This is the fifth stage in the Creative Problem Solving Process.  The complete model can be found here: https://andrewzenyuch.com/?p=622

Goal
Selecting and strengthening potential solutions to the problem by judging them against success criteria and finding the best fit.

Statement Starters

• Will it…
• Does it…
• Is it…

Process – Diverge

• Write your “What I see myself doing is…” statement at the top of a new piece of paper.
• Refer back to your problem statement and look for what you’re looking for this solution to do.
• Be specific in your goals for this solution.

Process – Converge

• Go through your list of goals and criteria and put a star next to the ones that you feel are the most important in solving your problem.
• Pick the top 3-6 criteria with stars.
• Fill in the 3-6 criteria in the top of the columns on the following page.
• Fill in the ideas within the cluster you selected from the Idea Finding stage in the rows.
• Give each idea a rating in the corresponding boxes based on the follow:
  • If it meets or could meet the criteria, give it a “+”
  • If it does not or will not meet the criteria, give it a “-”
  • If you are unsure, give it a “0”

Process – Strengthening

• This matrix should give you a clear indication of which solutions will help you best solve your problem.
• Select just one solution, multiple solutions or a combination of solutions that you feel will best solve your problem.
• Write the solution you picked at the top of a new piece of paper.
• For each solution, answer the following:
  • Pluses – what’s good about this solution?
  • Potentials – what could this solution turn into? (You may have to move some pluses down to this. It’s okay if there’s overlap.)
  • Concerns – what are you worried about with this solution? (Use “How to…” and “How might I…” as Statement Starters for this step.)
  • Opportunities – how can I overcome those concerns?
• When you are finished, you should have a well-rounded understanding of the best possible solutions to solve your problem.
• Re-write your solution using the Statement Starter: “What I see myself doing NOW is…”

CONGRATULATIONS!  You have just completed the Solution Finding Stage of the Creative Problem Solving Process.  You are now ready to complete the next stage – Action Finding.

This is the fourth stage in the Creative Problem Solving Process.  The complete model can be found here: https://andrewzenyuch.com/?p=622

Goal
Generate ideas that are potential solution to the problem statement selected.

Statement Starters

• I wish…
• It would be great if…
• What if I could…
• Wouldn’t it be great if…

Process – Diverge

• Write your new problem statement at the top of a new piece of paper.
• On the following page, begin generating solutions to your problem.
• Try to use the Statement Starters as much as possible.
• Try not to limit yourself when generating these ideas.
• If you get stuck, try:
  • Brainwriting
  • Forced Connections
  • SCAMPER

Brainwriting (a more detailed process outline can be found here: https://andrewzenyuch.com/?p=429)

1. Take out a blank sheet of paper
2. Write your problem statement at the top of this paper.
3. Draw a line down the middle of the page vertically, then draw 3 more lines about the same distance apart horizontally.  Your paper should be divided into 8 sections.
4. Write down 2 ideas to solve your problem in the first 2 boxes of your sheet.
5. Once you have 2 ideas written down, give you paper to somebody else and have them write 2 ideas down in the next 2 boxes. They can build off of your ideas or they can write completely original ideas.
6. When they’ve written 2 ideas, your sheet should have 4 ideas on it. Pass your sheet on to someone else and have them write 2 ideas down in the next 2 boxes. They can build off of your ideas or they can write completely original ideas.
7. Your sheet should have 6 ideas on it now. Pass your sheet on to someone else and have them write 2 ideas down in the next 2 boxes. They can build off of your ideas or they can write completely original ideas.
8. Your sheet should now have 8 ideas on it.
9. Review your sheet and see if the ideas from the other people spark any ideas of your own. See if you can build off of them or take them in a whole new direction. Turn your paper over and write down these ideas.

Forced Connections

• How would your mother solve this problem?
• Think about your favorite movie. Who was the main character? What characteristics did he/she embody. How would he/she solve this problem?
• Refer back to your Fact Finding list and find who else is involved. How would they solve this problem?
• How would a 4 year-old solve this problem?
• Are they any objects in the room? Pick one up, study it, write down some of its characteristics and see what ideas you can get from it.
• Pick up a magazine, thumb through it, read a page or 2, look at some ads and see what ideas you can get from it.
• How would your favorite teacher growing up solve this problem?
• Put on some music. Listen to the lyrics, the instruments, and other musical elements and see what ideas you can get from it.
• Think of your favorite vacation. Mentally relive your favorite parts of it for a few minutes and see what ideas you can get from it.
• Take out your wallet or purse and examine the contents. What’s in it? What does it do? How can it help solve your problem?

SCAMPER
Think of your problem statement and ask what can I:

• Substitute – What can be swapped out for something else? People? Processes? Components?
• Combine – Are there things I can put together to help? Can I put a few things together to help me solve my problem?
• Adapt – What’s something I can modify to help? What’s useful for me in other areas that I can apply to this problem?
• Magnify or Minimize – Can I make part of this problem really big or really small to help?
• Put To Other Uses – If I could move this problem to another part of my life, how would I solve it there? Is there another use for this problem?
• Eliminate – Are there any parts of this problem that I can eliminate? How?
• Reverse or Rearrange – What if I turned this problem completely around?

Process – Converge

• Once you have a long list of ideas for possible solutions to your problem, stop and review your list.
• Add anything else that comes to mind.
• Cluster similar ideas together.
• Give each cluster a name that represents the common theme running through each idea within that cluster.
• Go through your list and put a star next to anything that:
  • Immediately grabs your attention.
  • You feel the strongest about.
  • Would be the most satisfying to solve.
  • You have the most control over.
  • You feel needs the most imagination and new ideas.
• The ones with the most stars should represent your most important. However, the stars are only advisory.
• Now the tough part – pick just one cluster (But don’t worry, the beauty of the process is you can come back and pick a different one to continue the process with at a later time.)
• Using the cluster you picked, restate the cluster as a way to solve your problem by using the Statement Starter: “What I see myself doing is…”

CONGRATULATIONS!  You have just completed the Idea Finding Stage of the Creative Problem Solving Process.  You are now ready to complete the next stage – Solution Finding: https://andrewzenyuch.com/?p=439

This is the third stage in the Creative Problem Solving Process.  The complete model can be found here: https://andrewzenyuch.com/?p=622

Goal
To look within your goal/objective/wish to find what problems are blocking the way. To zero-in on the biggest problem and create a defined problem statement to help generate solutions.

Statement Starters

• How to…
• How might I…
• How might we…

Process – Diverge

• Write your goal/objective/wish at the top of a new sheet of paper.
• There are many barriers and reasons you have not reached your goal or completed your objective. Write down as many problems as you can think of that are keeping you from reaching your goal.
• Be sure to use your Statement Starters to make your problems actionable.
• Use your list of clustered facts as a guide.
• If you’re stuck, use these questions:
  • What’s stopping me from reaching my goal?
  • What needs to change to get me where I want to go?
  • I could reach my goal if it weren’t for…

Process – Converge

• Once you have a long list of problems that are stopping you from reaching your goal/wish/objective, stop and review your list.
• Add anything else that comes to mind.
• Beware of any problems that might actually have solutions in them.
• If you can – cluster similar thoughts together.
• If you can – see if any problems in each cluster can be added together to make a more robust problem statement. This restatement should encompass the meaning of each problem statement.
• Go through your list and put a star next to anything that:
  • Immediately grabs your attention.
  • You feel the strongest about.
  • Would be the most satisfying to solve.
  • You have the most control over.
  • You feel needs the most imagination and new ideas.
• The ones with the most stars should represent your most important. However, the stars are only advisory.
• Now the tough part – pick just one to work on. (But don’t worry, the beauty of the process is you can come back and pick a different one to continue the process with at a later time.)

CONGRATULATIONS!  You have just completed the Problem Finding Stage of the Creative Problem Solving Process.  You are now ready to complete the next stage – Idea Finding: https://andrewzenyuch.com/?p=437

This is the second stage in the Creative Problem Solving Process.  The complete model can be found here: https://andrewzenyuch.com/?p=622

Goal
Gather data to develop a well-rounded view and a clear understanding of your objective by writing down important information about it.

Process – Diverge

• Write your goal/objective/wish at the top of  a new sheet of paper.
• Ask yourself: “What do I know about this?”
• Write down everything that comes to your mind.
• Use the following questions to get more answers around your goal/objective:

• How did this start?
• What’s challenging about it?
• Why aren’t you there yet?
• What’s getting in the way of reaching it?
• Who else is involved? How?
• What are the components of getting there?
• What does it feel like?
• What color is it?
• Does it have a smell?
• Was there a time when you were there or when this wasn’t a problem? What was it like?

• Don’t be afraid to be simple. No fact is too big or too small.

Process – Converge

• Once you have what you feel to be a comprehensive list of all the facts around your goal/objective/wish, review the list and write down anything you think you’ve missed.
• Be sure to look to see if you missed the obvious.
• Put a star next to the facts you feel help you best understand your goal/objective/wish.
• Cluster similar facts together. Facts included in clusters do not need stars.
• Give each cluster a name that represents the common theme running through each idea within that cluster.
• These clusters will be used as a reference to help guide you along the way to reaching your goal/objective/wish.

CONGRATULATIONS!  You have just completed the Fact Finding Stage of the Creative Problem Solving Process.  You are now ready to complete the next stage – Problem Finding: https://andrewzenyuch.com/?p=435

This is the first stage in the Creative Problem Solving Process.  The complete model can be found here: https://andrewzenyuch.com/?p=622

Goal
To take a look at what’s going on in your life and identify a ranked list of goals, challenges, objectives and wishes to work towards achieving.

Statement Starters

• I wish…
• It would be great if…
• What if I could…
• Wouldn’t it be great if…

Process-Diverge

• Pause, take a step back, and view your life as a whole from a distance.
• Use the a separate sheet of paper to answer the following questions:

• • What would I like to change in my life?
  • Where would I like to go in life?
  • What keeps me up at night?
  • What would you like be to doing in 5 years?
  • What frustrates me to the point I want to put your head through a wall?
  • If I had all the money and time in the world, what would I do?
  • What is driving me crazy?
  • What NEEDS to change?
  • If I could change 1 thing in my life, it would be…

Process – Converge

• Once you have a list you feel contains some goals, challenges, objectives and wishes you’d like to accomplish, stop and review your list.
• Add anything else that comes to mind.
• Reflect upon your list and see if any themes boil to the surface.
• Cluster similar thoughts together.
• Put a star next to anything that:

• • Immediately grabs your attention.
  • You feel the strongest about.
  • Would be the most satisfying to solve.
  • You have the most control over.
  • You feel needs the most imagination and new ideas.

• The ones with the most stars should represent your most important. However, the stars are only advisory.
• Now the tough part – pick just one to work on. (But don’t worry, the beauty of the process is you can come back and pick a different one to continue the process with at a later time.)

CONGRATULATIONS!  You have just completed the Objective Finding Stage of the Creative Problem Solving Process.  You are now ready to complete the next stage – Fact Finding: https://andrewzenyuch.com/?p=433

This is an overview of the Creative Problem Solving Process.  The complete model can be found here: https://andrewzenyuch.com/?p=622

CPS Background

• Definition – Creative problem solving is the mental process of creating a solution to a problem. It is a special form of problem solving in which the solution is independently created rather than learned with assistance. (wiki)
• It is a 6-step process that helps you structure a problem in a way that you can create your own solution to it.
• It was introduced by Alex Osborn (BBDO) and developed in collaboration with Sid Parnes.

Process Outline (click to enlarge)

• Diverge and Converge in each step
• Cyclical but flexible process

Ground Rules – Diverging

• Defer Judgment
• Combine and Build Ideas
• Seek Wild Ideas
• Go for Quantity

Ground Rules – Converging

• Be Deliberate
• Check Your Objectives
• Improve Your Ideas
• Be Affirmative
• Consider Novelty

Ready to get started?  Head over to The Creative Problem Solving Process – Stage 1 – Objective Finding: https://andrewzenyuch.com/?p=431