imora1212-blog

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Process Reflection

Looking back on the process that got us to App2Mouth its hard to nit pick at what stage of the process fell short. We played it fairly conservatively, trusting in each stage and the relative techniques for that stage, to move us along through the process. I’ve said it before and I will say it again, our group dynamic was great! Perhaps if there would have been some sort of friction or uncertainty in the group, it would have motivated us to rethink the CPS model we were utilizing but because we had faith in one another’s knowledge and skill set it emphasized the value of the cps model. 

During the Acceptance stage we were planning on going in a completely different direction then where we ended up. This is the beauty of the model and the group. After some great sync up sessions and feedback from our peers in the class we were able to go with an idea that peeked the interest of all us. I wouldn't change anything about this stage as it initiated the formulation of our group dynamic .

The analyze phase is what our creative juices flowing. Although we were not yet focused on ideating the research we coming across opened our eyes to a fascinating problem that existed in the dental health industry. Gathering information on what currently existed for the problem gave us even a greater incentive to think of something even more unique.

The Define process was a stage that evolved on its own through a lot of the information we gathered through the Anaylize stage. The work flowed seamlessly from Analyze to Define leaving room for us to identify a target demographic which also was greatly influenced by the data we collected. I was even super proud of the way our group defined the problem using the vernacular which spoke to our target demographic.

Ideation: Where the fun begins, especially for someone with my skill set. This stage allowed me to create some visual sketches that brought our ideas to life. Although these were very initial sketches it was able to open up several topics of discussion during our sync up sessions. The CPS process was in full swing and was readily apparent during the ideation phase.

The selection phase is where I would say we hit our first bump in the road. We were so set on solution to our problem and were headed full steam ahead with our solution. This is where the CPS model may have bent a little bit. Due to the fact we would present our ideas to our class it skipped forward toward evaluation where we found that our previously selected solution did not get the positive response we were hoping for. It forced to rethink our selection and go with a solution that overwhelmingly well received by the class. A little evaluation did us some good and re shifted our frame of though toward a solution that ended up being very promising.

By the time we got to implementation I felt like we had already done a lot of work. This phase brought it all together, we were able to see our product take shape which was very exciting and fulfilling. It also nerve racking to find out how it will be received. Which leads us to our final step in the process.

Evaluation is a way for us to not only reflect on the product itself but also the process we used to get to this very point. It gives us an opportunity to take a step back and attempt to look at our product and process objectively with the help of our peers. 

Looking back I would say evaluation took a bigger roll than the just the last phase. It actually was incorporated along every stage after we presented our progress to the class. Perhaps a modified model where we can add evaluation at every stage.

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Evaluation

Our group worked on further conceptualizing our product and in doing so we had to decide what our strong points were and what our product lacked. To do so we put together a competitive analysis with similar products out on the market. We were encouraged that we were offering a lot more features than many of the existing dental products. We also needed to pair down some of our features after realizing we are missing the mark on some key points of our problem statement. Through a Plan for Improvement we had to strip down features like our kinetic charging idea in favor of keeping the price of our product down. We said from the start this should be appealing to teens and creating a product that is pricey, we feared, would drive out market away. Through Polling we will also gain valuable feedback from teens themselves, using such tools as Survey Monkey, and Poll anywhere. This will give us a chance to hear from teens themselves whether they find our product worthwhile. We will also Poll the class but will create a rubric to facilitate interpreting our results. Creating questions such as :

·        Did you understand the problem?

·        Did you understand the solution / the product?

·        Would you want to purchase this product?

·        What should have been covered that wasn’t?

·        What do you think needs more clarification?

After our dry run presentation we will reevaluate and perhaps make more minor modifications to our product. Because we have made changes based on self-evaluation and peer feedback we have had to go back to the analysis phase to gather more research on the product. After the teen polling and more peer polling we will have a week to polish our final pitch.

Not only are we gaining feedback through third party outlets but our sync up sessions have been full of constructive feedback. I have been lucky enough to be paired with a group that encourages the wacky and we are not afraid to share and criticize our ideas. Every step has been a reward, the evolution of the product itself has been rewarding and a testament to the process.

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Implementation

We met last week after class to discuss the product and a very productive session. From there we developed another stormboard to help visualize what our product is going to look like, the device and the app. That was also something that was established, we decided we cannot do one without the other so we came to the conclusion that our project has to include both. We then went off on our own to add to the stormboard but we also collaborated quite a bit via text when one of us had an idea. 

Once the stormboard was pretty much complete we had a zoom session on Sunday along with Douglas, our resident expert to interview him on the feasibility of our product. After some great insight it became clear the direction we had to move toward. We ditched the kinetic charging idea and decided on a standard rechargeable battery. This would simplify our product while keeping cost down. Our product became clear and we moved onto filling out the business model together. 

Given the nature of our product we felt that Wireframing, Rendering and Prototyping were the way we were going to get our point across. Because we are developing an app a wireframe would be useful to explain the components of the app and what our intentions are to reach our target demographic. Renders would also play a big role. We are re-imagining some pretty standard dental products so for the consumer to be able to see the new product would generate excitement of how we will revolutionize the dental hygiene market. Finally, once we are ready we can develop a prototype of our product which we would then setup testing for. Using usabiltity testing to find out if teens our responsive to our product. Quality Assurance would need to come from dental health professionals ensuring our product is safe to use and if its even practical.

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Selection

APP2Mouth

This past week, my group and I took some time to expand on our ideas that we came up with in the ideation phase. In the ideation phase we settled on 5 possible solutions that we presented to the class. During class we took a poll to gauge interest and we found that the app idea was the most popular. Although at that point we were leaning heavily toward the app idea we still had a whole week to decide and knew we had to go through the process of weighing our options.  We started another stormboard and listed our solutions along with product ideas that that would support our initial 5 ideas. We also posted the possible limitations of each idea. We did this individually before we met again to discuss. When we met we weighed and ranked each idea depending on how well they addressed our problem statement. Although some ideas were good they may have missed the target audience which is crucial to our problem statement. After settling on our top 3 we decided on the app solution that was originally voted on by our peers. We didn’t stop there. That was followed up with what would happen if… technique where we posed possible scenarios well our app idea would flourish or fall short.

After some constructive back and forth we discussed the possibility of some Idea Potpourri where the the other solutions we had come up with could be combined with our app solution. We want to make it clear that our main idea and development would be the app but it would accompanied by the devices we came up with, such as the bristle brush and possibly the floss mouth guard. These devices would allow the app to track flossing and brushing movements which would be how you play the games we offer in the app. These games would then provide teens the ability to challenge peers in games and win reward points, which could then be redeemed for product discounts. 

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Ideation

This past week we started to generate ideas for tackling our problem. How might we get teens to floss regularly. We took to Stormboard right away which is an online post it board. We posted what teens are into and and different images that expressed a teen lifestyle. We also collected several visuals of current dental floss products and dental products in general. Anything was welcome on the stormboard including visuals and phrases that were completely off base of the topic but inspired us to think outside of the box.  Because we are product engineers there was definitely a lot “What if…?” ideating. Products that we came up with that we don’t know if they are necessarily feasible. We also Forced Connections between existing techniques and ideas that we had to generate an idea for a toothbrush floss bristle. Product ideating is fun but to not lose sight of our demographic and I attempted to refocus on our demographic which is Teenagers. I cam back to “What if…” ideating and wondered if we can somehow connect a cell phone app to flossing? An app that would provide incentives or in app rewards for flossing regularly. It started with an idea of not being able to unlock your phone in the morning without flossing your teeth. My team members than added on to the idea by coming up with gamifying the app to appeal more to teenagers. We are excited about this idea but have several more to introduce and gather feedback.

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Conjunction Junction

1.My Chevy Malibu is black and is a real pain to keep clean. It drives well and is only 2 years old and is great on mileage.

My Chevy Malibu is black but is a real pain to keep clean. It drives well but is only 2 years old but is great on mileage.

2.My daughter is full of energy and loves to dance and sing. She plays sports and enjoys anything to do with princesses and unicorns. She will be entering the 1st grade next year and will be working on her reading all summer.

My daughter is full of energy but loves to dance and sing. She plays sports but enjoys anything to do with princesses and unicorns. She will be entering the 1st grade next year but will be working on her reading all summer.

3.My Bluetooth earbuds are not airpods and they are significantly larger than airpods. They cost less than half the price as airpods and work just as good. They have lasted me 2 years already and I am hoping they will last me several more years.

My Bluetooth earbuds are not airpods but they are significantly larger than airpods. They cost less than half the price as airpods but work just as good. They have lasted me 2 years already but I am hoping they will last me several more years.

4.My dog is old and she pretty active and energetic. She is 13 years old and enjoys walks just as much as she did when she was a puppy. She is a husky and she is very skinny for a husky.

My dog is old but she pretty active and energetic. She is 13 years old but enjoys walks just as much as she did when she was a puppy. She is a husky but she is very skinny for a husky.

5. Game of thrones is over and managed to finish with a bang. Its ending was highly controversial and caused an uproar amongst its loyal fan following. The show went on for 8 seasons and managed to keep people entertained for the better part of 7 seasons.

Game of thrones is over but managed to finish with a bang. Its ending was highly controversial  but caused an uproar amongst its loyal fan following. The show went on for 8 seasons but managed to keep people entertained for the better part of 7 seasons.

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Problem Definition (Individual)

We gave ourselves time individually to identify the problem. Each problem definition had to be uploaded to a google doc by a certain date and time. We then scheduled a live sync up session to follow. This gave us time to go over our team members definitions. My individual Problem Definition was as follows: A pain point exist among dental healthcare professionals. Getting the general population to floss regularly is a challenge and the products that currently exist do not help their cause. A solution that is more convenient for all will make the tediousness of flossing a thing of the past.

Upon review we noticed there was significant overlap in the problems we were expressing. Mainly, pointing out flossing products and the need for improvement to promote flossing. Aside from the similarities we also noticed some subtle differences. Our target was a little different, some members targeted the general population while I, for example, gave a mention to dental health professionals. 

After we combined our commonalities and singled in on a target audience we came up with the following:  Many Americans have a pain point! There’s no fast, easy, comfortable, elegant, comprehensive way to clean your dirty mouth.

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Problem Definition (Group)

We individually came up with our own problem definitions and then met to discuss what we each thought was the big problem that needed to be solved and who was affected. We realized that we all had similarities in our problem definitions so we worked on how to combine all 4 problem definitions. Initially, our idea was:

For many people, flossing is an after-thought. However, experts say it's the most important part of cleaning your teeth. When you brush, you're not reaching all the food between your teeth that causes the buildup of plaque. Plaque contains bacteria that cause cavities and gum disease.

Here are the individual problem definitions: 

Mike

Many Americans are overlooking a crucial step in their daily oral healthcare routine and an easier process / solution is required in order to get people to start cleaning in between their teeth!

Isaac

A pain point exist among dental healthcare professionals. Getting the general population to floss regularly is a challenge and the products that currently exist do not help their cause. A solution that is more convenient for all will make the tediousness of flossing a thing of the past.

Ken

There is no fast, easy, comfortable, non-messy way to clean your dirty mouth.

Rae

The problem we have is how do we create a product that has the benefit of flossing without the hassle and pain. It also needs to be time efficient and look elegant while using the product.It needs to be better than the alternative flossing products available right now. For instance: the waterpik. No more spraying water onto your face, hurting your eyes, and making a mess in the bathroom!

We identified maintaining oral hygiene as the key priority for cleaning teeth and flossing is among the best ways of cleaning teeth. Even though flossing has many benefits, it is not often done because it is difficult to do and messy. We differed on how we presented the problem; some definitions focused on the fact that flossing isn’t easy or comfortable and others focused on the lack of easy to use tools to clean teeth. We ultimately prioritized ease of use and comfort for the solution to our problem and Americans for the target audience. To get to the group’s problem definition, we took a little bit of each of our definitions and combined them all into one and this is the problem definition we came up with as a group: 

Many Americans have a pain point! There’s no fast, easy, comfortable, elegant, comprehensive way to clean your dirty mouth.

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Analysis

In researching our specific topic I find myself using several techniques that were discussed in the course material. 

First and foremost being the Sensitivity and common sense method. Our topic speaks to the masses including ourselves. It was logical to ask ourselves how the problem effects us personally. We can share stories of how we are each effected by self care products.

Idea dump was a technique that we jumped right into. By doing so we were able to eliminate certain problems that have already been addressed, much to the surprise of members of our group, including myself. 

The technique that followed was look it up, I found quite a few online articles, surveys, and blogs that discussed several pain points in the self care industry. This topic has been exhausted by many that came before us. It has me questioning whether we can approach it from a different angle.

 I’ve being doing my best to collect as opposed to “pack ratting.” While researching I have made a concerted effort to toss out the data that doesn't apply. However, I have come across information where at first glance it is not relevant but it forces to maybe rethink our approach to the topic.

I’ve noticed that although my approach started out divergent, the data and information collected is slowly starting to narrow down the possibilities of the perspective we should take. I also question whether our topic may be too broad and perhaps we should narrow in on either dental hygiene (specifically flossing) or body odor (deodorant usage). 

Last but not least, by posting these thoughts on here this would also be considered Journaling. Another technique utilized in the Analyzing process that will hopefully guide us toward Identifying the problem.

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THE DESTINATION AND JOURNEY

Me (Isaac)

How I can contribute to the team and solving the problem?

I will contribute creative ideas that will at times challenge the norms but always do it in a fun and respectable manner without disrupting team chemistry.

People say I rarely look frazzled, wen team dynamics or project outcomes aren't necessarily going the way we planned, my goal is to preach that cool heads will prevail.

I always aim to create something different and unique. I will bring my passion for creativity and design to the team, in hopes that I can get my teammates to feel just as passionate about our possibility to create something different.

My interests, expertise in the subject

I recently have been frequenting the dentist quite a bit. Something I didn't do as much as I should have in the past and am observing several issues I have with certain oral hygiene products and methods

I have a 6yr old daughter who I am trying to teach good oral hygiene. It's a struggle getting her to establish good brushing and flossing habits due to the nature of some products.

I have had ongoing issue with deodorant, with regards to its effectiveness and the marks it leaves on clothing (yellow stains on white shirts, white stains on dark shirts), LETS FIX THIS!

Ken

How I can contribute to the team and solving the problem?

I can bring real life experiences of having bad breath and deodorant stains to the problem solving process.

I can bring experience in finance, communications, strategy, and business administration to the group.

Moving forward is better than not. I’ll check with the team to make sure everyone’s happy with our progress along the way.

I can do my best to ensure all my team members are enjoying working together.

My interests, expertise in the subject?

As Rae is going to bully me for (along with being a hairy alcoholic), I have bad breath and hate flossing and water picks are the worst and there has to be a better way to do this shit so my teeth don’t fall out and also there are always nasty deodorant stains on my shirts and I’ve tried every way under the sun to not have that happen but I guess I’m not that flexible enough or something and it would also be cool to know when I have bad breath so I don’t have to breathe in my friends’ faces and ask them if I have bad breath so yeah I’m kinda a subject matter expert GET TO KNOW ME

Mike

How I can contribute to the team and solving the problem

I can help with organizing our tasks and scheduling out when we can meet.

I can provide personal insight as hygiene and the use of self-care products are something I care about.

I can utilize my familiarity with communication software to provide our team better ways to connect and collaborate from across the country.

My interests, expertise in the subject

I have mild OCD when it comes to cleanliness and hygiene, so I welcome anyway to improve the process.

Even with my quirks, I still find it difficult to floss as often as I should. When I say as often as I should, that’s just about every night according to my dentist.

I have a love-hate relationship with my chalky white deodorant. If we can solve the problem of it leaving a mark on my shirts, I will only have a love relationship.

Rae

How I can contribute to the team and solving the problem

I can contribute to the team by having good work ethic and putting in time and effort to getting things done. I also have access to dentists and other doctors from Taiwan so I can provide insights and current trends from another country to solve the problem.

My interests, expertise in the subject

My interest in the subject is that I hate flossing as well, but I would be open to flossing more if there was an easier and painless way to floss.  I don't use deodorant either, and I do know lots of people have problems with deodorant getting on their clothes and stuff; this is a way for me to learn about why people are in a love hate relationship with deodorant! They hate them so much and yet they still use them. Maybe a non-user like me can bring in new ideas to the product. To think outside of the box.

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Project Contingencies (Individual response)

We all have conflicting schedules that may pose a problem when trying to collaborate on work

We need to clarify individual strengths and contributions we can make to the project and identify how we want to be an asset to our group dynamic

I also foresee a struggle between the decision to provide a service as opposed to a product, our individual strengths may a play a part in which we feel more comfortable tackling

Hygiene is a an age old topic that may be over saturated with gimmicks and products, can we bring something new to the table?

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The Team Norms of Team Clean

Only schedule video meetings if there’s an agenda! We can collaborate asynchronously!

Properly set expectations up front.

Divide and conquer tasks. Assign tasks based on personal strengths and strength of schedule.

Balance between Personal and Collaborative Responsibilities.

Do NOT take it personal.

Speak Up! Do not assume, ask questions.

Group consensus when needed / differing to expertise first.

Project Management: Time Box and always keep on task.

Who we are: Isaac, Ken, Mike, and Rae

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Acceptance

Upon completion of this project we would have utilized successfully implemented our own variation of the CPS Model. Through this model we will create an innovative and practical way to tackle recycling and waste management. Through research and analysis, we will find ways to use technology, either existing or conceptual, to rethink and reshape preexisting recycling methods. Not only will this appease environmentalist, but it will a realistic and practical solution for those that feel otherwise overwhelmed by the idea of be a proactive Recycler. The hope is that as a team we can create an idea that goes beyond the classroom and perhaps sparks a creative venture that we can pursue outside the classroom and implement in the real world, starting small with the opportunity to grow. 

 This project will not only further my knowledge of the CPS process, but it will feed my confidence with respect to seeing an idea spawn from nothing and ultimately seeing it progress into a tangible service or product. Confidence is gained through experience and this is a perfect start to building the skills necessary to succeed in our entrepreneurial landscape.

My role in this endeavor is to provide creative uninhibited ideas that challenge the norms of the existing recycling strategies. I will provide visual conceptual designs along the way for any ideas generated and will assist in the overall brand of our service and/or product.

Our solution will not only aim to improve the recycling industry, but we will provide solutions that make it to the doorstep of every home. When it’s all said and done we will all be able to contribute to the cause with the greatest of ease.

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CPS Repository Contribution

1. Creative Problem Solving (CPS) for Coaching Psychology Practice

Yoga Tokuyoshi, Syoichi Iwasaki and Stephen Palmer

The CREATIVE model

C: Curiosity purpose or goal

This stage is designed to set a goal at a coaching session by collaborating between the coach and coachee. The coach asks the coachee of their curiosity purpose and goal of this coaching session.

R: Research Resources, Reframe (including Reverse)

This stage explores the coachees’ resources and helps to reframe their ideas. The coach facilitates the coachee to explore their resources and also attempts to encourage and inspire coachee creativity.

E: Expand or Eliminate

In this stage the coach/coaching psychologist uses creativity techniques and skills applying Creative Problem Solving (CPS). They can use the techniques of ‘Expand and Eliminate strategies’. By using ‘E’ strategies they can put ideas into practice to generate new ideas or values. For example, the G-ABCDEF model (Palmer & Szymanska, 2007) was adapted to the Coaching Psychology field.

A: Adapt, Attach, Apply to combine

This stage is designed to use the techniques of ‘Adapt, Attach, and Apply to combine strategies’. The coachee puts various ideas into practice by applying old ideas to new situations or by testing one’s personal resources in a new situation using ‘A’ strategies. For example sandwiches were invented as a new dish by combining bread and various food materials. A similar invention is the Japanese Onigiri (Rice ball), which contains various materials in a rice ball.

T: Technique or Tool

This stage is designed to use the techniques of creativity, ie ‘New Technique or Tool strategies’. An old idea may be developed into something new by introducing a technique or inventing a new tool. The new technology is usable for discovering new values. For example, paper clips are put into various uses besides their original usage of clipping papers in our daily life. As a new method of measuring brain activities, the fMRI provides new research areas and have led to new discoveries in cognitive neuroscience.

I: Import from different fields or cultures

This stage is designed to use the techniques of ‘Import from different fields or cultures strategies’. For example, the mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) training program developed by Kabat-Zinn (1990) adapted ideas and methods from Buddhism for use in North America and beyond.

V: Venture (make a plan to implementation of ideas)

In this stage a plan is developed for the implementation of ideas. The Coach facilitates and encourages the coachee to proceed with the implementation of their ideas. The coach facilitates the coachee’s imagination by using imagery exercises and techniques (eg. Idea showering, Creative thinking, and End goal imagery).

E: Evaluation (point assessment technique, ranking, create priorities)

In this stage the coach facilitates and encourages the coachee to evaluate his/her plan in order to proceed with the implementation of ideas. The coach facilitates the coachee to evaluate their ideas. For example, they check and make evaluations based on ‘Originality’, ‘Utility’, ‘Profitability’, and ‘Priority’ of the coachees’ ideas.

Cons Relies heavily on external sources to generate original ideas or methods. This strategy is more about pre-existing strategies and discovering how they will for you. I agree inspiration is key but this model doesn’t seem to allow much room for original ideas.

Pros Similarities in this model to others that work well across the board is the identification or purpose of the goal which can be translated to “accepting” the task. Implementation followed by evaluation is a carry over from other models but where this model sets itself apart is the fact that it incorporates feasibility into the evaluation process. So even after a solution or technique has been implemented it doesn’t necessarily mean that it is sustainable.

 2. Marketing and the Creative Problem-Solving Process

Philip A. Titus (Ph.D., The Pennsylvania State University) is an associate professor of marketing at Bowling Green State University.

Problem Identification/ Analyzing Marketing Opportunities Initiation of the CPS process begins with the identification of a problem (Couger 1995). As such, the ability to identify important, unresolved problems plays a vital role in creative expression. It serves as the driving force behind the entire CPS process. Until or unless a problem is identified, there is no opportunity for creative expression to occur. As shown in Figure 1, problem identification (i.e., analyzing marketing opportunities) also plays a critical role in the marketing process. The ability to identify unmet consumer needs and/or problems and then develop products and services to satisfy those needs is a hallmark characteristic of marketing. Problem Delineation/Select Target Markets Marketers are continually faced with the task of clearly specifying the nature and intensity of consumer problems. Delineating the needs and/or problems of the marketplace directly affects the strategic process of segmenting and selecting target markets (e.g., benefit segmentation). Similarly, as reflected by Figure 1, the CPS process requires the problem solver to thoroughly understand and delineate the problem. Past research suggests that individuals frequently spend insufficient time and effort defining problems and thus fail to fully grasp their scope (Couger 1995). How one defines the problem directly affects the path taken toward resolving it. Parnes (1988) favors delineation approaches that expand the scope of the problem. Information Gathering/Marketing Research Marketing practitioners frequently collect and analyze data to assist in their strategic decision making. For instance, surveys or focus groups may be conducted among loyal customers to find out what has caused them to alter their shopping behavior. This information may then be used to identify new market opportunities and develop effective marketing strategies to respond to these changes. Idea Generation/Developing the Marketing Mix Idea generation, or the act of generating novel ideas, is the activity most commonly associated with creative problem solving. It is the part of the CPS process that is most likely to be neglected and where individuals experience the greatest difficulty (Osborn 1963). As presented in Figure 1, idea generation commonly surfaces in the marketing process as marketers devise creative solutions (i.e., marketing mix) to consumer problems. Idea Evaluation and Refinement Deferring judgment during idea generation is an essential part of successful ideation. In contrast, idea evaluation and refinement require the problem solver to critically examine the quality of the ideas generated during ideation. However, it should be noted that the purpose of this evaluative process is not to kill off ideas but rather to assess their strengths and weaknesses as viable and creative solutions. Idea Implementation/Managing and Marketing Effort While generating a genuinely creative solution can be a daunting task, implementing the solution can be equally challenging. Unfortunately, idea implementation has been given less attention by CPS researchers. Nonetheless, as indicated by Figure 1, idea implementation is an essential part of both the CPS process and the marketing process. As Levitt (1986) so succinctly states, “Ideas are useless unless used. The proof of their value is in their implementation.”

Cons

Doubting the lack of evaluation following implementation of the idea

Idea evaluation and refinement states that the purpose is not to kill off ideas but yet at some point ideas need to be narrowed down. I wonder when this process happens?

The model goes further on into saying the generation of more ideas is essential to generating a quality idea. Again, evaluation of these ideas seems to be the key factor in narrowing down the possibilities but what evaluation is put ito place after implementation?

Pros

Focuses heavily on consumer needs during “Problem Identification and Problem Delination”. This takes into account the problem solvers awareness of their environment and the needs of their environment.

Information Gathering allows for the consumer to have a say before the ideation process to spark ideas that directly come from the stake holders

3. Creative ProblemSolving Embedded into Curriculum

ANNA CASSALIA,OLD DONATION CENTER SCHOOL,VA

ComponentOne:Understanding the ChallengeConstructing Opportunities.

Exploring Data

Framing Problems

Component Two:Generating Ideas

The Generating Ideas component has just one stage in which the students generate multiple and varied ideas then focus their ideas to create a solution. Creative thinking is often referred to as the divergent process in which we begin with a single thought or questions and expand our thinking to create new possibilities

Component Three: Preparing for Action Developing Solutions. Building Acceptance

Component Four: Planning Your Approach Appraising Tasks. Designing Process

Cons Many models are falling short on the evaluation process following implementation. This model is no different. Students are asked to reach a solution at the culmination of the exercise yet there is no reflection following imoementation of the idea. Identifying problems or evaluating feedback and obstacle preceeds final implementation which isnot bad but should also exist during the last step of a CPS model Pros This model was reconstructed to serve two purposes, to teach the model by using the model. As a teacher guides the students through the CPS process the teachers themselves can use the model to identify ways to teach the model This model simplifies the steps to introduce a younger audience to the CPS model. 6 and 7step cps models may come off as a little too daunting for elementary level students I was especially fond of the appraising task step where students had to prioritize and understand the longer term goals for their ideas. Teaching children the patience to look at the bog picture was something that could even be promoted in more advanced CPS models.

4. How to solve a problem like a Software Developer

Written by Marcel Folaron.

1. Restate the problem This is one of the most important steps. Restating the problems allows you to show YOUR understanding of the problem. As many great people have said: It is not about what has been said, it is about what has been understood. The moment someone speaks, we apply our own interpretation and understanding on the conversation. This has benefit; it speaks to our brains and allows us to process new and unfamiliar situations by matching them to our previous experiences. However, while beneficial, it is frequently the source of many misunderstandings.  The purpose of restating the problem is to avoid the potential mistakes that may occur through our own assumptions. 2. Find your Audience, your stakeholders Define the consumer of your solution. Think outside the box. Who will benefit from your solution? Who will have to maintain it? Who will be responsible? Who will be merely a spectator? Based on your audience, your approach for the presentation and the solution itself will be different.  It is important to target your presentations to your specific customer. 3. List your Assumptions / Risks After you have developed an understanding of the problem, you want to write down your risks and assumptions for the problem -- as well as the risks and assumptions for the possible solution. This is usually a document that will be frequently revisited as the solutions are being developed in order to make sure all assumptions and risks have been captured. Assumptions and Risks can be very detailed and should be customized to your audience. There may be assumptions that are important to the System Architect but less important to the Marketing Manager. 4. Define and Validate your Solution This is an iterative process. You have your audience. You have your assumptions. Now you can begin working on an actual solution approach. You should validate your solution as often and as quickly as possible. Obtain validation by speaking to your direct stakeholders and getting feedback on the progress of your solution. Most of these concepts can be found in Scrum - How to do twice the work in half the time. The idea is that you want to get feedback from your users as soon as you have a presentable solution. Don't waste yours or the stakeholders' time. 5. Define your Presentation: How To Present your Solution Now, this step seems counter intuitive in terms of the list, as we are discussing a presentation format in general. This step describes the format in which we choose to write down our solution: Is it a visio diagram? a Word Doc? a formula? or PowerPoint? Again, refer back to your audience and validate the pros and cons of each approach. Explain how your solution solves the problem and what it doesn't solve. 6. Present examples Examples, examples, examples. You want to present real examples that showcase how your solution solves the problem. You should include examples from the full problem spectrum; are you catching all the edge cases and special cases? Show examples how these special cases will be handled or if there are problems with these. If you don't feel comfortable presenting special cases, you should work on your solution again, 'cause what you have ain't it.

Cons

Being a somewhat technical approach to problem solving I am surprised how little there is with regard to research and analyzation. Most research seems to be done at the user level and does not dive deep into the expertise of others in the field. It heavily relies on common knowledge of the Problem solver and the stakeholder. Where is the validation of the ideas and possible solutions? Another model that appears to fall short on evaluation of the solution. Not only does it fail to evaluate the solution bit also fails to evaluate and identify obstacles along the way. Although other models I have previously listed failed to evaluate following implementation, at least there was some sort of evaluation process along the way. This model does not include that.

Pros

This model understands the gap that might exist between stakeholders and problem solvers and aims to clarify problems early to minimize confusion of the problem and generate better ideas There is definitely a large emphasis put on the stakeholders involving them every step of the way

5. A Scientific look at the Creative Process Digital Surgeons Design Firm

Insight ○ Find and define the problem ○ Informed by research ○ Art and science Saturation ○ Research and information gathering ○ Dull, not sexy, people think it's not creative Incubation ○ Let it marinate. Some call it "thinking aside" ○ Shut off your mind to spark Creativity Illumination ○ We know this as the "Aha!" moment or when the big idea hits ○ The idea you get in the shower Verification ○ Make it a reality ○ Proof of concept ○ Prototype it!

Cons Over simplification of the process. Too many questions on how information is gathered. Interviews, surveys, analytics? No evaluation following the verification process. If this is the last process how can we consider a proof of concept a final solution? Illumination should come before incubation. Aha moments or big ideas should precede diving deep into those ideas and letting them “marinate.” After research and information gathering there should be more done to identify/define the problem once all data has been received.

Pros Hard to see any advantages of this model other than the fact that its oversimplification allows for interpretation and expanding upon these steps to create your own model. However I would probably use another model as a starting point.

[imora1212-blog]

Creative Problem Solving Interviews

Michele Keller Communications Director

1. How do you generate ideas?

I mean, I like to look outside our fields and our bubble. I like to look at other industries. I like to keep an eye on, not so much our competitors, but just other people in the space and then look for things like work publications, websites and videos. We find inspiration from good things other people do, and then we can build on them.

 I mean, sometimes we get so caught up in the day to day that, you know, you and I have talked about this, where you're working on all of the many products you have in front of you. And if you don't take time to step away from them, you just you just stay on that hamster wheel. A lot of times, like it is when I go and do something else, or I have a meeting off. That's when I find I make more progress, or there's there is a really good idea that comes. Yeah, it's often not when you're just in front of your computer working.

 You need to have that space, if you don't create space for yourself to come up with new ideas you will just be doing the same old thing. You never know when you're going to get a new idea but you know, if you keep doing the same thing, you won’t.

 So what obstacles do you usually face when you generate new ideas or new stories?

 I think when you're surrounded by people who aren't open to that, if you're surrounded by people who are set in their ways, then it's going to be a culture issue.

Do you get past that obstacle? How do you get past those people?

 It takes more work, and then you have to show them, you have to really bend over backwards to show them why change is healthy, and why this new idea could be better. And you have to think from their perspective. This isn't just change, for change sake, this has a benefit. I think that's probably our biggest obstacle to implementing new ideas is people who are change resistant. Even just looking at this, I think you also need to find an ally. You need to enlist allies. But you never know who's going to be your ally.

 2. What process(es) do you use to solve problems?

I write down everything that I have on my plate, and I break it down into smaller items. So if there's something I try to think about, okay, what's the big thing that I have to achieve? And then what are the multiple steps that need to happen, like, have a conversation with “so and so” or talk to “so and so.” So I try to break it down into bite size pieces. Then I can cross off each bite sized piece. There's no magic bullet that's going to solve one problem I have to break it down, but I use my old fashioned paper list. I physically print it and then every time I cross off an item, I highlight it. Even if the problem is big, and it's not going to be solved overnight, I still feel a sense of moving forward, because I know I'm chipping away.

Linda Wang Journalist

1. How do you generate ideas?

I cover culture news, if you will. So when I was generating ideas for that it usually relates to what's happening in the world? What are people discussing? So I happen to be really interested in writing about the intersection of race, politics and identity. And so if there is, for example, something happening, I am immediately drawn to it. Like one of the stories I was really interested in doing was this Asian rapper who is becoming pretty big in the US rap scene. And so again, I turned it into ideas by taking what's popular in mind, mainstream culture, and then narrowing it down.  Finding one figure, one subject to be the vehicle to help tell that story of why it's important.

 What inspires you?

I think that started as something that was really important in my own family. So yeah, like, probably mentioned to you this before, but growing up at the dinner table, my dad was always a big storyteller. And he would tell me about his past and his failures and successes and how he went from someone who didn't graduate from high school to someone who now holds a master's degree. And so that subconsciously, inspired a love of storytelling in me. And so I think that everyone deserves an avenue to our platform to have their stories be told and heard. And everyone is interesting in some way. And so that's what inspires me.

 So what obstacles do you usually face when you generate new ideas or new stories?

I could talk about the obstacles in terms of the writing process. In general, it's like, when you come up with a story idea, or a pitch or whatever that you're really excited about it. It's what you want to write about so the idea itself needs to get you past the block. How it will ultimately influences people is what keeps you going.

 2. What process(es) do you use to solve problems?

You know, a lot of my friends and you know, past coworkers are journalists, and writers for production. It’s funny because I don't really know, too many people who actually enjoy the writing process for the writing process.

So how do you overcome that, or solve that problem?

So this is the arch, right? There is coming up with the idea, then identifying the subject and of course the writing. And the last step is you see your work done and out there and how people respond to it. You know, if it's an interesting story, it's going to spark some sort of conversation. And that is something that I usually take pride in. And so I know that this is a process and it can sometimes be tedious. But yeah, I'm always generally proud of what I put out. And so that's what keeps me going.

Chris Jones IT Technician

1. How do you generate ideas?

I think I'm probably mostly inspired by people and individuals. I work best when I'm in a group and we're bouncing ideas around. Like when we are in a meeting, we're talking about things. Someone will mention something, and then we'll try to expand upon that.

In meetings, I'll just throw something out there that I think might be completely ridiculous, and say, Hey, tell me this is ridiculous. And just see if it sticks. And once or twice, it does so that initial idea that you bring to the table, when you generate that idea, usually on the spot based on discussion, it tends to be very dry stuff.

So are there obstacles when you generate new ideas?

Yes. Especially on the IT side and in meetings. Being self-conscious, I definitely am one of those people, when in a meeting, I might second guess myself, avoid speaking up in case what I say sounds ridiculous to my colleagues. Sometimes I might not put an idea forward for fear that someone else might shoot it down. But I try not to think that way. It's better to learn, my colleagues are nice enough where they don't do that. If I come up with something that is just factually incorrect, they will politely correct it and explain why that isn't the right solution. But definitely sometimes it's hard to speak up with creative ideas, if you think that someone else might have more experience knowledge or better ideas so that's definitely obstacle.

2. What process(es) do you use to solve problems?

Again, from the IT side of things, it tends to be very logical approach. So your approach it like, someone tells you Zed is always happening. Okay, so first thing is verifying their interpretation of what's happening? Does that fit the facts?

 Then start eliminating things from that. I'm sorry. So it has to be sort of approaching it from a ground up standpoint, which can be hard because sometimes when you have some technical knowledge, you jump to a conclusion that might lead you down the wrong path, and you go down a rabbit hole trouble shooting something that is completely wrong and it was something much more basic, like someone to pulled the cable from the wall. So I definitely do a step by step approach.

[imora1212-blog]

Defining creativity

Creating something out of nothing, the ability to visualize things that don’t yet exist

Seeing the potential in things and the persistent desire to improve said things

Going beyond the status quoe and dreaming of new possibilities

Finding new ways to do things that have already been done

Taking an idea and not letting go of it until you see it through 

Seeking the ‘cleverness’ in everything. Nothing is boring, especially if you had something to do with it