Creative Problem Solving

Upon successful completion of this course the student should be able to:

• discuss the phases, success factors and basic conditions for creative teamwork.
• develop fuzzy areas as an opportunity, prerequisite and limitation of creative problem solving.
• formulate a project (phases of task completion and team formation) so that it results in a creative prototype.
• develop ideas and formulate them to fruition with conviction.
• defend convincingly the creative results in an arena (elevator pitch situation).
• discuss ethical issues in the context of idea development.

Creative ideas are no longer the output of lone rangers but of individuals collaborating in teams, therefore, this course is designed to stimulate the students´ collaborative potential. Characteristics of creative teamwork (individual, team and organizational processes) and the creative work environment are at the core of this course. As "idea" is an overused word (e.g., raw idea, idea concept), prototype and invention are introduced for its better understanding. The phases of an ideal creative problem-solving process (problem, preparation, question, ideation, evaluation, modification, prototyping) are explained in detail before creative and design methods (e.g. Mind Mapping, 6-3-5, Morphological Chart, Design Thinking and Lego Serious Play) shown as a means for solving a real-life practical problem. The course will be divided in four parts as follows:

Part 1: Characteristics of creative team work

This will consist of understanding how individual, team and organizational processes impact the creative work environment and how to stimulate improvisational creativity by thinking both inside and outside the box.

Part 2: Types of creative contribution

This part will provide an overview of the different types of creative contributions, namely, idea, prototype, innovation and invention.

Part 3: The creative problem-solving process

This part of the course is dedicated to understanding the creative problem-solving process in preparation for applying creativity techniques.

Part 4: Creativity techniques

Mind mapping, 6-3-5, morphological charts, design thinking and Lego Serious Play will be some of the techniques that will be applied for creative problem-solving.

• Kick-off session to explain the course.
• 3 sessions of 3 hours each for introduction to creative problem solving.
• Individual self-studies to prepare for the one-week workshop.
• One-week workshop.