By
Mary
Bellis adapted from materials written by the USPTO
Creative Problem Solving
Model
The third model developed by Scott Isaksen
and Donald Treffinger as described in the book "Creative Problem Solving:
The Basic Course (1985) by Isaksen and Treffinger" and published in
Buffalo, New York, by Bearly Limited, also describes both critical thinking and
creative thinking. Creative thinking is described as making and communicating
connections to: think of many possibilities; think and experience in various
ways and use different points of view; think of new and unusual possibilities;
and guide in generating and selecting alternatives. Critical thinking is
described as analyzing and developing possibilities to: compare and contrast
many ideas; improve and refine ideas; make effective decisions and judgments;
and provide a sound foundation for effective action. These definitions are
used in a six-stage, problem-solving process. A brief description of each of
the six stages follows:
- Mess Finding: Just what's the mess
that needs cleaning up, the situation that demands our attention? We have to
identify and acknowledge this first before we can proceed.
- Data Finding: Once the general mess
is defined, the next stage involves "taking stock"--unearthing and
collecting information, knowledge, facts, feelings, opinions, and thoughts to
sort out and clarify your mess more specifically. What do you know about the
situation, and what do you still need to know?
- Problem Finding: Now that your data
is collected, you need to formulate a "problem statement" that
expresses the "heart" of the situation. You must try to put aside
the common assumption that you "already know what the problem is"
and try to state the problem in such a manner as to invite novel perspectives
on it.
- Idea Finding: This is the state in
which you brainstorm as many ideas or alternatives as possible for dealing
with your problem statement. Don't evaluate your ideas at this point, merely
list them as an idea pool from which you'll draw in putting together a variety
of solutions to your problem.
- Solution Finding: Now that you have
a number of ideas that can serve as possible solutions to your problem, it's
time to evaluate them systematically. To do this you have to generate a
variety of criteria and select the most important for your problem. Is it
cost? expediency? pleasure? time involvement? etc. In this way, you'll be able
to identify and evaluate the relative strengths and weaknesses of possible
solutions.
- Acceptance Finding: Having decided
upon a solution, it's time to formulate a plan of action to implement your
solution. Determine what kind of help you'll need, what obstacles or
difficulties might get in the way, and what specific short- and long-term
steps you are going to take to rid yourself of that original mess!
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