seminar 1: spotting new opportunities: creativity and innovation

creativity and problem solving

Prof Roger Mumby-Croft

Definition of Creativity

The relating of things or ideas which were

previously unrelated.

+

=

+

=

Relationship

Creativity&Humour

Definition cont.

“The thinking process that helps us to generate

ideas.”Majaro

Definition cont.

“Invention is 1% inspiration and 99%

perspiration.”Edison

The Creative Person

• Processes information in new ways• Has conceptual fluency, flexibility, and

originality• Suspends judgement• Questions authority• Is tolerant to ideas of others• Accepts on impulse

Barriers to creativity

• Searching for one right answer• Blindly following rules• Seeing play as frivolous• Avoiding ambiguity• Fear of looking like a fool• Fearing mistakes and failure

Barriers to creativity

“If you’re not making mistakes, you’re not trying hard enough!”

Prof Lester Lloyd-Reason

Critical Thinking

Problem

Answer

Creative Thinking

Pro

ble

m

An

swers

The Amazing Brain

Left Brain

WordsLogicNumbersSequenceLinearAnalysisLists

Right Brain

RhythmAware of spaceWhole pictureColourDimensionImagination Daydreaming

4 Rules of Brainstorming

1. Criticism is ruled out2. ‘Freewheeling’ is welcomed3. Quantity is wanted4. Combination and improvement are

sought

The importance of…

• Getting going – don’t wait for inspiration to strike

• Focus – on the task in hand• Attention – of the whole group to one

type of thinking at a time• Concentration – refusing to give up if

no ideas come

Two stages of thinking

First-stage

PerceptionSensationIntuition

Second stage

JudgementReason

Evaluation

THANK YOU!

Roger.mumby-croft@anglia.ac.uk