Creative Problem Solving (CPS) 
Can help you find great new solutions. 
 
Do you feel beaten by a particularly challenging problem? 
 
You've tried to think differently about it, but you keep coming back to the same solution... and it's one that you've already ruled out! 
 
If conventional thinking has failed to solve your challenge, try the CPS process to gain a new perspective on it. 
 
1. Clarify 
2. Ideate 
3. Develop 
4. Implement 
 
Here's how... 
 
1. Clarify 
 
Define your objectives, and identify and gather information about your challenges. 
 
Then, turn your challenges into open-ended questions. This makes it easier to come up with solutions to them. 
 
2. Ideate (divergent phase) 
 
Think of ideas that answer the questions in Step 1, using brainstorming and Mind Maps(r) to boost your creativity. 
 
3. Develop (convergent phase) 
 
Evaluate your potential solutions: do they meet your needs? Can you implement them successfully? 
 
Next, consider how you can strengthen them, and then select the best one. 
 
4. Implement 
 
Form a plan of action. Start by identifying the resources and actions that you need to make your solution a success.  
 
Next, communicate your plan to your people, and get on and deliver it. 
 
To get the most out of the CPS process, you need to actively separate idea generation (divergent thinking) from the analysis of ideas (convergent thinking). Using both at once stifles ideas and results in biased decisions. 


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