Using Creative Tools

there are many tools available to help you tackle the stages of the problem-solving cycle.

The good news is that there are many tools available to help you tackle the stages of the problem-solving cycle. These can be used by individuals, but most are more useful as part of a general meeting to encourage ideas.

Identification

• Fishbone (or "cause and effect") diagram-exploring the root causes of a problem and its contributing factors.

Redefinition

• Goal orientation--restarting the problem to focus on what you are really trying to solve.
• Perspective--looking at the problem differently.

Exploration

• Brainstorming - pooling ideas from a team.
• Radical ideas - encouraging wild thinking.
• Random link - forcing a random connection.

Selection

• Voting - a simple vote to choose the idea.
• Implement-ability matrix -- plotting your ideas on a chart to compare the payoffs they offer.

Implementation and Review

• Measure and compare - reviewing an innovation project once it has been implemented to measure its success.

ACTION POINT: Use the creative tools to work through the problem solving cycle.