Robert Alan Black, Ph.D., CSP

Creative Thinking Styles: People, Places and Possibilities Through Processes

Developing Creativity Traits & Tools in Individuals, Teams and Organisations

S.P.R.E.A.D.

G.A.P.S.

G.A.P.S.GAPS

GIFTATTITUDEPROCESSESSTRATEGIES

S.P.R.E.A.D.SPREAD

UPPORTINGROMOTINGECOGNIZINGNCOURAGINGPPLYINGEVELOPING

Tools & Techniques

Tools & Techniques

WhereWhenWhyWhoWhatHow ?

S.T.A.M.P.S.STAMPS

SYSTEMSTOOLS/TECHNIQUESAPPROACHESMETHODSPROCESSESSTRATEGIES

Impact ofCreative Styleon Tools

Creative Thinking Sessions

Creative Thinking Sessions

Creative Thinking Sessions

Creative Thinking Sessions

Creative Thinking Sessions

Whether dozens or hundreds

Creativity/Idea Clubs

Contests

Crty/Innovat’n

Rooms

Idea Meetings

Idea Systems

In-House Training

Innovation Fairs

Problem Solving Teams

Rebel Groups-Unofficial

Retreats

Training Programs

Workshops

What Some Organizations Do…

Mni

Dd

HerrmannMerrill

McCarthyFischer

LotasKolb

GregorcMaccoby

MokMyers-Briggs

SOLATKirton Style Instruments

Directive Negotiative

Meditative Intuitive

iMDd

n

nnn

nn

i ii iii

M.I.N.D. DesignTM ..

Meditative factual

detailed logical

one focus at a time

..

Meditative factual

detailed logical

one focus at a time

M.I.N.D. DesignTM .

Intuitive mostly divergent use hunches or guesses strive for new ideas many focuses/challenges

at once

.

Intuitive mostly divergent use hunches or guesses strive for new ideas many focuses/challenges

at once

M.I.N.D. DesignTM

Negotiative personal/friendly very loyal like to enjoy work work as spirit moves them

Negotiative personal/friendly very loyal like to enjoy work work as spirit moves them

M.I.N.D. DesignTM .

Directive systematic

practical organized

do scheduled or expected

.

Directive systematic

practical organized

do scheduled or expected

M.I.N.D. DesignTM .

Meditative factual

detailed logical

one focus at a time

.

Meditative factual

detailed logical

one focus at a time

.

Intuitive mostly creative use hunches or guesses strive for new ideas

many focuses/challenges at once

.

Intuitive mostly creative use hunches or guesses strive for new ideas

many focuses/challenges at once

Directive

systematic practical

organized do what is scheduled

or expected

Directive

systematic practical

organized do what is scheduled

or expected

Negotiative

personal/friendly very loyal like to enjoy what they are doing work as the spirit moves them

Negotiative

personal/friendly very loyal like to enjoy what they are doing work as the spirit moves them

M.I.N.D. DesignTM

Preferred Thinking Styles

http://www.cre8ng.com

.

M - Meditative• uses facts• gives specific answer• works alone• thinks as a detective• explains in detail• questions everyone• calculates accurately• is very precise• thinks abstractly• uses logical thought• works step by step

M.I.N.D. DesignTM

Preferred Thinking Styles

.

I - Intuitive• lots of ideas• imagination• sees or senses answers• gets solutions w/o facts• experiments often• pretends easily• sees patterns quickly• takes risks• very inventive• future thinker

M.I.N.D. DesignTM

Preferred Thinking Styles

.

N - Negotiative• friendly• loyal to others• likes to work w/ people• always involves others• tends to be emotional• joiner• follower over leader• trustworthy• enjoys talking• adaptable to group

M.I.N.D. DesignTM

Preferred Thinking Styles

.

D - Directive• works step by step• is very practical• plans before acts• neat & organized• directs people• follows the rules• on time exactly• dependable• does things right way• wants correct answers

M.I.N.D. DesignTM

Preferred Thinking Styles

M - Meditative

• uses facts• gives specific answer• works alone• thinks as a detective• explains in detail• questions everyone• calculates accurately• is very precise• thinks abstractly• uses logical thought• works step by step

I - Intuitive

• lots of ideas• imagination• sees or senses answers• gets solutions w/o facts• experiments often• pretends easily• sees patterns quickly• takes risks• very inventive• future thinker

N - Negotiative

• friendly• loyal to others• likes to work w/ people• always involves others• tends to be emotional• joiner• follower over leader• trustworthy• enjoys talking• adaptable to group

D - Directive

• works step by step• is very practical• plans before acts• neat & organized• directs people• follows the rules• on time exactly• dependable• does things right way• wants correct answers

M.I.N.D. DesignTM

Preferred Thinking Styles

Rational, logical,Analytical, individual

Systematic, equations,Step-by-step, proven

Intuitive, exploratory,Unknown, fanciful

Fun, harmonious,Involving all, family/team

SoloConvergently

Divergent

SystematicallyConvergentOrganization

WholisticallyDivergentFamily

Solo/TeamDivergentM. I.

N.D.

MM&n

M&i

M&d

I&m

I&n

iI&d

N&m

n

N&i

N&dD

D&m

D&n

D&i

75%

50%

50%

25%25%

Conflict Potential between Different Styles

M.I.N.D. DesignTM Creativity ProfilesFour Basic Creative Thinking Styles

M - Rationally Innovative Rational & Challenging

• Continuously improving, refining what exists or systematically moving from the abstract to the concrete. Uses logic and rationale.

• This is a deductive and reductive approach moving back and forth from the practical to the theoretical.

• A style of a loner. • The style of a highly goal-oriented person

who is most concerned with completing the challenge.

M - Rationally Innovative Rational & Challenging

• Continuously improving, refining what exists or systematically moving from the abstract to the concrete. Uses logic and rationale.

• This is a deductive and reductive approach moving back and forth from the practical to the theoretical.

• A style of a loner. • The style of a highly goal-oriented person

who is most concerned with completing the challenge.

I – ImaginativeOff-the-Wall

• Creation of the new, the untried.• Blue sky, inspirational thinking & leading.• Uses hunches, guesses, approximations.• This is an exploratory, open-ended seemingly

undisciplined approach that works from many potential solutions backwards more often then from the problem towards solutions, using multiple thinking and non-thinking approaches.

• The style of a highly impatient person, loyal to the challenges and the process.

I – ImaginativeOff-the-Wall

• Creation of the new, the untried.• Blue sky, inspirational thinking & leading.• Uses hunches, guesses, approximations.• This is an exploratory, open-ended seemingly

undisciplined approach that works from many potential solutions backwards more often then from the problem towards solutions, using multiple thinking and non-thinking approaches.

• The style of a highly impatient person, loyal to the challenges and the process.

D – Systematic Conventional

• Applying known theories and systems or equations to reuse previously proven solutions or problems.

• This is a reductive approach using predominantly critique, judgment and argument.

• Very organized and a step-by-step thinker• The style of a person highly loyal to an

organization.

D – Systematic Conventional

• Applying known theories and systems or equations to reuse previously proven solutions or problems.

• This is a reductive approach using predominantly critique, judgment and argument.

• Very organized and a step-by-step thinker• The style of a person highly loyal to an

organization.

N - Joint Team Communal & Harmonious

• An exploratory, often accidental approach.• Generally “feels” a problem and its many

potential solutions. • Generally this style prefers to work in teams

to “bounce” ideas often off other “accepting” people/leaders.

• A compromising style. The style of a person highly loyal to his or her team and the project or organization.

N - Joint Team Communal & Harmonious

• An exploratory, often accidental approach.• Generally “feels” a problem and its many

potential solutions. • Generally this style prefers to work in teams

to “bounce” ideas often off other “accepting” people/leaders.

• A compromising style. The style of a person highly loyal to his or her team and the project or organization.

M.I.N.D. DesignTM Creativity ProfilesFour Basic Creative Thinking Styles

M - Rationally Innovative Rational & Challenging • Continuously improving, refining what exists

or systematically moving from the abstract to the concrete. Uses logic and rationale.

• This is a deductive and reductive approach moving back and forth from the practical to the theoretical.

• A style of a loner. • The style of a highly goal-oriented person

who is most concerned with completing the challenge.

M - Rationally Innovative Rational & Challenging • Continuously improving, refining what exists

or systematically moving from the abstract to the concrete. Uses logic and rationale.

• This is a deductive and reductive approach moving back and forth from the practical to the theoretical.

• A style of a loner. • The style of a highly goal-oriented person

who is most concerned with completing the challenge.

I – ImaginativeOff-the-Wall• Creation of the new, the untried.• Blue sky, inspirational thinking & leading.• Uses hunches, guesses, approximations.• This is an exploratory, open-ended seemingly

undisciplined approach that works from many potential solutions backwards more often then from the problem towards solutions, using multiple thinking and non-thinking approaches.

• The style of a highly impatient person, loyal to the challenges and the process.

I – ImaginativeOff-the-Wall• Creation of the new, the untried.• Blue sky, inspirational thinking & leading.• Uses hunches, guesses, approximations.• This is an exploratory, open-ended seemingly

undisciplined approach that works from many potential solutions backwards more often then from the problem towards solutions, using multiple thinking and non-thinking approaches.

• The style of a highly impatient person, loyal to the challenges and the process.

D – Systematic Conventional• Applying known theories and systems or

equations to reuse previously proven solutions or problems.

• This is a reductive approach using predominantly critique, judgment and argument.

• Very organized and a step-by-step thinker• The style of a person highly loyal to an

organization.

D – Systematic Conventional• Applying known theories and systems or

equations to reuse previously proven solutions or problems.

• This is a reductive approach using predominantly critique, judgment and argument.

• Very organized and a step-by-step thinker• The style of a person highly loyal to an

organization.

N - Joint Team Communal & Harmonious• An exploratory, often accidental approach.• Generally “feels” a problem and its many

potential solutions. • Generally this style prefers to work in teams

to “bounce” ideas often off other “accepting” people/leaders.

• A compromising style. The style of a person highly loyal to his or her team and the project or organization.

N - Joint Team Communal & Harmonious• An exploratory, often accidental approach.• Generally “feels” a problem and its many

potential solutions. • Generally this style prefers to work in teams

to “bounce” ideas often off other “accepting” people/leaders.

• A compromising style. The style of a person highly loyal to his or her team and the project or organization.

Innovation-Problem-FindingSelf

Recovery-ImplementingSelf

Imagination-Idea-Generating

Self

Discovery-Idea Sensing

Self

your cre8ng™ style

M. I.N.D.

Idea Grid™Attribute Listing

TRIZ™

cre8ng™ ToolsM.

Excursions Forced RelationshipsMetaphors

cre8ng™ ToolsI.

Writing RelayGroup ExcursionsGuided Imagery

cre8ng™ Tools

N.

S.C.A.M.P.E.R.™Checklisting

Brain Writing

cre8ng™ Tools

D.

Idea Grid™

Attribute ListingTRIZ™

S.C.A.M.P.E.R.™

ChecklistingBrain Writing

Excursions Forced RelationshipsMetaphors

Writing RelayGroup ExcursionsGuided Imagery

cre8ng™ ToolsM. I.

N.D.

Mark new slide

BrainstormingBrainwritingForced ConnectionsS.C.A.M.P.E.R

Brainstorming

Quantity for QualityNo JudgementFreewheelHitchhike

Brainwriting

Index cards,Post-It Notes™Silent/Active

Forced Relationships

A + B = CE + W = Q

Forced RelationshipsThis is an idea generating technique that appears in many books about creative thinking and creative thinking or innovation tools.

First Stepchoose something totally unrelated to the problem or challengeYou or your group are working on.

Second StepList everything you or your group know about it.(Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?… physical, visual, tactile,…all senses, good and bad)

Third StepList everything you or your group know about your problem or challenge. (WWWWWH…and using all the senses)

Fourth StepTake items/details/aspects from the first list and FORCE FIT them to features Or details from the second list. Your goal is to see if the features from The randomly chosen, unrelated thing/animal sparks ideas for improving, Changing, correcting features of the problem.

A traditional example or warm-up for doing this consists of…

1st. Ask the person or group to write everything they know about a canary (or a bird in their country.

2nd. Ask the person or group to write everything they know about the chair they are sitting in.

3rd. Then I ask them to combine (FORCE FIT or make a FORCED Relationship) one item from the canary list with The chair’s list with the goal to improve, change, correct the chair design or to generate ideas for designing the ultimate chair.

Sample

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.QuickTime™ and a

TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressorare needed to see this picture.+ =

Feathers-Soft + chair is hard = make seat softYellow + chair is ship gray = add colorDivergent Thinking Tool

S.C.A.M.P.E.R

Sparking ideas withChecklists….verbs

CHECKLIST

S.C.A.M.P.E.R.

S.C.A.M.P.E.R. is a form of CHECKLIST. A CHECKLLIST is a prepared list of words, verbs, questions that you can use that can spark new ideas, change your thinking or your point of view or even you mood and the direction your thinking at the moment and take you into many directions.

S.C.A.M.P.E.R. was created by Bob Eberle, teacher/educational consultant in the 1970 s to teach the concept of CHECKLISTING to school children by using a memory device (acronym) that they could easily remember when they needed to generate new ideas or remember existing or past ideas. It is used as the foundation for Michael Michalko’s excellent Creative Thinking Tools book…THINKERTOYS.

First StepWrite out the word S.C.A.M.P.E.R. vertically on a piece of paper or on a flip chart/chalkboard or other surface that the group can see.

Second StepWrite out what the 7 letters stand for.

Third StepThen use each of the 7 by asking questions using these verbs to improve/change/revise your challenge or problem to generate potential ideas and solutions.

Fourth StepRead over the ideas you have produced and select the bestTo work on to turn them into HOT SOLUTIONS to use.

Sample

=

Combine - what might we combine with our problem to improve it?Chair - new materials, sound, tastes, textures, arm rest, cushion

Eliminate - what might we eliminate to improve the current chair produce a brand new one?Hinges, one of the legs, the back

S. = substituteC. = combineA. = adapt, adoptM. = minify, magnifyP. = put to other usesE. = eliminateR. = reverse

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Divergent Thinking Tool

Sample

+ =

Idea 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Ideas1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Idea2

Idea4

Vertical 2 = make the chair out of woodHorizontal 4 = make the color changeable

Ideas might be….cover, removable film or skin

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Divergent Thinking Tool

Idea Grids

First StepWith this Cre8ng Tool we first generate 12 to 24 ideas throughBrainstorming or any other technique.

Second StepThen draw a grid made up of as many vertical and horizontalCells as you have ideas.

Third StepCombine the ideas on the vertical side of the grid With the ideas on the horizontal side one by one and write them into the separate boxes where the two ideas meet.. 6 ideas canThen produce 36 ideas, 12 can produce 24, 100 - 10,000

Fourth StepRead over the ideas you have produced and select the bestTo work on to turn them into HOT SOLUTIONS to use.

Idea or Morphological GridsThis is a logical/left-brain convergent tool that can be used to generate large numbers of ideas. 6 columns of 10 examples of each variable can produce 1,000,000 possible combinations.

First StepGenerate list of variables of problem or story

Second StepGenerate lists for each of the variables: i.e.: heroes: cowboy,Rancher, sheriff, shopkeeper, teacher, minister.

Third StepNumber each list for each variable 1 to 2 to 3 to …...

Fourth StepRandomly pick one number for each variable column from 1 to ?

Fifth StepThen write a story using one from each of the columns Sample

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Divergent Thinking Tool

hero

es

hero

ines

villi

ans

crim

eslo

catio

ns

Variables of story

Value GridsThis is a logical/left-brain convergent tool that can be used to select ideas to turn into solutions

First StepGenerate ideas

Second StepSelect a workable number of ideas you or the group like

Third StepGenerate a list of values that final solution can be evaluated with.

Fourth StepExamine each idea one by one for each value.OrExamine each value one by one comparing the chairs.

Fifth StepIf one idea ends up better from the analysis than one that you or the group have a strong feeling for then go back and re-evaluate the weak areas and strengthen or change them.

Sample

+ =

Idea A.

B.

C.

D.

E.

Values1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

IdeaB

Value4

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Convergent Thinking Tool

Idea B = make the chair out of woodValue 4 = better aesthetics

Wood would make it easier to tool, the grain willGive a natural beauty to the chair

PCP-Pluses/Concerns/PotentialsPluses/Concerns/Potentials a convergent thinking tool used for analyzing a list or group of ideas that have been generated by an individual or a group.

First StepNarrow down the number of ideas to a comfortable number (3 to 6)

Second StepThen one by one write out 3 lists of thoughts about each idea.

a. Pluses of the ideasb. Concernsc. Potentials

Third StepThen compare the results.

Fourth StepIf one idea falls behind the others yet the group seems more excited about it or committed to it, then go over each of the concerns and think of ways to eliminate or strength them with that idea.

Sample

=

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Idea 1Make the chair out of XXX plastic and apply electrical lighting to it.

Pluses - Plastic will be cheaperLighting will make it more useableThe plastic will provide more color options

Concerns - We have no experience with plasticElectrical wiring will add costIt may be too easily tipped over

Potentials - Could lead to a product that could be sold anywhere in the world.Could expand our technical capacitiesCould open up new markets for our other products.

Convergent Thinking Tool

Hits & MissesHits & Misses is a convergent thinking tool used for quickly choosing ideas from several that have been generated.

First StepGenerate many ideas….24, 48, 144…..on Post-It notes or slips of paper or index cards or simply write them on a surface where everyone can see them easily.

Second StepTell the group to go up and scan the total group of ideas and mark which ones their “gut” tells them is a hit. No discussion. Just simply read and react.OrTell the group to go up and move the ideas they think are HITS to an area labeled HITS and the MISSES to another area labeled thus. Leave the “NOT SURE” ones where they are.

Third StepThen discuss, organize by popularity, group, cluster the ideas by categories.

Fourth StepSelect the one or more that can be used at the same time or the ones that can be combined into a single idea

SampleQuickTime™ and a

TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressorare needed to see this picture.

Hits Unsure? Misses

Convergent Thinking Tool

Thinking ToolsDivergent & Convergent

Robert Alan Black, Ph.D., CSP

Thank You