Creative Problem Solving: Coping With Mental(Including Emotional) Blocks
Creative problem solving is the other name for innovation. We usually use the term “Innovation” for any technical solution to a problem or issues we
may face. The fact is, any simple solution we arrive at to cope with any
difficult situation is an innovative step we take to do so.
When we need to decide on a course of action to solve a problem, we may
work out a process, which may not give satisfactory result or may prove to be
very expensive. The very fear of failing to effectively solve a problem
prevents us from trying to solve it creatively. We can overcome this first
hurdle to solving a problem by “Properly
Processing Given Information”.
·
Step One: Try to
understand the information available in the form of “Raw Data” and identify the “Problem”.
For instance: The Report card of a
student or the balance sheet of an organization is the “Raw Data” The unsatisfactory marks/grades scored by the student or
the losses incurred by the organization is the
“Problem”.
·
Step Two: Understand
the in terms of the “Goal”. For
instance: the student’s goal is to clear the exam and the goal of the organization is to generate
revenue (earn more than the functional expenses incurred). Then find out the reasons where and why one has
deviated from achieving ones functional objective/goal. For instance: the
student, in earnest, can find out by how much he was unable to achieve the
score/grade. The organization, through internal audit process can gain the
needed information.
·
Step Three:
More information can be drawn from past experience, available in the form
of memory and past data, on the processes applied to achieve similar goals in
the past. Use the collected information through present and previous experience
to analyse the difference and similarity with the present problem to arrive at
a solution. For instance: The student can
recall the satisfactory marks scored in previous exams and how he was able to
do so, and what were the causes of
his present failure. He can then analyze the information to find his strength
and weakness, which can help him to solve the problem. The organization: through past reports and auditing conventions can
also analyze the past and present data to find a solution for the present problem.
This
step-by-step method of using given data to identify the problem and find a
solution is “Programming”. This
problem solving model is called “Newell
and Simon Model” This is successful only
when:
I. Accurate Raw Data.
II.
Problem is identified properly.
III.
The solution method is
defined clearly.
Barriers in
Creative Problem Solving are:
1.
Mind-set: The other
term used to describe it is “functional
fixedness”. This usually occurs when
one, who is tuned in to an existing system is unable to work out of it. This
also makes the person to solve any new type of problem. For instance, for a long time, computer was considered to be a
calculator and presently, many people are unable to appreciate the diverse
functions of mobile phone. This is often
attributed to “Negative Thinking”. Destructive (Negative) criticism is the
biggest hindrance to creative problem solving and the common example is in the
form of parents and teachers, through negative criticism, hinder the
imaginative minds of children to cultivate the process and habit of creative
problem solving.
2. For an Individual:
Cultural
Blocks: Influence and pressure of society in the form of social customs
and value systems.
Emotional Blocks: fear, anxiety, jealousy, etc.
Intellectual
and expressive blocks: Vertical thinking or thinking in terms of “One Right
Answer”; Personal beliefs and value systems; Improper sense of perception;
improper self- image.
3. For an organization:
Lack of
Resources and Management Support to try out new ideas. The biggest
indicator of this is that floating or underutilized manpower is an anathema for
the management of such an organization. Such organization is unable to afford “Slack” in its System, for it believes
in “Task Force”.
Bureaucracy and Red Tape: it prevents functional flexibility
and prevents innovation.
Functional
Myopic Thinking: Thinking only on the lines of production, marketing,
work force and finance. The organization ignores its objective of customer
satisfaction, therefore ignores the relevance of understanding what customer
needs and then innovate to find a
creative solution for it.
Fear of Criticism: therefore, do not put
forward their ideas.
Resistance to Change: due to aversion to change in
working habits, new systems.
Fear of Taking Risk (Job or
Career may be at stake): financial loss and fear of entrapment.
Tendency to conform: fear of fall-out with the
members of the work-group.
Emphasis on
Managerial Control: Rigid financial control expects quick and financially
measurable results, thus hindering any innovative activities.
Ideas are
often analysed under microscope: in order to avoid financial and
other related risks.
Rigid Hierarchical Structure:
Tendency
for one large successful breakthrough rather than many small success stories.
How to Develop Climate for Creativity and
Innovation in an Organization
1. People
People
should be encouraged to take risk in their work by defining the limit of
risk they can take.
Creating
and Encouraging Innovative climate is Management’s Responsibility: The
management can do this by providing a given level of functional autonomy and
risk taking behaviour within the organization.
Management
Should Respond Positively to New Ideas: Should not resist innovation
fearing change in status quo. Should ignore personal benefits for larger
benefits of the organization as the latter benefit is bound to be mutual.
Generating
Creative Ideas Requires Freedom of Thought ~ Some Degree of Autonomy: more
functional autonomy develops sense of responsibility and creative thinking to
problem solving.
Motivating Innovation through Reward and Recognition
Provide
Adequate Financial Resources for Innovation
Create a
Spirit of Teamwork: Free and informal interaction, encouraging the members to
identify individual functional goals with organizational goals. This can help
in free sharing of thoughts and ideas and light-hearted competition to motivate
creative thinking.
Exposure
of Employees to Outside Ideas: Free sharing of ideas within the organization through
internal bulletins and newsletters and also through events and activities such
as workshops, seminars and lectures and journal subscriptions for exposure
external ideas.
Conduct
Problem-solving Retreats: To go away from place of work to a different
environment to ideate together to find solution to a problem.
2. Process
A Continual
Flow of Idea is Required
Review or
Revise Suggestion Schemes
Establish an
Innovation Council
Provide Time
for “Pet” Projects
3. Structure
Differentiate
the Structure: Structurally, Organization should be flexible enough to
respond to the changes in the External Environment. It should have well-defined
cross- departmental interfaces with adequate scope to integrate in response to
structural changes.
Encourage
Different Viewpoints: This can help in getting different perspectives of a
problem and eventually encourage creative thinking to find an appropriate
solution considering the different functional entities within the organization.
Establish Creativity Rooms Containing Books and Idea-generating Aids
Proper
interface between R&D and Marketing: This will help the organization to
find accurate solution in the form of a proper product or service to satisfy
the customer base.
Encourage
Cross-Training with well developed Learning and Development Support: More the
people will understand different aspects of the functions within the
organization; it will improve their ability to comprehend the problem and find
its fool-proof solution.
Source: The Essence of Management Creativity (by: Tony Procter)
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