Creativity in Problem Solving

SKILL: Critically reflect and make decision, problem solving / Problem Solving

TITLE: Creativity in Problem Solving

SUBTITLE: 

EQF LEVEL (INTERNAL REFERENCE): 2

Keywords 

1 Creativity

2 Innovation

3 Problem solving

4 Originality

5 Alternative solutions

Introduction.

Within problem solving, another significant competence, capable of looking at the problem in a different way, is creativity. It refers to the ability to go beyond the common perception of things and it is the starting point for identifying new solutions, or developing new ideas necessary for achieving improvement. 

Intended Learning Outcomes within this Learning Unit: 

• Understand the importance of problem solving as a skill to solve a given situation;
• Understand creativity as a resource in problem solving.

By the end of this LU, you will be able to learn about the important role of creativity as a key resource in problem solving with innovation.

Content.

Problem solving is one of the fundamental skills that consists of trying to re-establish a given situation. Once the problem has been identified, what would be the most effective technique to use? The tendency is to try to resolve a situation by applying one's own knowledge and experience. But what limitations does this system have? Specifically, there is a risk of being locked into one's own knowledge that does not allow for the evaluation of other solutions that could solve the problem more efficiently. According to creative problem solving, a given problem can instead have multiple solutions: a creative mindset is able to observe facts from multiple points of view, proposing innovative strategies for their resolution. Creativity, when faced with a given difficulty, allows one to search  for solutions in an original and innovative way, allowing a better  range among possible solutions, free from the constraints of one's own knowledge. Consequently, creativity is a key component of problem solving because it allows you to better define possible solutions. Creative problem solving refers to the act that involves the ability to identify effective, alternative solutions to a problem. Creative people do not always react in the same way: in fact, their thinking tends to be original and "out of the box", allowing them to respond to stimuli in a positive way that is more appropriate to the specific situation. 

Those who develop a creative attitude have the ability to interpret an obstacle as a new opportunity or challenge to be met with a positive attitude. 

Creativity then can be seen as the ability to:

• invent or intuit things;
• Break free from preconceptions and look at situations from different points of view;
• Do not  get stuck in rigid thoughts that can sometimes be negative.

Being creative means getting out of the routine and looking for innovation by leveraging a dynamic and elastic mindset and being  able to go beyond the constructed mental schemes. 

Creativity is problem solving with innovation, that is, with some degree of originality. 

But can creativity be developed? 

The conception of creativity as a "problem solving skill" allows us to consider it as a competence that can be stimulated, learned and improved. Creative people have common characteristics and therefore, techniques have been developed that could enhance creativity. 

Creativity is not a trait one is born with that  affects  few people.  On the contrary, it is a skill that everyone can develop. 

Creativity can be stimulated through divergent thinking techniques, which allow the search for multiple points of view through which to analyze the possible problem. Four characteristics of thinking that can stimulate creativity can be identified:

• Fluency, defined as the ability to come up with multiple ideas on the same topic;
• Flexibility, i.e., the predisposition to link ideas and projects even if they are not similar;
• Elaboration, understood as being able to add details, viewpoints, and new perspectives to existing information;
• Originality, meaning coming up with not only the ideas that are most likely to work but also less concrete thoughts.

Language point: The Gerund

One of the five rules of the gerund

In English, a gerund is a noun that ends in -ing and has a total of five rules. 

One of the rules of the gerund (noun ending in -ing) is that it always comes after a preposition. 

Let us look at one of the rules that is used in the above text. 

The sentences below have been taken from the above text.

• The tendency is to try to resolve a situation by + applying one’s own knowledge and experience. 

• Specifically, there is a risk of  +being locked into one’s own knowledge that does not allow for the evaluation of other solutions that could solve the problem more efficiently. 

Other examples of this rule are:-

1. She was accused of + smuggling.
2. He was afraid of + flying.
3. They were fed up with + trying. 

      4. You can make coffee creamier by  + adding more milk