is one person responsible for bringing up a question or several questions…

In this process, everyone must answer one at a time. In doing so, no feedback may be given or a second idea shared until everyone has shared his or her idea.

This brainstorming technique is ideal for medium to large teams where there are introverted team members or where there is a poor balance of creative input.

Tip : If someone shares an idea that has already been, give that person time to come up with a new idea.

9. Rapid ideation

Parkinson’s law shows us that we spend as much time on our work as we have available

Putting a time limit on brainstorming can increase the quality of the brainstorm. This allows team managers to maximize productivity and results.

Especially for teams with little time, who have little desire for meetings, or who are easily distracted, Rapid Ideation can be a good brainstorming technique.

10. Reverse brainstorming

Brainstorming sessions are often aimed at solving a problem. Reverse brainstorming sessions are aimed at causing problems.

Instead of asking “how can we solve this problem?” you ask “how can we make [problem] happen? From the answers you get, you can start to find solutions to possible problems that a concept or idea might pose.

Thinking of problems first ensures that the team then has a better perspective in solving the problems.

11. Stepladder brainstorming

In stepladder brainstorming, a problem is presented to the group where all but one or two people must leave the room….

The one or two people must then share their ideas after which a third person may enter the room to share his or her ideas, then a fourth, then a fifth and that until everyone has been.

The advantage to this brainstorming technique is that it does not involve thinking as a group, but allows everyone to share their own individual unique ideas without being influenced by the group.

12. SWOT Analysis

A SWOT analysis is not directly a brainstorming technique, but it can provide additional perspective during brainstorming.

SWOT stands for:

• Strengths : what are the strengths?
• Weaknesses : what are the weaknesses?
• Opportunities : where do the opportunities lie?
• Threats : what are the threats?

The SWOT analysis can also be the basis of brainstorming on how to assess a concept.

13. Eidetic image method

In the Eidetic image method, the group starts by closing their eyes to illustrate the current product in their minds…

Then they can start discussing what it looks like, close their eyes again and start visualizing what an improved version would look like, what features it would contain, what color it is, how big it is, etc.

This brainstorming technique works best when improving an existing product or solution.

14. Change of scenery

If you are constantly brainstorming with the same people in the same space, it can feel like repetition, which is obviously not good for inspiration.

By regularly changing the scenery or space and perhaps also the team composition, it is possible to tap into new sources of inspiration.

15. Drivers analysis

In the drivers analysis brainstorming technique, you focus on the causes of a problem.

Ask yourself or your team of brainstormers, “What causes [problem]?” and then “What causes [answer previous question]?

The deeper you can go the more likely you are to find the root of a problem.

16. Collaborative brainwriting

With this method of brainstorming, there is no need to dedicate a specific session to it….

For example, a facilitator hangs up a large sheet in an office with a problem-statement and possibly already some brainstorming ideas and everyone can contribute ideas in his or her own time.

This way everyone can contribute anonymously, just make sure it is clear to everyone when the deadline is to contribute.

17.  SCAMPER

The SCAMPER brainstorming technique helps brainstormers look at a problem from multiple perspectives, SCAMPER is an acronym that stands for:

• Substitute : evaluate what would happen if you swapped one facet or solution for another.
• Combine : evaluate what would happen if you combined one facet or solution with another.
• Adapt : assess what would happen if you placed one idea or solution in a different context.
• Modify : think about how you could change an idea or solution to make even more impact.
• Put to another use : think about how you could still use your idea in other ways.
• Eliminate : assess what can be removed from your idea or solution to make it simpler.
• Reverse effective : finally, you can look at how you can reorganize an idea to make it more effective.

During a brainstorm, it is helpful to use a SCAMPER template:

18. The idea napkin

The Idea Napkin brainstorming technique allows a broad topic to be broken down into tangible solutions.

Each brainstormer has an ‘Idea Napkin’, on which they write one idea and an elevator pitch of that idea. They also write down who they are trying to solve a problem for and what problem they are solving.

When everything is written down, the idea is for everyone to present their ‘Idea Napkin’ to the others, then all ideas are prioritized on an impact and effort matrix to determine which ideas are worthwhile:

19. 6 thinking hats

In the 6 thinking hats brainstorming technique, you need at least 6 people who are going to wear thinking hats. These different ‘thinking hats’ are going to allow them to look at a problem or idea from one specific angle.

There are 6 different thinking hats:

• Blue hat (Conductor’s hat) : manage the decision process, ask for summaries and come to conclusions.
• Green hat (Creative hat) : the green hat comes up with creative ideas and thinks in terms of possibilities.
• Red hat (Hat for the heart) : go out of your feeling and instinct, you don’t necessarily have to think logically.
• Yellow hat (Optimist’s hat) : with the yellow hat you look at problems with an optimistic view, you see advantages in everything.
• Black hat (Judge’s hat) : the black hat is very critical and sees problems in everything, it is important to see risks and dangers quickly.
• White hat (Fact hat) : neutral and objective, shares lots of statistics and facts.
• + Royal hat (Owner hat) : guides the brainstorm, is looking for the balance between subjectivity and objectivity.

This brainstorming technique is useful to get an overall picture of one or more ideas.

20. ‘What if’ brainstorming

The ‘What if’ brainstorming technique is a good technique to bring out all possible solutions to a problem.

By asking questions like “What if this problem occurred in the 1800s?” or “What if our president would have to solve this issue?”.

By approaching it this way you can look at the problem and the solutions from different angles.

21. Random word picker

You pick a random word or animal and start brainstorming about how the word or the characteristics of the animal can help you solve your problem.

This brainstorming technique is really about getting new ideas in a creative way.

22. Storyboarding

Storyboarding is a brainstorming technique where you start sketching the problem and possible solutions. In doing so, you are going to visualize different parts of the problem and the solution which works extremely well for physical challenges.

23. Wishing

You start by wishing for something ‘I wish our company would make 10 million euros in profit’ and then you start thinking about how you can achieve this.

Try to set really ambitious goals, this ensures that you start thinking bigger and you will encounter other problems and solutions.

24. Crazy eights

In the crazy eights brainstorming technique, each participant is given a template with 8 empty boxes. The timer is set for 8 minutes during which time each participant must fill the boxes with 8 sketches of possible ideas. Repeat this process so that they can build on each other’s ideas.

How do you prioritize ideas?

There are several ways to prioritize ideas:

1. Dotmocracy

To prioritize ideas, it is possible to give all participants X number of stickers that they can divide on the ideas they have.

You can be creative with this by handing out different colored stickers to also vote on ideas that absolutely should not be implemented or perhaps an order in the ideas based on the colors.

2. How Now Wow

The How Now Wow technique is more about categorizing ideas based on how unique they are and how easy they are to accomplish.

After a team has written down ideas, they can be prioritized in the How Now Wow matrix:

• How ideas : original but difficult to implement.
• Now ideas : unoriginal and easy to execute.
• Wow ideas : unique ideas that are easy to execute.

Obviously, you want to have as many “Wow” ideas as possible because they are unique from the competition.

3. Impact-Effort Matrix

The impact-effort matrix allows you to determine the ratio of effort to results and then prioritize the best ideas:

You can write down where an idea belongs on the matrix or you can give points to ideas and use those points to determine where an idea will be placed.

4. I.C.E. / P.I.E.

ICE and PIE are well-known prioritization frameworks; they are acronyms that stand for…

• Impact : what is the potential impact if the idea works?
• Confidence : how confident are we that the idea will work?
• Ease : how easy is it to set up this idea?
• Potential : how potential is this solution to our problem?
• Importance : how important do we think solving this problem is?
• Ease : how easy is it to implement this solution?

From these scores you can get an average, it is also possible to add a multiplier to certain parts of ICE or PIE that you think are important.

5. Feasibility, Desirability and Viability Scorecard

These 3 pillars are topics on which you can rank an idea:

• Feasibility : is it actually achievable?
• Desirability : how much would we like this solution?
• Viability : how confident are we that this will work?

This is very similar to the ICE / PIE framework, but the questioning changes a little bit.

MoSCoW is a very well known prioritization framework, it is widely used to set up requirements for a particular thing and prioritize them.

MoSCoW is an acronym that stands for:

• Must have : What really needs to be in it?
• Should have : what should actually be included?
• Could have : nice to have, is nice to add, but has no priority.
• Would have / Will not have : we’re not going to do anything with this for now.

7. Multi-criteria Decision Making

In multi-criteria decision making, you write down what you think is important about a solution and prioritize different ideas based on that:

8. The Value Matrix

Also called the Value and Effort matrix, this involves weighing the costs against the benefits:

How to brainstorm effectively?

How do you set up the brainstorm effectively?

The better the problem statement is the better the brainstorming will go. It is easier to focus ideas on a situation when that situation is enormously clear.

By just starting to do anything you will probably not find the desired solution. Make sure you have a clear agenda with times when you want to do something exactly. It is also important to make clear in advance what the desired end result of the brainstorm is.

Each brainstorming technique fits a different type of situation, evaluate which brainstorming techniques exist and choose some to come up with solutions from multiple angles.

By just talking and thinking about ideas a lot will be lost, document the ideas so they can be looked back at later.

Not every idea has the same potential to be used, therefore it is important to choose which ideas can be taken up, which ones will be interesting at a later date and which ones can be thrown in the garbage can.

Make sure you have time available in the coming period to start working on good ideas.

What is creativity in brainstorming?

Creativity is the ability to think outside of traditional ways and come up with new, original ideas, methods or objects.

It is often thought that the left part of the brain is for creativity and that the right part of the brain contains analytical ability:

In creativity, it is about the networks between the different parts in the brain. There are 3 types of networks that are important here:

• The executive attention network : allows you to maintain your attention and focus.
• The imagination network : allows you to daydream or imagine yourself in someone else’s shoes.
• The salience network : allows you to identify certain things based on old information stored in your brain.

A video that goes into some detail here:

What types of creative thinking are there?

At work, there are several types of creative thinking you may encounter:

• Divergent Thinking : a brainstorming session where you write down as many solutions as you can think of.
• Convergent Thinking : gathering facts and finding the most used and complete solution to the problem.
• Inspirational Thinking : focus on the best-case scenario to find a new solution to a problem.
• Lateral Thinking : reorganize information to come up with creative solutions to move from the ready state to the target state.
• Aesthetic Thinking : solutions that we actually like, with a focus on structure, knowledge, composition, color and shape.

What is critical thinking in brainstorming?

A critical thinker does not simply assume ideas and assumptions, but will always be looking for more ideas, arguments and insights to get the full picture.

Critical thinkers will identify, analyze and solve problems in a systematic way rather than thinking from intuition or instinct.

A critical thinker is able to:

• Make the connection between ideas and in them determine how important and relevant arguments and ideas are.
• Recognize, build and evaluate arguments.
• Find errors and inconsistencies in reasoning.
• To approach problems in a consistent and systematic way.
• Reflect on his own assumptions, beliefs and values.

Discover your creativity

You are now armed with knowledge to set up the best creative brainstorming sessions….

I’m curious, what do you think is the best brainstorming technique?

Let me know in a comment.

P.S. Want more help? Send an email to [email protected]

Frequently asked questions about brainstorming

A design sprint is a limited-time process that uses design thinking. The goal is to find an answer to a critical business question or a specific problem within that limited timeframe.

During a design sprint, design thinking is used.

To lead a brainstorm session it is important that you understand the problem, that you set a clear agenda, that you use the right brainstorm techniques and that you stimulate new ideas and don’t criticize ‘bad’ ideas.

First come up with a clear problem-statement, then choose matching brainstorm techniques, plan a clear agenda and at the end prioritize the outcomes of the brainstorm session.

There should be a purpose for the brainstorm, it should be with others, you should stimulate each other’s ideas, there should be no criticism of ideas, and make sure there is enough creativity.

Before brainstorming, the right questions should be asked, this can be done using Starbursting. Starbursting asks questions such as: how, what, where, when, who and why.

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Moving Maps

Creative problem solving and decision making

Creative Problem-Solving and Decision-Making with Systemic Coaching

Moving Maps uses creative problem-solving and decision-making methods such as systemic coaching, visual thinking, and experiential learning.

We help clients to reduce complexity and analyse their challenges in depth using an established systemic consultancy method which can be learnt and applied fast.

You go away with clear maps of your challenges and solution paths, together with new tools for self-coaching and creative problem-solving, giving you an agile systemic-edge.

We are an international business-consultancy based in Oxford (UK) and our methods work online, offline or hybrid

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• Guide: 5W1H Is/Is Not Problem Definition

• May 9, 2023
• Learn Lean Sigma

Being effective at solving problems can often be difficult particularly when you dont know where to start. This is where the 5W1H Is/Is Not technique is useful. This technique uses six basic questions (5W) Who, What, Where, When, Why, and (1H) How to help you really understand a problem before diving into solving it. This used along side the Is/Is not Problem definition method further helps create a strong understanding what is in scope of the problem and what is not in scope.

Table of Contents

What is 5w1h is/is not problem definition.

The 5W1H Is/Is Not Problem Definition is a structured approach to problem-solving that aims to provide a clear understanding of a particular issue by exploring the issues from all angle. The acronym stands for “Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How.” In this method, you ask these questions to understand the boundaries of the problem for example:

• Who: Who is affected by the problem? Who are the stakeholders?
• What: What is the issue? What is not the issue?
• Where: Where is the problem occurring? Where is it not occurring?
• When: When does the problem happen? When does it not happen?
• Why: Why is this a problem? Why might it have occurred?
• How: How does the problem manifest? How can it be solved?

By asking “Is” and “Is Not” for each of these categories, you’re setting the scope of the problem, making it easier to focus on what needs to be addressed. This method is particularly useful for complex issues where multiple factors could be at play.

Below is an example of a simple completed 5Wh1H Is/Is not table.

Why is 5W1H Is/Is Not Problem Definition Important?

While the method used to create a problem definition may not be important, the creation of an effective problem definition is to ensure you have the focus on the correct problem as it is easy to have the focus go beyond the scope. Using 5W1H and Is/Is not is a useful tool for achieving this and can provide multiple benefits such as:

Proving Clarity: A well defined problem statement using 5W1H helps in clearly defining the problem, eliminating any ambiguity. This is critical for stakeholders to gain a clear understanding.

Setting the Scope: By asking ‘Is Not’ questions, the method helps in setting the boundaries, ensuring that the team does not stray into unrelated issues, thereby conserving resources. One of the biggest risks to projects is scope creep leading to the project scope being too vast to address effectively.

Root Cause Analysis: The ‘Why’ and ‘How’ questions are particularly useful for understanding the problem and provide a useful first step in getting to the root cause of the problem.

Stakeholder Involvement: By identifying ‘Who’ is affected, you can ensure you involve the right people in the problem-solving process.

How to Use 5W1H Is/Is Not Problem Definition

Step 1: create your team.

Get everyone who is impacted by or involved in solving the problem to be part of the team this can be those that work for the company as well as suppliers and customers where necessary to ensure a all angles are covered.

Step 2: Start with ‘What’

Using a 5W1H Is/Is Not template start with the first question of “What” and explain What the problem IS and what the problem IS Not and ensure that all the stakeholders agree before moving on to the next questions.

Step 3: Go Through Each Question

Now go through each of the remaining questions carefully answering the Is and the Is not for each.

For example:

• Who: The production team
• What: Faulty widgets from Machine A
• Where: Production Line 1
• When: During the second shift
• Why: Calibration issue in Machine A
• How: Incorrect settings

Also, note down what each aspect is not. This sets boundaries.

Step 4: Review and Refine

Once you’ve answered all the questions, review them. Make sure they are specific and agreed upon by everyone. If they are not specific and agreed they should be reviewed and clarified by the team to ensure everyone is on the same page when moving forward with the project or solving the problem.

Step 5: Take Action

Now that you’ve clearly defined the problem, it’s time to solve it. Since you’ve also asked ‘How’ and ‘Why,’ you probably have some ideas for solutions.

For techniques around addressing problems can consult our comprehensive list of guides.

In Conclusion, the 5W1H Is/Is Not template is a useful tool for delving into a topic and gaining a better understanding of it. You can create a clear understanding of a topic and identify any misconceptions or areas of confusion by asking and answering the six questions. You can also clarify any misunderstandings and distinguish your topic from similar topics by addressing the “Is Not” section of the template.

• Knop, K. and Mielczarek, K., 2018. Using 5W-1H and 4M Methods to Analyse and Solve the Problem with the Visual Inspection Process-case study. In  MATEC Web of Conferences  (Vol. 183, p. 03006). EDP Sciences.
• Yusoff, N.M., Zakaria, N.A. and Harum, N., 2019. Problem analysis of RPL overhead in 6LOWPAN using 5W1H model .  Int. J. Innov. Technol. Explor. Eng ,  8 (12), pp.5300-5305.
• Changqing, G., Kezheng, H. and Fei, M., 2005. Comparison of innovation methodologies and TRIZ .  The TRIZ Journal, Issue (September 2005) .

A: The 5W1H Is/Is Not problem definition is a technique used to clearly define a problem by answering six fundamental questions: Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How.

A: The 5W1H Is/Is Not problem definition helps to eliminate ambiguity and ensure a thorough understanding of the problem at hand. It provides a structured approach to defining problems, which aids in effective problem-solving and decision-making.

A: The technique involves asking a series of questions: Who is involved? What is the problem? When does the problem occur? Where does it happen? Why is it happening? And how is it happening? Additionally, answering the corresponding “Is Not” questions helps to set boundaries and clarify what the problem is not.

Daniel Croft

Daniel Croft is a seasoned continuous improvement manager with a Black Belt in Lean Six Sigma. With over 10 years of real-world application experience across diverse sectors, Daniel has a passion for optimizing processes and fostering a culture of efficiency. He's not just a practitioner but also an avid learner, constantly seeking to expand his knowledge. Outside of his professional life, Daniel has a keen Investing, statistics and knowledge-sharing, which led him to create the website learnleansigma.com, a platform dedicated to Lean Six Sigma and process improvement insights.

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About the game

Plan the perfect heist using creative problem solving, brute force and everything around you. Teardown features a fully destructible and truly interactive environment where player freedom and emergent gameplay are the driving mechanics.

Tear down walls with explosives or vehicles to create shortcuts no one thought was possible. Stack objects, build structures or use floating objects to your advantage. Take your time to create an efficient path through the level, plan the heist and get ready to execute it.

Run, jump, drive, slingshot. Do whatever you need to collect targets, avoid robots or steal whatever your clients ask for. But make sure not to get caught!

Is there a sandbox mode?

Will teardown be available for macos/linux/iphone/android, does teardown support online multiplayer, the game crashes when starting a level., i am getting "application load error: 3:0000065432" when the game launches., why does the game launch in 60 hz display mode, do i need an rtx-enabled graphics card to run teardown, can i turn off ray tracing to get better performance, the game only uses a fraction of my cpu/gpu. why, i have no mouse cursor in main or pause menu., is teardown available in other languages, what game engine are you using.

Teardown has an active modding community and extensive mod support with built-in level editor, Lua scripting and Steam Workshop integration. You can to build your own sandbox maps, tools, vehicles and even new types of games, or just enjoy one of the thousands of existing community mods through the in-game mod loader. The documentation and best practices for modding and making content can be found here:

Documentation and tutorials

Learn how to build and publish mods for Teardown using our dedicated modding homepage. Here you will also find video tutorials for the editor and scripting.

Scripting API

Teardown uses Lua scripting and has a well-documented API for building new tools, gameplay, robots or even complete custom campaigns.

A tool to convert meshes to vox-files for use in Teardown.

Discord server

Teardown has an active Discord community. Here is a great place to discuss modding, team up with others or chat with the developers.

Creative Mode

Get some tips on how to use the latest addition to Teardown. Creative mode is a great way to get started with creating in Teardown.

PC System Requirements

• Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
• Windows 7 or later
• Quad Core CPU
• NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 or similar. 3 Gb VRAM
• 4 GB available space
• Additional Notes: Intel integrated graphics cards not supported.

Recommended

• Windows 10 or later
• Intel Core i7 or better
• NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 or similar. 8 Gb VRAM

Contact us if you experience problems with the game and need technical support or have a business enquiry. Make sure to read the FAQ above first. You can also find many answers to questions by joining the offical Discord server

• Discord server: https://discord.gg/teardown
• Presskit: Teardown presskit
• I agree to the Tuxedo Labs Privacy policy
• Support mail: Email
• Support: support.saber.games/
• Business inquiries: Email

Select edition:

• Standard Edition
• Deluxe Edition
• Ultimate Edition

Project phase

Morphological charts.

Recombine alternative components of a product in a visual representation

The execution is controlled by a moderator. All possible occurrences of the previously determined parameters are written to the right. The result is a matrix in which every combination of expressions of all characteristics is a theoretically possible solution. Thereafter, one characteristic of each feature is selected from each row, resulting in a combination of occurrences. This can be done in two ways: systematically, thereby limiting the number of features and characteristics. Intuitively, one characteristic is selected from each line and the resulting line is then viewed holistically as an alternative solution. This selection process is performed several times. Ideas are then developed with the resulting combinations of expressions.

• Generate solution approaches by combining different solution options for individual functions of a product or service.

For a specific question, the determining parameters are defined and written among each other. The parameters must be independent of each other and implementable in terms of the task.

• Divide the product into its functional components.
• Design independent solutions for the components.
• Form variants by combination.

For complex problems it is advisable to work in a group.

Anything to improve with the method description? Just send an e-mail with your suggestion. Thank you!

• Executable alone and in a team
• Treatment of very complex problems possible
• Collecting a lot of information in condensed form
• Flexible adaptation to different problems
• Clear and complete representation of the problem area
• Profound knowledge of the problem area is required
• Determining the right parameters is both difficult and critical to success
• Choosing the best solutions, from the almost unmanageable number of possible solutions, especially in complex problems, is difficult
• Brainstorming
• Competitive Product Survey
• Osborn Method
• Morphological Charts (MAPS 2.0)

The Design Method Finder is a UX and PM method data base with quick access to a lot of interesting and potentially helpful methods.

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Marking a Milestone: Four Years of Daily Study Groups

From data to discovery: studying computational biology with wolfram, navigating quantum computing: accelerating next-generation innovation, unlock innovative problem-solving skills with creative computation.

As computers continue to perform an increasing number of tasks for us, it’s never been more important to learn how to use computers in creative ways. Creative computing, an interdisciplinary subject combining coding with artistic expression, allows us to blend technology with human experiences. Learning to create in this way can help you unlock your innovative problem-solving skills. By mastering creative computation, you can create interactive artwork, design immersive experiences and develop creative solutions to real-world challenges.

Wolfram U ’s new Creative Computation course combines an introduction to Wolfram Language coding with a project-based exploration of various art forms, like visual art, poetry, audio and video game design. If you’ve never coded in Wolfram Language before, this course is a fantastic introduction to applied computing and will help you learn the language for any project. If you’ve already mastered the basics of coding, this course will help you apply your skills to fascinating new problems and projects.

We would love for you to join us in this interactive course as we explore what it means to work creatively with coding.

Motivation from History

Creative computing is a relatively new subject, but people have been using technology to make art for centuries. From the loom to the printing press or Walkman to Atari, technology has been part of art for as long as both have existed.

We now have a variety of exciting and creative ways to engage with computers, from AI-generated images to immersive virtual realities.

In this course, you will learn how to use Wolfram Language to create various forms of art. There are four main sections to the course: Computational Art, Computational Strings, Sound and Game Development. In each section, there are lessons teaching Wolfram Language skills, with associated exercises, and at the end of each section, there is a larger project. The projects are designed for you to stretch your creative muscles and use your new coding skills to create art. You’ll learn how to create visual art using images, how to write poetry using string manipulation, how to visualize audio and how to make text-based and graphics-based video games, all while learning how to code in Wolfram Language.

Here is a sneak peek at some of the topics in the course (shown in the left-hand column):

With 16 lessons, five quizzes and four projects, this course should take around five hours to complete. We recommend doing all the activities and projects to maximize your understanding and explore your new skills.

There is no background required to participate in this course. We will teach you all the coding skills you need to make the projects, so all that is required is your excitement and creativity.

Let’s explore what’s in the course.

There are 16 lessons in this course spread out over the five total sections (Computational Thinking and Coding, Computational Art, Computational Strings, Sound and Game Development). In each lesson, you will explore a different aspect of coding through a short video. You’ll start off by exploring the concept of computational thinking: how to translate your thoughts and your creativity into something the computer can understand and how to work with a computer to build creative artifacts. Here is a short excerpt from the video for this lesson:

Each lesson teaches a specific coding skill, with lots of examples and exploration of key concepts. In the Computational Art section, the goal is to use images and graphics to create a piece of art. In order to do that, we need to learn skills like variables, functions, lists, the Table and Map functions, colors, graphics and randomness, and image manipulation. Each skill is taught with an interactive video lesson in conjunction with exercises, before you use the project to test your knowledge.

The video lessons range from 5–13 minutes in length, and each video is accompanied by a transcript notebook displayed on the right-hand side of the screen. You can copy and paste Wolfram Language input directly from the transcript notebook to the embedded scratch notebook to try the examples for yourself.

Each lesson has a set of exercises to review the concepts covered during the lesson. Since this course is designed for independent study, a detailed solution is given for all exercises. Each exercise will help you practice a specific skill you’ve learned so that you are ready to use that skill in the project. Here is an example of an exercise from lesson 6 on image manipulation:

The exercise notebooks are interactive, so you can try variations of each problem in the Wolfram Cloud . You’re encouraged to blend skills together as you learn them. For example, for the aforementioned exercise, you could use the skills you just learned about randomness to replace the dominant colors in the image of the wolf with random colors, or you could import images to do the same exercise with a different image. When you’ve gotten further in the course, you could come back and build your own function that can do this to any two images.

Each section of the course includes a short project, and the Game Development section has two longer projects. In each case, you’ll use the skills you learned in that section to build something creative. In the first three sections, we provide detailed solutions and walk you though our processes, but in the Game Development section, we encourage you to build something unique.

In the Computational Art section, you’ll make art using images and shapes. In Computational Strings, you’ll write a Mad Libs haiku. In Sound, you’ll make an audio visualizer. In Game Development, you’ll make a text adventure game and a graphics-based Pac-Man –style game.

These projects will allow you to celebrate your successes and practice your new coding skills while cementing your understanding of creative computation.

Each section of the course ends with a short quiz, which allows you to demonstrate your understanding:

You will get instant feedback on your solutions, and you’re encouraged to try out the code.

Course Certificate

You are encouraged to watch all the lessons and attempt the projects and quizzes in the recommended sequence, since each topic in the course relies on earlier concepts and techniques. When you watch all 16 lesson videos and pass the five course quizzes, you will earn a certificate of course completion. The Track My Progress status bar in the course helps you to chart your progress, showing you where you left off from your previous course session. While you don’t have to submit projects to earn a certificate, they are a fundamental part of gaining computational skills, and we look forward to connecting with course users about their projects on Wolfram Community . Your course certificate represents completion of the basic course requirements, demonstrates your interest in exploring the latest technology and in building new computational skills, and it will add value to your resume or social media profile.

You are also encouraged to use the skills you learn in this course to go on to earn Level 1 certification for Wolfram Language proficiency . While the course does not require the same level of mathematics as the Level 1 certification exam, it will prepare you well for accomplishing the range of computational tasks that are required for Level 1 certification.

A Building Block for Success

A mastery of the fundamental concepts of creative computing will prepare you for working with computers to innovatively solve problems. Whether you’re interested in creating art or you’re interested in developing your coding skills, this course will provide a detailed foundation in both. Learning Wolfram Language is a valuable pursuit regardless of your career aspirations, as you can use the skills you learn in this course in any field.

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank my coauthor Eryn Gillam for their major contributions to the development of this course, as well as others who helped this course come together, including (but not limited to) Anisha Basil, Abrita Chakravarty, Cassidy Hinkle, Joyce Tracewell, Arben Kalziqi, Isabel Skidmore, Zach Shelton, Simeon Buttery, Ryan Domier and Eder Ordonez.

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