Creativity Manual: Data Finding
 
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Creativity Manual
Mess Finding
Data Finding
Problem Finding
Idea Finding
Solution Finding
Acceptance Finding


DATA-FINDING


 

OUTCOME: A current description of the situation. A gathering of relevant facts that may act as jumping-off points for the thinking and idea-generating process. In the Four Stage map of the creative problem solving process, "Preparation -Incubation -- Illumination -- Verification," Data-Finding falls in the "Preparation" stage.

Tip! The temptation will be strong to jump to solutions before the problem has been well-defined. Resisting this temptation will allow for maximum novelty and appropriateness of your final solutions.

Step 1: Write your MESS STATEMENT here:

Wouldn't it be nice if...

  • ___________________________________________________________
  • ___________________________________________________________
  • ___________________________________________________________
  • ___________________________________________________________
  • ___________________________________________________________

Step2: Ask your self a number of questions about the situation. Questions open up the perceptual and thinking processes. Examples:

  • Why is this important?
  • Why can't this be ignored?
  • What keeps me from getting past this?
  • What will I lose if I don't do anything?
  • Where, when how does this thing occur?
  • Who could help me with this?
  • Who stands to gain/lose when this is solved?
  • When does this not seem to be a problem?
  • What resources do I have?
  • What information would I like to have?
  • What sources of information are available?
  • How did this come about?
  • How does this situation affect me?

Step 3. Assign letters to the information indicating the degree of relevance of the information:

  • H = Highly relevant
  • M = Medium relevance
  • L = Low relevance

Next Step: Problem-Finding


Copywrite 2005 Dr Hackermann