Creativity and Problem Solving

Introduction to Creativity

• Creativity is the ability to solve problems with good solutions.
• Examples of creativity in everyday life, such as cooking with limited ingredients.

Types of Creatives

• Creative Roles:
  • Inventors, artists, cleaners, teachers can all be creative.
  • Creativity is about connecting ideas in innovative ways.

Adaption-Innovation Theory

• Proposed by Michael Kirton.
• Two types of creative problem-solving:
  • Adaptive Creativity:
    • Focus on doing things better.
    • Example: Improving cat litter through chemical analysis and enhancements.
  • Innovative Creativity:
    • Focus on doing things differently.
    • Example: Creating cat diapers or schools for cats.

Divergent vs. Convergent Thinking

• Divergent Thinking:
  • Generates many ideas.
• Convergent Thinking:
  • Narrows down options and details.
• Effective Problem Solving:
  • The combination of divergent and convergent thinkers leads to better results.

Research Findings

• Study on creative diversity using a murder mystery experiment:
  • Group A: Similar backgrounds, felt they worked well together but lacked diverse ideas.
  • Group B: Included a stranger, solved the mystery twice as fast, demonstrating the value of diverse perspectives.

Building Creativity

• Knowledge and Experience:
  • Accumulating knowledge and experiences increases creative connections.
• Practical Recommendations:
  • Clayton Christensen: Encourage DIY problem-solving at home.
  • Jack Matson: Embrace failure and new perspectives.
  • Marc Schwyn: Practice saying "yes" to new opportunities.

Daily Creative Challenges

• Suggestion to try something new every day for a week or a month:
  • Examples: Call a relative, talk to a stranger, use non-dominant hand, take a cold shower.
• Keep a journal of new experiences and learnings.