Since my original research into models and theories for applied creative thinking – almost ten years ago – a number of new models have surfaced, while the associated list of concepts, methodologies and tools has grown considerably; apparently for two reasons:
1 - The inclusion of the Strategic Thinking parameter in the research field.
2 - An explosive growth of interest in “Creativity” since the turn of the millennium. In the first place from local and/or national governments and researchers, but also from corporate leadership, educators and parents.
As a result of this renewed interest, a large number of publications and studies address the topic and at least three Web sites contain extensive compilations on creativity, strategy, problem solving and most everything related.
On the other hand, being Advertising the oldest and by far the largest of all the so-called Creative Industries, it is a little disappointing to have to come to the conclusion that its contributions to a better understanding of creativity and creative thinking are scarce, in spite of its long-standing collaboration with the cognitive sciences, particularly anthropology, psychology and sociology.The most important individual contributions to the field come from advertising agency BBDO co-founder Alex Osborn, who is the father of Brainstorming, still – by far and large – the most widely used tool for collaborative ideation, Creative Problem Solving (CPS), 7-step model, and Osborn’s Checklist.
Sources.
Apart of influential works by authors such as Edward de Bono (Lateral Thinking [1970] and Six Thinking Hats [1985]), Roger van Oech (A Wack on the Side of the Head [1985]) and Michael Michalko (Thinker Toys [1991]), some interesting recent publications are “Guerrilla Creativity” by Jay Conrad Levinson (2001), “Creativity Workout” by Edward de Bono (2008), Frans Johansson’s “The Medici Effect” (2010) and “The Dark Side of Creativity” by David & Arthur Cropley, James Kaufman and Mark Runco (2010).
The most helpful on-line resources have been the Techniques for Creative Thinking and Virtual Salt Web sites by Robert Harris, the site Dictionary of Creativity by Russian Ph.D. Eugene Gorny and – most of all – a site maintained by UK-based Mycoted.
All of these have been an invaluable source of information and the starting point for further research, while Wikipedia has been primary consulted as a complementary source.
After cross-referencing all the information available from previous research, literary- and on-line sources, eliminating duplicates and inapplicable references, I ended up with a long-list of 216 models, techniques, tools, methods, theories, systems or processes which are – in some way or another – deemed by their authors to be oriented at or related to creative-, innovative-, strategic thinking or problem solving.
Among these, I have introduced my own, personal, and rather unscientific tools, such as “Union Skinning” and “Mental Visualization”, for example, not claiming to have invented something new (since there is nothing new under the sun), but rather to illustrate personal creative thinking tools that may be useful to others.
Classification into Categories.
The first – apparently untried – step for getting a better insight into this ocean of data, is to classify topics into categories, after which it might be possible to cluster similar techniques, briefly describe each one and there upon ascertain their usefulness and possible areas of application.
Further analysis of the found terms allowed to classify them into 11 grand categories, according to their – primary – area of application. Even though a number of terms could have been categorized in more than one category, I have (subjectively) assigned them according to their apparent primary field of application, so to avoid duplication in multiple categories.
Primary Application Areas:
1 - Problem Definition
2 - Analysis
3 - Creative Process
4 - Creative Thinking Methods
5 - Tools & Techniques for Ideation
6 - Collaborative Ideation
7 - Idea Evaluation / Selection
8 - Psychology & Creativity
9 - Education
10 - Organization & Human Resources
11 - Out of Scope
Important note:
All the basic concepts explained on this site are either cited, rephrased, summarized or compiled from one or more of the sources mentioned previously, and do not pretend to be original thought.
The sole purpose of this has been to create a searchable catalog of creative- and strategic thinking processes, methods and techniques, in order to fulfill on my objective of identifying, classifying and qualifying pedagogic methods and means aimed at contributing to the advancement of creative- and creative-strategic thinking in individuals and organizations.
In the large majority of cases, I have expanded on this basic content by adding personal experiences and recommendations, reflections, observations, anecdotes and examples. The latter are – without exception – mine.
1 - The inclusion of the Strategic Thinking parameter in the research field.
2 - An explosive growth of interest in “Creativity” since the turn of the millennium. In the first place from local and/or national governments and researchers, but also from corporate leadership, educators and parents.
As a result of this renewed interest, a large number of publications and studies address the topic and at least three Web sites contain extensive compilations on creativity, strategy, problem solving and most everything related.
On the other hand, being Advertising the oldest and by far the largest of all the so-called Creative Industries, it is a little disappointing to have to come to the conclusion that its contributions to a better understanding of creativity and creative thinking are scarce, in spite of its long-standing collaboration with the cognitive sciences, particularly anthropology, psychology and sociology.The most important individual contributions to the field come from advertising agency BBDO co-founder Alex Osborn, who is the father of Brainstorming, still – by far and large – the most widely used tool for collaborative ideation, Creative Problem Solving (CPS), 7-step model, and Osborn’s Checklist.
Sources.
Apart of influential works by authors such as Edward de Bono (Lateral Thinking [1970] and Six Thinking Hats [1985]), Roger van Oech (A Wack on the Side of the Head [1985]) and Michael Michalko (Thinker Toys [1991]), some interesting recent publications are “Guerrilla Creativity” by Jay Conrad Levinson (2001), “Creativity Workout” by Edward de Bono (2008), Frans Johansson’s “The Medici Effect” (2010) and “The Dark Side of Creativity” by David & Arthur Cropley, James Kaufman and Mark Runco (2010).
The most helpful on-line resources have been the Techniques for Creative Thinking and Virtual Salt Web sites by Robert Harris, the site Dictionary of Creativity by Russian Ph.D. Eugene Gorny and – most of all – a site maintained by UK-based Mycoted.
All of these have been an invaluable source of information and the starting point for further research, while Wikipedia has been primary consulted as a complementary source.
After cross-referencing all the information available from previous research, literary- and on-line sources, eliminating duplicates and inapplicable references, I ended up with a long-list of 216 models, techniques, tools, methods, theories, systems or processes which are – in some way or another – deemed by their authors to be oriented at or related to creative-, innovative-, strategic thinking or problem solving.
Among these, I have introduced my own, personal, and rather unscientific tools, such as “Union Skinning” and “Mental Visualization”, for example, not claiming to have invented something new (since there is nothing new under the sun), but rather to illustrate personal creative thinking tools that may be useful to others.
Classification into Categories.
The first – apparently untried – step for getting a better insight into this ocean of data, is to classify topics into categories, after which it might be possible to cluster similar techniques, briefly describe each one and there upon ascertain their usefulness and possible areas of application.
Further analysis of the found terms allowed to classify them into 11 grand categories, according to their – primary – area of application. Even though a number of terms could have been categorized in more than one category, I have (subjectively) assigned them according to their apparent primary field of application, so to avoid duplication in multiple categories.
Primary Application Areas:
1 - Problem Definition
2 - Analysis
3 - Creative Process
4 - Creative Thinking Methods
5 - Tools & Techniques for Ideation
6 - Collaborative Ideation
7 - Idea Evaluation / Selection
8 - Psychology & Creativity
9 - Education
10 - Organization & Human Resources
11 - Out of Scope
Important note:
All the basic concepts explained on this site are either cited, rephrased, summarized or compiled from one or more of the sources mentioned previously, and do not pretend to be original thought.
The sole purpose of this has been to create a searchable catalog of creative- and strategic thinking processes, methods and techniques, in order to fulfill on my objective of identifying, classifying and qualifying pedagogic methods and means aimed at contributing to the advancement of creative- and creative-strategic thinking in individuals and organizations.
In the large majority of cases, I have expanded on this basic content by adding personal experiences and recommendations, reflections, observations, anecdotes and examples. The latter are – without exception – mine.
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