Creative Group

Asking how to set up a creative group is only one half of the picture. Creative thinking occurs in context and varies and is responsive to context.You also have to have a good analysis of what tools and materials are available to you and what the time frame is and what degree of precision with which you need to effect the desired changes - maintain the status quo. (I am avoiding saying 'solve the problem'because that is a kind of metaphor which may not always apply.) Also one assumes a creative group would have a client, the prson who wants some kind of change. Communication with the client IMO is about 90% of the challenge - cf trying to set up a database for someone - they usually don't knowwhat they want, what they want to do or what they could do and are likely to change their minds half way through.

Actually I think a creative group would have to go through a very similar process to that of someone designing a database for a client. This problem - of trying to find out exactly what they want - is convergent, not divergent - there is one optimum way to do it. Once you get this right, you have found the constraints for the topic (I am trying not to say 'problem',because it may not be one). Then you could list the possible permutations of the topic features - the ones that are apparnt the goups anyway. This would be a process similar to fault testing - you check through the possibilities. Another way of expressing this would be to say Methodically check out all possible algorithms you can think of (knowing your list will likely be incomplete.)

Now when you have exhausted all the obvious, methodical donkey work, then you can become creative by going back and reconsidering all the possibilites you previously discarded, because some of them may work after all with a tweak or a reframing.

I suppose I am suggesting a meta-algorthim here. I actually believe there is a solution to any problem -i.e thee is always a way forward for a human being or a human group, but the problem may have to be radicallly reframed. But I don;t think you ever actually have to conceptualize yourself as being forced to 'give up'. I think this attitude/ viewpoint is vital to creativity - because you wanted todo the work involved unless you believe it will pay off. As the Romans said They can because they believe they can. Long comment but complex question

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by William Jack Jordan on June 1, 2010 at 6:13

I would like to see more threads in the create group. e.g. One for ideas for recruiting participants. (I'm not sure how to start a thread here.) Other threads could be how to market, would will get paid, also how would process work.

One idea for assisting confidentiality is a private section of the forum which only members of the group can access.

I made a mock case study but posted in the wrong place. Also, the mobile one thread is a mock case study.

One idea is for a thread to subdivide with the 6 hats as sub-threads. Differently use the tools.

Permalink Reply by Paul Wythe on June 1, 2010 at 8:08

I agree: the structure you suggest makes sense. The 6 hats may follow a natural order, finishing with the Black Hat.

Participants: I like the concept of using a competition. Given that the six hats has been taught in many schools around the world, how about getting those children involved in critical issues of our day: social justice; climate change / the sixth extinction; health care; personal responsibility; respect for others; positive use of the internet; work / life balance; Gulf of Mexico oil spill; government spending and deficits; etc.

Does the Edward de Bono society keep track of its qualified instructors? Can we tap into that net work?

Permalink Reply by Paul Wythe on June 1, 2010 at 8:12

How far did Edward get in creating an Institution of Thinking? Given that the world today loves qualifications, perhaps being part of the creative thinking group and showing creativity that adds value, could be rewarded with a EdeB qualification? (may be subject to a written paper?)

Permalink Reply by Paul Wythe on May 20, 2010 at 5:50

Share ware, on-line collaboration where software is improved by many programmers often working for free. So I guess the issue is what would motivate others to be interested and give of their time. There are social web sites, and even bespoke social websites. In big organisations, most of the ideas never make it to the surface and a lot of people are bored by their jobs. This has changed considerably over time, but there remains a lot of people with a brain doing boring stuff, who don't get to use their brain. Put a social website on top of the organisation and get people to collaborate. Put in discussion groups and use a discipline such as six thinking hats for each on-line discussion...... just a thought.

Perhaps another thought is we should adopt six thinking hats to see how to approach this.

We need ideas.

We need to review what we know and what we don't know.

Diane, could you suggest where we start?

Permalink Reply by Paul Wythe on May 31, 2010 at 21:14

Quote: yellow hat thinking probes and explores for value and benefit.

The world is full of innovation, but also full of negativity and sub optimal solutions. Having a panel of people able to control the thinking of a group of people who were stuck in a sub optimal thinking pattern could provide tremendous value.

Black hat: those people in ruts tend to believe they know best and do not learn.

Green hat: those organisations willing to adopt new ideas are more likely to evolve and survive.

Brain storming: look up page 600 in your dictionary, and take the 20th word. It should be a noun, if not keep going until it is. In my dictionary the word is peeping tom: envelope this with the concept of a creative solution team.

Concepts arising: insights; the truth laid bare; invasive; in the background; hidden; embedded; uniform - a macintosh; outsider; appreciation of beauty; stolen moments; illegal; mandate to be legalised; how to obtain a mandate; use existing customer base of Edward's; pick an existing customer and have them nominate 2 or three to join the team and present a problem; do a pilot; if it has value, move forward.

Please pick up on any of the above - yellow hat only for now. Or generate your own green hat ideas, perhaps using the technic above.

Paul.