PDCPS: Creative Problem Solving

This course will provide participants with a complete and practical understanding of the steps involved to analyse, discover and solve problems in the workplace.This course teaches the use of the many tools and techniques that resolve problems smoothly, quickly and efficiently. Along with the resolution, it also concentrates on the identification and removal of the root cause of a problem.This course is delivered in partnership with PD Training.

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In this course participants will:  

• Understand the complete process of creatively solving a problem.
• Learn some key questions to ask when gathering information about a problem  
• Take home tools to effectively determine what 'the problem is'
• Learn to write concrete problem statements
• Discover idea-generating tools like affinity diagrams, word chaining, the box method, the Looking through a different Lens & the blink method
• Learn to evaluate potential solutions against specific criteria like a cost/benefit analysis or group voting
• Learn to perform a final problem analysis and then select a solution
• Understand the why's & how's of refining & re-refining a solution shortlist
• Learn how to identify the tasks & resources necessary to implement a solution
• Understand how to evaluate & adapt solutions to reality

In the past few decades, psychologists and business people alike have discovered that successful problem solvers tend to use the same type of process to identify and implement the solutions to their problems. 

This process works for any kind of problem, large or small, in any organisation in New Zealand. This Creative Problem Solving workshop will give participants an overview of the entire creative problem solving process, as well as key problem solving tools that they can use every day.  

Creativity can be learned and fostered as a professional skill, and can provide individual inspiration as well as being a useful team building tool.

Lesson 1 - Getting Started Workshop Objectives	Lesson 2 - The Problem Solving Method Introduction to Six-Step Process Problem Definition Information Gathering Generating Possible Solutions Analysing the Solutions Selecting the Best Solution(s) Planning the Next Course of Action
Lesson 3 - Information Gathering Understanding Types of Information Identifying Key Questions Developing Criteria	Lesson 4 - Problem Definition Identifying the Problem Determining the Scope Writing the Problem Statement
Lesson 5 - Brainstorming Basics Creating a Creative Space Setting the Ground Rules Generating Ideas	Lesson 6 - Generating Solutions - Part One Logistical Solutions Using Affinity Diagrams Word Chaining
Lesson 7 - Generating Solutions - Part Two Using the Box Method Using the Looking through a different Lens Using the Blink Method	Lesson 8 - Evaluating Solutions Developing Criteria Using Cost/Benefit Analysis Group Voting
Lesson 9 -  Selecting a Solution Doing a Final Analysis Facts vs. Intuition Refining and Re-Refining the Shortlist	Lesson 10 - Planning your Next Steps Identifying Tasks Identifying Resources Evaluating and Adapting
Lesson 11 - Recording Lessons Learned Planning the Follow-up Meetings Celebrating Successes Identifying Improvements	Lesson 12 - Wrapping Up Words from the Wise Parking Lot Action Plans and Evaluations