Course Information

In the past few decades, psychologists and businesspeople alike have discovered that successful problem solvers tend to use the same type of processes to identify and implement the solutions to their problems. This process works for any kind of problem, large or small. The Creative Problem-Solving workshop will give participants an overview of the entire creative problem-solving process, as well as key problem-solving tools that can be used every day. Skills such as brainstorming, information gathering, analyzing data, and identifying resources will be covered throughout the workshop.

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Understand problems and the creative problem-solving process

• Identify types of information to gather and key questions to ask in problem solving

• Write concrete problem statements

• Use basic brainstorming tools to generate ideas for solutions

• Evaluate potential solutions against criteria, including cost/benefit analysis group voting

• Understand the roles that fact and intuition play in selecting a solution

Outline

• Overview

• The Problem-Solving Method

• Information Gathering

• Problem Definition

• Preparing for Brainstorming

• Generating Solutions

• Gathering Solutions

• Analyzing Solutions

• Selecting a Solution

• Critical Thinking

• Critical Thinking Exercises

Prerequisite not required.