Creativity & Innovation in Information Systems Organizations

J. Daniel Couger's book, Creativity & Innovation in Information Systems Organizations describes the problem solving method I have found most helpful. The Osborn-Parnes Creative Problem Solving Model was revised and enhanced by Isaksen and Treffinger to produce the model.

This model contains six basic steps:

1. Mess Finding -- identifying which group of problems you intend to address.

2. Data Finding -- collecting the facts about these problems to make sure you correctly understand and can accurately identify the problems. A "mess" indicates you are dealing with a number of interconnected problems.

3. Problem Finding -- accurately describing the problems in the mess. Once you have identified them, you can select the one or ones you want to work to solve.

4. Idea Finding -- creating alternatives and possibilities for solving each problem. This includes the traditional brainstorming activities we engage in to generate a number of possible solutions.

5. Solution Finding -- selecting the alternative which seems to be "best." Any number of methods can be used to arrive at this selection. The important thing is to select one.

6. Acceptance Finding -- determining the acceptability of the solution. Before implementing any solution, the wise problem solver checks to see how the solution will be received. Much like a politician will ask colleagues if they find a particular piece of legislature acceptable before sending it forward for a full vote. Solutions can still be tweeked prior to implementation if changes are found that increase the probability the solution will be successful.

Another suggestion I found extremely helpful, was to include divergent and convergent techniques in each step of the process. The last half of Creativity & Innovation in Information Systems Organizations presents specific divergent and convergent techniques which can be applied to each step.

The Appendix includes descriptions of 22 creativity techniques, many with which I was previously unfamiliar. Test your own creative process IQ. How many of these have you heard of?

Analogies/Metaphors
Attribute Association
Boundary Examination
Brainstorming
Brainwriting
Bug List
Crawford Blue Slip
Decomposable Matrices
Disjointed Incrementalism
Force Field Analysis
Goal/Wish
Interrogatories (5Ws/H)
Left-Right Brain Alternatives
Lotus Blossom
Manipulative Verbs
Morphological Forced Connections
Nominal Group
Peaceful Setting
Problem Reversal
Progressive Abstraction
Wildest Idea
Wishful Thinking