Innovation by Creativity: Fifty-One Tools on How to Solve Problems Creatively

"What do we actually mean by creativity?" "I've no idea. Isn't it when you create something?" "Fair enough, and that happens in a delicate play between imagination and reason." This quote from "Sophie's World" by Jostein Gaarder shows exactly where this book will give a helping hand, namely the cooperation of imagination and sense through the use of different methodologies applied correctly in a creative process. Therefore the authors have selected more than fifty creative tools which they explain in a comprehensive and practical manner. Using the tool selector the reader can determine which tool is appropriate for the various components of a creative program.

Table of Contents:
1. Introduction 2. Communication 3. Facilitation 4. Frame for a creative process 5. The tool selector 6. Tools 1 5xW and H 2 Appreciation 3 Mind Map 4 Concept Map 5 Reformulation 6 Goal orientation 7 Low hanging fruits 8 SWOT analysis 9 Nominal group technique 10 Process decision program chart (PDPC) 11 Cause and effect diagram 12 Flow-chart 13 Process Map 14 Checklist 15 Chain association 16 Flower association 17 Classic brainstorming 18 Brainwriting 6.3.5. 19 Dynamic brainwriting 20 Ping-pong brainstorming 21 Brainlining 22 The oracle method 23 Wishful thinking 24 Alternatives 25 Presuppositions 26 The criminal circle 27 Changing the point of entry 28 Natural analogy 29 Personal analogy 30 Fantastic analogy 31 Metaphor 32 Random information 33 Morphological box 34 MATEC 35 Visual stimulation 36 Poetic stimulation 37 Provocative sub-division 38 Provocative questioning 39 Design method 40 Clustering 41 Testing against criteria/list of criteria 6 42 Hits 43 WRA 44 Resistance table 45 Influence analysis 46 PMI 47 NAA 48 Elimination race 49 Solution resistance table 50 The angel/devil's advocate 51 Plan of action 7. Some interesting sources

About the Author :
Hans Terhurne is a seasoned trainer and facilitator for more than 30 years. He is fascinated by using the brain better in business environments, an approach which utilizes brain capacities through visual mapping. His goal is to help his clients (individuals and groups on management and employee level) to solve organizational items by using creativity tools and especially through visual mapping techniques. Our brains are very good at absorbing processing and remembering information in a visual form, reason why Hans always is looking for new visual thinking applications to solve client issues. Max van Leeuwen has more than twenty solid years exposure in the field of creativity. He is most experienced in working with groups to create ideas and commitments. He works with entrepreneurs and their employees, management teams and other groups in organisations to solve problems or to fulfil wishes. He uses most of the techniques explained in this book and also, thorough research and experimentation, variations or new forms and methods. Main issue in his way of working is to start with the problem given and to end with action, what are we going to do to solve it.