Creative Problem Solving for Managers : Developing Skills for Decision Making and Innovation. /Tony Proctor

Cover; Half Title; Title Page; Copyright Page; Table of Contents; List of illustrations; Preface to the fourth edition; 1. Creativity and its Importance in Business; Introduction; Changing times; Some definitions of creativity; Invention and creativity; The importance given to creativity in business; How creative thinking may be used in management; Conditions in which creative thinking is needed most; Paradigm shift; Questions; Cases; 2. Blocks to Creativity; Introduction; The need to be ready for change; Mindset; When mindset blocks us; Other barriers to an individual's creativity. Dealing with an individual's blocks to creativityDiagnosing whether someone is blocked in their thinking; How techniques help to overcome blocks; Blocks to organizational creative thinking and ways of dealing with them; Elements and conditions of creative organizations; Questions; Cases; 3. Theories of Creativity and the Creative Problem-Solving Process; Introduction; Creative thinking; The investment theory of creativity; The brain as an information processor; Convergent and divergent thinking; The conditions of creative thinking; Origin of creativity; The cognitive theory of creativity. How we get ideas: the index metaphorProblem-solving mechanisms; Analogical reasoning; Questions; Cases; 4. Problem Solving and Improvisation; Problem solving; Models; The problem-solving process; The problem-solving process and the creative process; Compositional and improvisational creativity; Some limitations on formal problem-solving approaches; Questions; Cases; 5. Factors Influencing People's Ability to Undertake Ideation; What helps people get ideas; The techniques; Qualities of a creative person; Thinking style; Personality; Learning style; Mood or emotions; Problems in groups. The range of techniques and their suitability for solving different types of problemConclusion; Questions; Cases; 6. Objective Finding, Fact Finding and Problem Finding/Definition; Objective finding; Fact finding and problem definition/redefinition; Dimensional analysis; Redefinition approaches; Redefinition approaches: laddering; Redefinition approaches: goal orientation; Redefinition approaches: boundary examination; Redefinition approaches: progressive abstractions; Redefinition approaches: the 'why' method; Analytical techniques: decomposable matrices. Analytical techniques: cause-and-effect diagramsQuestions; Cases; 7. Morphological Analysis and Related Techniques; Introduction; Checklists; Attribute listing; Morphological analysis; Force-fitting triggers; Heuristic ideation technique; Component detailing; Sequence-attribute modification matrix; Questions; Cases; 8. Brainstorming and its Variants; Introduction; Classical brainstorming; The process of brainstorming; Wildest-idea variant; Stop-and-go brainstorming; Round-robin brainstorming; Gordon-Little variation; Trigger method; Problems with brainstorming; Brainwriting; Brainlining. Questions

Stimulating and developing the creative potential of all members of an organization (not just those in the more traditionally creative functions such as design or research and development) is widely seen as contributing to performance and results. This textbook introduces ideas, skills and models to help students understanding how creative thinking can aid problem-solving. The latest edition of this well-regarded book brings the story up to date whilst retaining popular features such as case studies and case histories together with extensive diagrams, examples and thought-provoking questions.