TOPIC 1D: CREATIVE THINKING PROCESS
• Nature of the creative thinking process
• Components of the creative thinking process
• Creative climate
THE ROLE AND NATURE OF CREATIVE
PROCESS
• Creativity is the generation of ideas that result
in improved efficiency or effectiveness of a
system
• Two important aspects of creativity exists
namely people and processes
• The process is goal oriented and is designed to
attain a solution to the problems
• The people are the resources that determine
the solution
THE ROLE AND NATURE OF CREATIVE
PROCESS
• Creativity is a process that can be developed
and improved
• Everyone is creative to some degree
• However as with many abilities and talents
some individuals have a greater aptitude for
creativity than others
• Some people have been raised and educated
in an environment that encouraged them to
develop their creativity
COMPONENTS OF THE CREATIVE THINKING
PROCESS
• Background/Knowledge accumulation
• The Incubation process
• The idea experience
• Evaluation and implementation
BACKGROUND/KNOWLEDGE
ACCUMULATION
Successful creations are preceded by
investigation and information gathering.
Creative search for background knowledge can
be practiced in various ways:
• Read in a variety of fields
• Join professional groups and association
• Attend professional meetings and seminars
BACKGROUND/KNOWLEDGE
ACCUMULATION
• Travel to new places
• Talk to anyone and everyone about your
subject
• Scan magazines, newspapers and journals for
articles related to the subject
• Develop a subject library for future reference
• Carry a small notebook and record useful
information
• Devote time to pursue natural curiosities
INCUBATION PROCESS
• Creative individuals allow their subconscious
to mull over the tremendous amount of the
information they gather during the
preparation phase
• The incubation process often occurs while
they are engaged in activities totally unrelated
to the subject or problem
• It happens even when they are sleeping
STEPS TO INDUCE INCUBATION
• Engage in routine, mindless activities eg
cutting grasses or painting a house
• Exercise regularly
• Play (Sports, board games, puzzles)
• Think about the problem or project before
falling asleep
• Meditate or practice self hypnosis
• Sit back and relax on a regular basis
THE IDEA EXPERIENCE
• This is the most exciting phase. It is when the
idea or solution the individual is seeking is
discovered
• New and innovative ideas often emerge while
a person is busy doing something unrelated to
the venture or enterprise
• The idea or answer comes to the individual
incrementally
WAYS TO SPEED UP THE IDEA EXPERIENCE
• Day dream and imagine about your project
• Practice your hobbies
• Work in a leisurely environment
• Put the problem on the back burner
• Keep a notebook at bedside to record late
night or easy morning ideas and
• Take break while working
EVALUATION AND IMPLEMENTATION
• This is the most difficult step of the creative
endeavor and requires a great deal of courage,
self discipline and perseverance
• Successful entrepreneurs can identify ideas that
are workable and have the skills to implement
• They do not give up when they run into
temporary obstacles. Often they will fail several
times before they successfully develop their
best ideas
EVALUATION AND IMPLEMENTATION
• Entrepreneurs may take the ideas in an
entirely different direction or will discover a
new and more workable idea while struggling
to implement the original idea
• Another important part of this phase is
reworking of these ideas to put them into final
form.
SUGGESTION ON HOW TO CARRY THIS
PHASE
• Increase your energy level with proper
exercise, diet and rest
• Educate yourself in the business planning
process and all facets of business
• Test your ideas with knowledgeable people
• Take note of your intuitive feelings
• Educate yourself in the selling process
SUGGESTION ON HOW TO CARRY THIS
PHASE
• Learn about organizational policies and
practices
• Seek advice from others including friends and
experts
• View the problem you encounter while
implementing your ideas as challenge
CREATIVE CLIMATE
Creativity is most likely to occur when the
business climate is right:
• A trustful management that does not over
control the personnel
• Open channels of communication among all
business members
• Considerable contact and communication with
outsiders
CREATIVE CLIMATE
• A large variety of personality types
• A willingness to accept change
• An enjoyment in experimenting with new
ideas
• Little fear of negative consequences for
making mistakes
• The selection and promotion of employees on
the basis of merit
CREATIVE CLIMATE
• The use of techniques that encourage ideas
including suggestion systems and
brainstorming
• Sufficient financial, managerial, human and
time resources for accomplishing goals
