Creative problem solving for managers : developing skills for decision making and innovation

목차 (Table of Contents)

• CONTENTS
• List of Illustrations = xi
• Preface to the fifth edition = xv
• 1 Creativity and Its Importance in Business = 1
• Introduction = 1
• Changing times = 2
• Some definitions of creativity = 3
• Paradigm shift = 4
• Innovation, invention and know / edge = 5
• The importance given to creativity in business = 9
• How creative thinking may be used in management = 12
• Conditions in which creative thinking is needed most = 14
• Questions = 15
• Cases = 16
• Further reading = 19
• 2 Blocks to Creativity = 21
• Introduction = 21
• The need to be ready for change = 22
• Mindset = 22
• When mindset blocks us = 23
• Other barriers to an individual's creativity = 24
• Dealing with an individual's blocks to creativity = 24
• Diagnosing whether someone is blocked in their thinking = 26
• How techniques help to overcome blocks = 27
• Exercise = 30
• Blocks to organisational creative thinking and ways of dealing with them = 30
• Elements and conditions of creative organisations = 32
• Questions = 33
• Cases = 34
• Further reading = 38
• 3 Theories of Creativity and the Creative Problem-Solving Process = 39
• Introduction = 39
• Creative thinking = 41
• The investment theory of creativity = 41
• The brain as an information processor = 43
• Convergent and divergent thinking = 47
• The conditions of creative thinking = 48
• Origin of creativity = 49
• The cognitive theory of creativity = 51
• How we get ideas : the index metaphor = 54
• Problem-solving mechanisms = 56
• Analogical reasoning = 57
• Questions = 61
• Cases = 61
• Further reading = 63
• 4 Problem Solving and Improvisation = 64
• The nature of problems = 64
• Models = 66
• The problem-solving process = 69
• The problem-solving process and the creative process = 72
• Compositional and improvisational creativity = 76
• Some limitations to formal problem-solving approaches = 79
• Questions = 80
• Cases = 81
• Further reading = 84
• 5 Factors Influencing People's Ability To Undertake Ideation = 85
• What helps people get ideas = 85
• The techniques = 88
• Qualities of a creative person = 88
• Thinking style = 89
• Personality = 90
• Learning style = 91
• Mood or emotions = 92
• Problems in groups = 92
• The range of techniques and their suitability for solving different types of problem = 94
• Conclusion = 95
• Questions = 96
• Cases = 97
• Further reading = 99
• 6 Objective Finding, Fact Finding And Problem Finding / Definition = 100
• Objective finding = 102
• Fact finding and problem definition / redefinition = 104
• Dimensional analysis = 105
• Redefinition approaches = 109
• Redefinition approaches : laddering = 110
• Redefinition approaches : goal orientation = 110
• Redefinition approaches : boundary examination = 112
• Redefinition approaches : progressive abstractions = 114
• Redefinition approaches : the `why' method = 115
• Analytical techniques : decomposable matrices = 116
• Analytical techniques : cause-and-effect diagrams = 118
• Questions = 119
• Cases = 120
• Further reading = 125
• 7 Morphological Analysis And Related Techniques = 126
• Introduction = 126
• Checklists = 127
• Morphological analysis = 133
• Force-fitting triggers = 137
• Heuristic ideation technique = 139
• Component detailing = 140
• Sequence-attribute modification matrix = 141
• Questions = 144
• Cases = 145
• Further reading = 148
• 8 Brainstorming and Its Variants = 149
• Introduction = 149
• Classical brainstorming = 150
• The process of brainstorming = 153
• Wildest idea variant = 156
• Stop-and-go brainstorming = 157
• Round-robin brainstorming = 157
• Gordon-Little variation = 157
• Trigger method = 159
• Problems with brainstorming = 159
• Brainwriting = 159
• Brainlining = 159
• Questions = 162
• Cases = 162
• Further reading = 167
• 9 Lateral Thinking and Associated Methods = 168
• Introduction = 168
• Overview = 169
• Awareness = 171
• Assumptions = 174
• Alternatives = 176
• Provocative methods = 178
• Metaphorical thinking = 184
• Analogy = 185
• The discontinuity principle = 187
• Six Thinking Hats = 187
• Questions = 188
• Cases = 189
• Further reading = 192
• 10 Synectics = 194
• Introduction = 194
• Synectics = 195
• Conducting synectics sessions = 199
• Synectics in action = 204
• Questions = 208
• Cases = 208
• Further reading = 214
• 11 Paradigm-Breaking Techniques = 215
• Introduction = 215
• Weights for thought = 215
• Paradigm-breaking techniques = 218
• Disruptive technology = 223
• Questions = 224
• Cases = 225
• Further reading = 229
• 12 Miscellaneous Ideation Techniques = 230
• Suggestion box, exhibits and competitions = 230
• Cliches, proverbs and maxims = 232
• Storyboarding = 233
• Scenario writing = 234
• Scenario daydreaming = 235
• Bionics = 239
• Free association = 239
• Two words = 241
• Story writing = 242
• Mind map = 244
• Fishbone diagram = 245
• Lotus blossom technique = 247
• TRIZ = 248
• Vision building = 250
• Questions = 250
• Cases = 251
• Further reading = 253
• 13 Evaluation = 254
• Introduction = 255
• Sorting = 256
• Evaluation methods = 258
• Qualitative evaluation : reverse brainstorming = 265
• Financial evaluation = 267
• Mathematical evaluation = 268
• Pay-off tables = 268
• Decision trees = 269
• Strategic framing = 270
• Questions = 271
• Cases = 273
• Further reading = 279
• 14 Decision Making and Problem Solving = 281
• Introduction = 281
• Types of decision = 281
• Naturalistic decision making = 282
• Use of heuristics = 283
• The analytic hierarchy process = 286
• Making decisions involving risk or uncertainty : prospect theory = 287
• Groups are better at making decisions = 287
• How creative problem solving can help decision making = 289
• Questions = 290
• Exercise = 290
• Cases = 296
• Further reading = 297
• 15 Implementing Ideas = 299
• Introduction = 299
• Ideas are not readily implemented = 299
• Sources of resistance to change = 301
• Role of communication in overcoming resistance to change = 302
• Putting ideas into practice = 303
• Reducing resistance to change = 305
• Climate for change = 311
• Questions = 311
• Cases = 312
• Further reading = 314
• 16 Computer-Assisted Creative Problem Solving = 316
• Introduction = 316
• History of development = 316
• Structured approach to creative problem solving in computer programs = 318
• Types of computer-assisted stimulus = 318
• Conventional software = 321
• Questions = 330
• Cases = 330
• Further reading = 332
• Appendix 1 : Case example of the creative problem-solving process = 334
• Appendix 2 : Notes on problems = 343
• References = 347
• Author index = 364
• Subject index = 368