CONTENTS

What is Creative Thinking Techniques of creative thinking:

1.Focus Groups - Types of focus groups - Procedures - Problem Related to focus groups 2.Brainstorming - Ground Rules - Methods - Techniques of Brainstorming 3. Attribute Analysis 4. Synectics
Conclusion

 Specific thought processes which improve the ability to be creative. Being in an optimal state of mind for generating new ideas. To think deliberately in ways that improve the likelihood of new thoughts occurring. To maximize the ability of the brain to think of new ideas. The ability to think of original, diverse and elaborate ideas.

Techniques of Creative Thinking

Focus Groups
A focus group is a carefully planned discussion designed to obtain perceptions on a defined area of interest in a permissive, non-threatening environment. The first focus groups were created at the Bureau of Applied Social Research by associate director, sociologist Robert K. Merton. The term itself was coined by psychologist and marketing expert Ernest Dichter

A Focus Group Is . . .
What A carefully planned discussion To obtain perceptions of a defined interest area

A Focus Group Is . . .
Where In a permissive, non-threatening environment

A Focus Group Is . . .
Who Approximately seven to ten people With common characteristics relating to discussion topic

A Focus Group Is . . .
How Conducted by a trained interviewer (moderator, facilitator). Three focus groups are the minimum for a study

Types of focus groups

Two-way focus group Dual moderator focus group Duelling moderator focus group Respondent moderator focus group Client participant focus groups Mini focus groups Online focus groups

Procedures
Homogenous not Diverse Words not numbers Talk & Silence Shared control

Problems related to focus groups

The researcher has less control over a group than a one-on-one interview, and thus time can be lost on issues irrelevant to the topic.

The number of members of a focus group is not large enough to be a representative sample of a population; thus, the data obtained from the groups is not necessarily representative of the whole population, unlike the data of opinion polls.

BRAINSTORMING
Way of making of a group of people all think about something at same time, often in order to solve a problem or to create a good idea . -Oxford Dictionary

Brainstorming is a group creativity technique designed to generate a large number of ideas for the solution of a problem. In 1953 the method was popularized by Alex Faickney Osborn in a book called Applied Imagination.

Ground Rules
Focus on quantity Withhold criticism Welcome unusual ideas Combine and improve ideas

Method
Set the problem Create a background memo Select participants Create a list of lead questions Session conduct

DIFFERENT TECHNIQUES OF BRAINSTORMING

Nominal group technique Group passing technique Team idea mapping method E- brainstorming Directed brainstorming Individual brainstorming

ATTRIBUTE ANALYSIS
Attribute analysis is the process of breaking down a problem, idea, or thing into attributes or component parts and then thinking about the attributes rather than the thing itself.

SYNECTICS
Synectics is a problem solving method that stimulates thought processes of which the subject may be unaware. This method was developed by George M. Prince and William J. J. Gordon, originating in the Arthur D. Little Invention Design Unit in the 1950s.

CONCLUSION
Creative thinking techniques are very much useful to generating new ideas in every organization . The new way of thinking should always be encouraged and creativity should always be welcomed. Creative thinking is not a talent, it is a skill that can be learnt. It empowers people by adding strength to their natural abilities which improves teamwork, productivity and where appropriate profits. Edward de Bono

References
www.google.com www.googleimages.com www.bing.com www.scribd.com www.wikipedia.com

Nominal group technique

The nominal group technique is a type of brainstorming that encourages all participants to have an equal say in the process. It is also used to generate a ranked list of ideas.

Group passing technique

Each person in a circular group writes down one idea, and then passes the piece of paper to the next person in a clockwise direction, who adds some thoughts. This continues until everybody gets his or her original piece of paper back. By this time, it is likely that the group will have extensively elaborated on each idea.

Team idea mapping method

This method of brainstorming works by the method of association. It may improve collaboration and increase the quantity of ideas, and is designed so that all attendees participate and no ideas are rejected.

E- brainstorming
Electronic brainstorming is a computerized version of the manual brainstorming technique. It is typically supported by an electronic meeting system (EMS) but simpler forms can also be done via email and may be browser based, or use peer-to-peer software.

Directed brainstorming
Directed brainstorming is a variation of electronic brainstorming. It can be done manually or with computers. Directed brainstorming works when the solution space is known prior to the session. If known, that criteria can be used to intentionally constrain the ideation process

Individual brainstorming
"Individual Brainstorming" is the use of brainstorming on a solitary basis. It typically includes such techniques as free writing, free speaking, word association, and drawing a mind map, which is a visual note taking technique in which people diagram their thoughts. Individual brainstorming is a useful method in creative writing and has been shown to be superior to traditional group brainstorming.