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Creativity and InnovationModule 2What is creativity? Creative behaviors possessing an element of newness, novelty, and differenceCreativity is an act, an idea, or product that changes an existing domain, or that transforms an existing domain into a new one, and creative person is whose thoughts or actions bring these changes.

Exercises on CreativityEXERCISE 1: BRAINSTORMING Brainstorming combines a relaxed, informal approach to problem solving with lateral thinking. It encourages people to come up with thoughtsand ideasthat can, at first, seem a bit crazy. Some of these ideas can be crafted into original, creative solutions to a problem, while others can spark even more ideas. This helps to get people unstuck by "jolting" them out of their normal ways of thinking.

How to exercise BrainstormingSheet 1 :Write down all ideas that come into your head (Spend about 15 mins on this) Sheet 2 : Write down only the ideas from Sheet 1 that you think are workable and list the pros and cons of each idea.Sheet 3: Write down the idea you think will work best

Exercises on CreativityEXERCISE 2: SCAMPER Scamper is a very effective way of coming up with a good business idea is to take an existing idea and see if you can put a new spin on it. The objective of this exercise is to take an existing product / service and see how you can change it in someway to make it more innovative and appealing.SCAMPER stands for:Substitute.Combine.Adapt.Modify.Put to another use.Eliminate.Rearrange.

Substitute one thing for another. Related questions: What kind of alternate material can I use? What part of the design could be substituted for something else?Combine with other functions, materials or things. Related questions: What could be added to the design to make it different?Adapt the design so it can be used for some other purpose. Related questions: What aspects of the design can be adjusted so it fits another purpose?Modify, Magnify, Minimize elements of its design. Related questions: What if I modify a component? How can I make it larger or stronger? How can it be made smaller or shorter?Put to other uses. Related questions: Who else might be able to use this design? What else could it be used for other than its original purpose?Eliminate, Elaborate, Enhance some part of the design. Related questions: What can be removed? What can be expanded or developed upon further?Rearrange, Reverse sections or move parts around. Related questions: How can the layout or pattern be changed? Can any components be interchanged? What can be turned around?

Exercises on CreativityEXERCISE 3: THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX One skill that many successful entrepreneurs have in common is their ability to look beyond the obvious and see things in a new light this is commonly called thinking outside the box. It doesnt just help you when coming up with your business idea. It can also help you to find different ways of solving problems as they arise in your business.

CASE STUDY 1: REDUCING THE WEIGHT

A project team was asked to reduce the weight of a rocket by1500 pounds. They were able to come up with ways to reduce the weight, but they were stalled at having to reduce it by another 800 pounds. They engaged others in looking for a solution. They talked to one of the workers who suggested that they not paint the rocket. It didn't sound very promising. It wasn't a great idea from what they thought. But, after they evaluated the idea, they realized that the200 gallonsof paint that it took to paint the rocket weighed 800 pounds. Their problem was solved. So, don't limit where your ideas come from. Get out of the box. Talk to those who do the work

Exercises on CreativityEXERCISE 4: THINK IN REVERSE

Some entrepreneurs find it useful to Think in reverse to help them come up with their new business ideas.

Source of New IdeaHobbies/InterestsPersonal Skills and ExperienceFranchises/Distribution Channels Mass MediaExhibitionsSurveysComplaintsBrainstormingCustomersGovernment

Hobbies/Interests: A hobby is a favorite leisure-time activity or occupation. Many people, in pursuit of their hobbies or interests, have founded businesses. If, for example, you enjoy playing with computers, cooking, music, traveling, sport orperforming, to name but a few, you may be able to develop it into a business. Personal Skills and Experience :Over half of the ideas for successful businesses come from experiences in the work place,e.g. a mechanic with experience in working for a large garage who eventually sets up his/her own car repair or a used car business. A franchise : is an arrangement whereby the manufacturer or sole distributor of a trademark, product or service gives exclusive rights for local distribution to independent retailers in return for their payment of royalties and conformity to standardized operating procedures. Mass Media :The mass media is a great source of information, ideas and often opportunity.Newspapers, magazines, television, and nowadays the Internet are all examples of mass media. Take a careful look, for example, at the commercial advertisements in newspaper or magazine and you may well find businesses for sale. Well, one way to become an entrepreneur is to respond to such an offer. Exhibitions :Another way to find the ideas for a business is to attend exhibitions and trade fairs. These are usually advertised on the radio or in newspapers; by visiting such events regularly, you will not only discover new products and services, but you will also meet sales representatives, manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and franchisers.

Surveys :The focal point for a new business idea should be the customer. The needs and wants of the customer, which provide the rational for a product or service, can be ascertained through a survey. Such a survey might be conducted informally or formally by talking to people usually using a questionnaire or through interviews and/or through observation. Complaints :Complaints and frustrations on the part of customers have led to many a new product or service. Whenever consumers complain bitterly about a product or service, or when you hear someone say I wish there was or If only there were a product/service that could , you have the potential for a business idea Brainstorming :Brainstorming is a technique or creative problem-solving as well as for generating ideas. When using this method, you need to follow these four rules: Dont criticize or judge the ideas of others Freewheeling is encouraged ideas that seem to be wild or crazy are welcome Quantity is desirable the greater the number of ideas, the better Combine and improve upon the ideas of others customers : are the ones to provide the final evaluation of products and services and well as drive sales, it is no wonder that they are the most fruitful source for ideas. In order to fully utilize the power of customers, innovation leaders should put into place methods for garnering and gathering customer ideas Government :Entrepreneur might be able to get help from a government-backed support scheme if you need some initial funding to test and develop your business idea.

Creative Problem Solving Creative problem-solving, a type ofproblem solving, is the mental process of searching for a new and novel creative solution to a problem, a solution which is novel, original and not obvious.

Creative Problem Solving Aheuristictechnique ("find" or "discover"), sometimes called simply aheuristic, is any approach to problem solving, learning, or discovery that employs a practical methodology not guaranteed to be optimal or perfect, but sufficient for the immediate goals. Where finding an optimal solution is impossible or impractical, heuristic methods can be used to speed up the process of finding a satisfactory solution. Creative Problem Solving Brainstorming combines a relaxed, informal approach to problem solving with lateral thinking. It encourages people to come up with thoughtsand ideasthat can, at first, seem a bit crazy. Some of these ideas can be crafted into original, creative solutions to a problem, while others can spark even more ideas. This helps to get people unstuck by "jolting" them out of their normal ways of thinking Creative Problem Solving Synectics ("the joining together of different and apparently irrelevant elements)is aproblem solvingmethodology that stimulates thought processes of which the subject may be unaware. This method was developed byGeorge M. Prince andWilliam J.J. Gordon, originating in the Arthur D. LittleInvention Design Unit in the 1950s.Creative Problem Solving Value Analysis can be defined as ,A process of systematic review that is applied to existing product designs in order to compare the function of the product required by a customer to meet their requirements at the lowest cost consistent with the specified performance and reliability needed. In all problem solving techniques, we are trying to change a condition by means of a solution that is unique and relevant. If we describe in detail what we are trying to accomplish, we tend to describe a solution and miss the opportunity to engage in divergent thinking about other alternatives. When trying to describe problems that affect us, we become locked in to a course of action without realizing it, because of our own bias. Conversely, the more abstractly we can define the function of what we are trying to accomplish, the more opportunities we will have for divergent thinking.Innovation Innovationis a new idea, device or process. Innovation can be viewed as the application of better solutions that meet new requirements, inarticulate needs, or existing market needs