The Creative Thinking Handbook: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Problem Solving in Business [2 ed.] 1398607088, 9781398607064

Table of contents :
Contents
About the authors
Foreword
Acknowledgements
Introduction: Why do we need new ideas, really?
Part One Thinking About Your Thinking
1 The Decision Radar
Mind-numbing patterns
Metacognition
Put your thinking under the radar
Take action on your results
References
2 Common thinking errors: Selective thinking
Killing creativity and smart decisions
That’s the idea!
The bias that binds
References
3 Common thinking errors: Reactive thinking
System 1 vs System 2
The need for speed
In the heat of the moment
Letting information overload you
References
4 Common thinking errors: Assumptive thinking
They’re everywhere!
Challenging assumptions
Bad assumptive moves
Rules are made to be broken
References
Part Two The Solution Finder
5 The context for creative problem solving
Are you market-driven or market-driving?
A winning process
Divergent and convergent thinking
The Creativity toolkit
References
6 The Solution Finder Step 1: Understanding
Define the challenge
The Understanding toolkit
Understanding checklist: dos and don’ts
References
7 The Solution Finder Step 2: Ideation
Generative thinking
Brainstorming: does it work?
How to be better at brainstorming
The ‘correct’ brainstorming strategy
References
8 The Solution Finder Step 2: Ideation toolkit
Creativity on demand
The Ideation toolkit
Ideation checklist: dos and don’ts
References
9 The Solution Finder Step 3: Analysis
Evaluate ideas
The Analysis toolkit
1. Sort
2. Screen
3. Select
Analysis checklist: dos and don’ts
References
10 The Solution Finder Step 4: Direction
Turn ideas into action
The Direction toolkit
Direction checklist: dos and don’ts
References
Part Three The End of the Beginning
11 Commit to ‘thinking differently’
Putting it all together
Decision Radar v2
Commitment
Making time for creativity
References
12 Creative leadership
Innovation is a core leadership skill
The end game
Freedom to fail… and learn
Make play a priority
Innovate with optimism
Supportive systems
References
Conclusion: Where do you go from here?
Appendix: activity answers
Index