MGT 371 ch3 - solving problems analytically and creatively

Four Types of Creativity

1. Incubation (be sustainable) 2. Imagination (be new) 3. Improvement (be better) 4. Investment (be first)

4 types of conceptual blocks

1.) Constancy 2.) Commitment 3.) Compression 4.) Complacency

Defining the problem

1.) Define the problem 2.) Generate alternative solutions 3.) Evaluate and select an alternative 4.) Implement and follow up on the solution

The three principles for fostering creativity are pull people apart, put people together; monitor and prod; and reward multiple roles. Which of the following is an example of the reward multiple roles principle?

Being an orchestrator and facilitator

What is the conceptual block that inhibits creative thinking because individuals become married to a particular point of view, definition, or solution, making it likely that they will follow through on that commitment?

Commitment

__________ is the conceptual block that inhibits creative thinking due to a lack of questioning and a bias against thinking.

Complacency

Which of the following is the conceptual block that inhibits creative thinking when individuals become wedded to one way of looking at a problem?

Constancy

Which of the following is the first step in problem solving and involves diagnosing a situation so that the focus is on the real problem?

Define the problem.

There are four types of analogies that are recommended as part of synectics. They are personal analogies, direct analogies, symbolic analogies, and fantasy analogies. In which of the synectic problem-solving techniques do individuals apply facts, technology, and previous experience to solving a problem?

Direct analogies

flexibility of thought

Diversity of ideas, or concepts generated

The three principles for fostering creativity are pull people apart, put people together; monitor and prod; and reward multiple roles. Which of the following is an example of the pull people apart, put people together principle?

Encouraging minority report and legitimizing "devil's advocate" roles

Creative problem solving involves four stages: preparation, incubation, illumination, and verification. What is involved in the preparation stage of creative problem solving?

Gathering data, defining a problem, generating alternatives, and consciously examining all available information

Creative problem solving involves four stages: preparation, incubation, illumination, and verification. Which of the stages of creative problem solving occurs when an insight is recognized and a creative solution is articulated?

Illumination stage

Creative problem solving involves four stages: preparation, incubation, illumination, and verification. What occurs during the illumination stage of creative problem solving?

Insight is recognized and a creative solution is articulated.

What is the most appropriate approach to creativity when quick responses and goal achievement take priority?

Investment

Which of the following statements is true of vertical thinking?

It involves defining a problem in a single way and then pursuing that definition without deviation until a solution is reached.

__________ is the failure to ask questions, obtain information, or search for data.

Noninquisitiveness

__________ involves defining a problem by using preconceptions based on past experiences, preventing the problem from being viewed in novel ways.

Perceptual stereotyping

Which of the following is a characteristic of the implement and follow up on the solution step of the problem-solving model?

Provide opportunities for feedback.

Creative problem solving involves four stages: preparation, incubation, illumination, and verification. Which of the stages of creative problem solving involves evaluating the creative solution relative to some standard of acceptability?

Verification stage

direct analogies

a Synectic problem-solving technique in which individuals apply facts, technology, and previous experience to solving a problem

Relational Algorithm

a blockbusting technique for combining unrelated attributes in problem solving by connecting words to force a relationship between two elements in a problem

morphological synthesis

a four step process intended to expand the number of creative alternatives available for solving a problem. It involves combining the different attributes of a problem together in unique ways

ignoring commonalities

a manifestation of the commitment block - the failure to identify similarities among seemingly disparate situations or data

Creative Problem Solving

a method of solving problems that involves four stages: preparation, incubation, illumination, and verification

Analytical Problem Solving

a method of solving problems that involves four steps: 1.) Define the problem 2.) Generate alternative solutions 3.) Evaluate and select an alternative 4.) Implement and follow up on the solution

preparation stage

a stage in creative thought that includes gathering data, defining the problem, generating alternatives, and consciously examining all available info

fantasy analogies

a synetic problem-solving technique in which individuals ask, "In my wildest dreams, how would I wish the problem to be resolved?"

brainstorming

a technique designed to help people solve problems by generating alt. solutions w/o prematurely evaluating and rejecting them

incubation stage

an early stage in creative thought in which mostly unconscious mental activity combines unrelated thoughts in pursuit of a solution to a problem

People who pursue creativity through incubation tend to __________.

be team players and to foster trust and cohesion

left-hemisphere thinking

brain activity concerned with logical, analytic, linear, or sequential tasks

subdivision

breaking apart a problem into smaller parts

Evaluate and select an alternative is the step of problem solving that involves __________.

carefully weighing the advantages and disadvantages of the proposed alternatives before making a final selection

Perceptual Stereotyping

defining a problem by using preconceptions based on past experience, thus preventing the problem from being viewed in novel ways

vertical thinking

defining a problem in a single way and then pursuing that definition without deviation until a solution is reached

People who pursue creativity through __________ tend to be experimenters and entrepreneurs.

imagination

People who pursue creativity through __________ develop better alternatives and improve upon what already exists.

improvement

illumination stage

in creative thought, the third stage, which occurs when an insight is recognized and a creative solution is articulated

Creative problem solving involves four stages: preparation, incubation, illumination, and verification. The __________ stage of creative problem solving involves mostly unconscious mental activity in which the mind combines unrelated thoughts in pursuit of a solution.

incubation

People who pursue creativity through __________ tend to be team players and to foster trust and cohesion.

incubation

People who pursue creativity through __________ tend to meet challenges head-on, adopt a competitive posture, and focus on achieving results faster than others.

investment

innovation

large, visible, discontinuous changes; breakthroughs

Compression is the conceptual block that inhibits creative thinking because individuals __________.

look too narrowly at a problem, screen out too much relevant data, and make assumptions that inhibit problem solving

right-hemisphere thinking

mental activity concerned with intuition, synthesis, playfulness, and qualitative judgments

conceptual blocks

mental obstacles that restrict the way a problem is defined and limit the number of alternative solutions that might otherwise be considered

groupthink

one of the pitfalls in group decision making that occurs when the pressure to reach consensus interferes with critical thinking. When the leader or the majority appear to prefer a particular solution, holders of dissenting views are reluctant to speak out

orchestrator

person who brings together cross-functional groups and necessary political support to facilitate implementation of a creative idea

idea champion

person who comes up with the innovative solutions to problems

sponsor

person who helps provide the resources, env., and encouragement that the idea champ. needs in order to work

Personal Analogies

recommended as part of synectics, whereby individuals try to identify themselves as the problem, asking the question, "If I were the problem, what would I like? What would satisfy me?"

symbolic analogies

symbols or images that are imposed on the problem; recommended as part of Synectics

complacency

the conceptual block that occurs not because of poor thinking habits or inappropriate assumptions but because of fear, ignorance, self-satisfaction, or mental laziness

compression

the conceptual block that results from an individual's looking at a problem too narrowly, screening out too much relevant data, or making assumptions that inhibit solving the problem

constancy

the conceptual block that results from using only one way to look at a problem - to approach, define, describe, or solve it.

commitment

the conceptual block that results when an individual endorses a particular point of view, definition, or solution

verification stage

the final stage in creative thought in which the creative solution is evaluated relative to some standard of acceptability

rule breaker

the person who goes beyond organizational boundaries and barriers to ensure success of the creative solution

incubation (creativity)

the pursuit of creativity through teamwork, involvement, and coordination among individuals

ambidextrous

the use of both left and right sides of the brain, indicative of the most creative problem solvers

thinking languages

the various ways in which a problem can be considered, from verbal to nonverbal or symbolic languages as well as through sensory and visual imagery. Using only one thinking language is one indication of the constancy block

Janusian thinking

thinking contradictory thoughts at the same time; conceiving two opposing ideas to be true concurrently

Constancy is the conceptual block that inhibits creative thinking __________.

when individuals become wedded to one way of looking at a problem