Chương 1: (TN + Tự luận) Creativity Skills

Definitions: Creativity
Creativity is the production of novel and useful ideas.
Creativity is the development of ideas about products, practices, services or procedures that are
novel and potentially useful to the organization.
Definitions - Creativity Skills
The capacity to generate ideas; things that have value to the individual. Looking at things with a
fresh eye: examining problems with an open mind: making connections: learning from mistakes
and using the imagination to explore new possibilities.
Definitions - Creative Thinking
The predictions and/or inferences for the individual are new, original, unusual. The creative
thinker is one who explores new areas and makes new observations, new predictions & new
inferences
Definitions - Organizational Creativity
Organizational creativity is the creation of a valuable, useful new product, service, idea,
procedure, or process by individuals working together in a complex social system
The Components of Creativity
Componential Theory of Individual Creativity: Creativity takes place when three components
join together:
- Expertise- the necessary knowledge to put facts together
- Creative thinking: the ability to imaginatively solve problems
- Task motivation: persevering or sticking with a problem to a conclusion

Stages in the Creative Process

Preparation: This is where you define the problem you want to solve or the need. Then you start
gathering as much knowledge about the subject as you can.
• Incubation: In this stage, you’ll be processing the information you have gathered. Instead of
consciously trying to solve the problem, you’ll let your mind wander (tâm trí tự do lang thang)
on its own, working its way through the subject. This will lead to more creativity. Basically, your
unconscious mind will be at work here.
• Illumination: This is the “Eureka” moment that really occurs when you are not actively
thinking of a creative solution. You could be literally having a shower when all of a sudden you
have found the answer you’ve been looking for
. • Verification: Now it’s time to see if your idea will really work out or not. In this last stage of
the creative thinking process, you need to test your idea. Use your critical thinking skills to fine-
tune your idea and ready it to reach the audience.
Organizational Creativity Enhancers
• Focus on intrinsic motivation• Creativity goals • Developmental feedback • Supportive
supervision • Healthy competition • Participative decision making• Autonomy • Hire creative
people• Enriched, complex jobs• Provide resources• Clear organizational goals• Instructions to
be creative• Recognize and reward creativity• Encourage risk taking• No punishment for failure
Creativity Killers
• Excessive focus on extrinsic motivation • Limits set by superiors • Critical evaluation • Close,
controlling supervision • Competition in a win-lose situation • Control of decision making •
Control of information
Characteristics Of Creative Leaders
• Perseverance when facing obstacles • Self-confidence • Willingness to take risks • Willingness
to grow and openness to new experiences • Tolerance for ambiguity

Mind Mapping Technique

- A way of representing information and relationships visually. Information is presented in the
form of a “mind map,” a type of spider diagram. The information is organized radially around a
core concept.
- A mind map starts with a single central topic. It then branches outward with topics and
subtopics that reflect your ideas. Branches often contain images and icons to enhance the
information. (Supporting idea)
- Mind mapping can lead to better critical thinking and decision-making.
How to make a mind map
Step 1. Define your central topic: Consider the focus of your mind map and put that in the center
of your page.
Step 2. Create your first-level topics:
- Think about the ideas that come to mind or the big ‘categories’ that relate to your central topic.
- Draw these branches out from the center.
Step 3. Expand your branches: expanding like tree branches by breaking first-level topics into
subtopics
Continue to expand branches as far as we want. - Try to use just keywords in your topics and
subtopics
Step 4. Add images (if it helps)
Six Thinking Hats Technique
• The 6 Thinking Hats method is a catalyst that helps during the brainstorming stage.
• Each hat in the six thinking hats method represents a different perspective.
• It is used during meetings or brainstorming sessions to allow team members to look at
possible solutions from different perspectives or thinking directions.
• Six Thinking Hats = Six ways of thinking
• Thus, the Six Thinking Hats framework is a widely-used method in the planning stage of a
project.
BỔ SUNG HÌNH + NDUNG SAU
SWOT Analysis Technique
• A SWOT analysis is a strategic planning technique that puts your business in perspective using
the following lenses: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats.
• Using a SWOT analysis helps you identify ways your business can improve and maximize
opportunities, while simultaneously determining negative factors that might hinder your chances
of success.
• the SWOT analysis is applied in various situations; in competitor analysis, situation analysis,
strategic planning, personal evaluation, etc.

Chapter 2: Brainstorm
“The role of a creative leader is not to have all the ideas; it’s to create a culture where everyone
can have ideas and feel that they’re valued.”

When do you get your best ideas?

• Ideas come to us when our brains and bodies are relaxed and on our own; usually they happen
when we least expect them.
• Breakthrough ideas might come from a lot of ideas
The top five catalysts for best ideas were ranked as follows (Moore and Ditkoff, 2008):
1. When you’re inspired
2. Brainstorming with others
3. When you’re immersed in a project
4. When you’re happy
5. When you’re collaborating with a partner

Ideation Toolkit
Brainstorming
 process for developing creative solutions to solve a particular commercial or technical
problem, in which participants are encouraged to think without interruption.
  works by focusing on a problem, and then deliberately coming up with as many solutions
as possible and by pushing the ideas as far as possible.
 associations with other people's ideas by developing and refining them.
 Brainstorming is a commonly used tool by academics researchers and business teams.

There are four basic rules in brainstorming:

1) Focus on quantity: If lots of ideas are generated it will be easy to produce a radical and
effective solution.

2) Reserve criticism: Don’t comment on any ideas. First accept all, at a later stage judge.

3) Welcome unusual ideas: To get a good and long list of ideas, unusual ideas are welcomed.

4) Combine and improve ideas: Good ideas may be combined to form a single better idea (Build
on each other’s ideas).

Group Brainstorming vs. Solo

Everyone involved to feel that they’ve Individual brainstorming creates better
contributed to the end solution, and it quality ideas
reminds people that other people have • You do not have to worry about other
creative ideas to offer people's egos or opinions, and can therefore
• Brainstorming is fun, and it can be great be more freely creative
for team-building

Brainstorming: a starting point

When planning a brainstorming session it is important to define clearly the topic to be

addressed.

• A topic which is too specific can constrict thinking (hạn chế tư duy), while an illdefined (k xác
định) topic will not generate enough directly applicable ideas.

• The composition(thành phần) of the brainstorming group is important too. It should include
people linked directly with the subject as well as those who can contribute novel and
unexpected ideas.

• It can comprise staff from inside or outside the organisation.

Flow of Brainstorming

Individual ideas => Small groups => Entire group

Brainstorming Techniques
GROUP BRAINSTORMING
• A brainstorming session is led by a facilitator (ng điều phối) who introduces the topic and
the above ‘ brainstorming rules'.

• The group then begins to generate and share ideas.

• These are recorded on white-boards, flip-charts, Post-it® notes, etc.

• This section of the meeting usually lasts no longer than thirty or forty minutes.

• The ideas are then categorised and ranked by the group.

• Follow-up actions are agreed and the meeting closes.

**the facilitator should : • Encourage novel and innovative ideas, however odd(kỳ lạ) they
may first appear

• The quantity of ideas is more important than quality, so while ideas are shared with the
group they are not discussed or criticised in detail; this is reserved for a later stage

• Build on the ideas put forward by others

• Every person and every idea has equal worth

• Each idea generated belongs to the group rather than the individual who thought of it

FREEWRITING
When you freewrite, you write down whatever comes into your mind. You don’t judge the
quality of writing and don’t worry about style , spelling, grammar or punctuation. When you
have finished your writing and have reached your goal, read back over the text, decide the
solution.
NOMINAL GROUP TECHNIQUE
Participants are asked to write their ideas anonymously (ẩn danh). Then the moderator(ng điều
phối) collects the ideas and each is voted on by the group. The best idea is chosen.
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, participants will have examined each
idea in detail.
5)TEAM IDEA MAPPING METHOD T h i s t e c h n i q u e m a y i m p r o v e collaboration and
increase the quantity of ideas, and is designed so that all attendees participate and no ideas are
rejected. The process begins with a well-defined topic. Each participant brainstorms individually,
then all the ideas are merged onto one large idea map.

)INDIVIDUAL BRAINSTORMING It typically includes such techniques as free writing, free

speaking, word association, and drawing a mind map, which people diagram their thoughts.
Individual brainstorming is useful method in creative wiriting.

QUESTION BRAINSTORMING This process involves brainstorming the questions, rather than
trying to come up with immediate answers and short term solutions. Questions are important in
that technique. We need a list of questions to reach to the best solution in an orderly way

ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES OF BRAINSTORMING ADVANTAGES • Many ideas can be

generated in a short time. • Requires few material resources. • The results can be used
immediately or for possible use in other projects. • Is a democratic way of generating ideas. •
The concept of brainstorming is easy to understand.

DISADVANTAGES • Requires an experienced and sensitive facilitator who understands the social
psychology of small groups. • Requires a dedication to quantity rather than quality. • Shy people
can have difficulties in participating. • May not be appropriate for some business or
international cultures.

5W1H

The 5W1H Canvas helps to get a grasp on the real problem by asking ‘What, Why, Where, Who,
When, and How’, helping to understand the problem from a variety of standpoints.

WHAT? Consider the facts, looking at both hard data (statistics, history and time factors), and
soft data (opinions, human factors, attitudes and behaviours). Ask yourself: What have you
already tried to solve the problem? What worked? What didn’t? What are you aiming to
achieve?• WHY? Asking yourself this is a great way to gain a deeper understanding of an issue.
In fact, you should ask ‘why?’ at least five times until you get to the bottom of a problem. This
will ensure that you’re addressing the root cause and not just a symptom. 28 2.2.2. 5W1H •
WHERE? Now it’s time to locate the best environment for putting your solution into action by
asking, where can the problem be resolved? Where can help be offered? • WHO? Who can help
solve the problem? Who benefits from the problem being solved? Identify who can be involved
in the solution, both directly and indirectly. • WHEN? When is the deadline for solving this
problem? Knowing this will help you to work out a timeframe for your action plan and keep
various tasks in time and ensure you stay on track. • HOW? How does the challenge influence
people, activities or events? Consider how the problem may impact specific departments,
resources, products or tools.

Six Thinking Hats Technique

Group members can freely express their ideas without the fear of prejudice. • Having multiple
views on a certain topic. You can then formulate a better idea by combining all ideas. • Learn to
think outside the box by listening to various ideas and opinions. • Focus more on topics that you
are really interested in, and fits your skillset. • G et c lo ser to yo u r t ea m mem ber s b y s h ar
in g id ea s a nd communicating clearly

Six Thinking Hats Technique – Application

Choose a project • Members of the class are distributed into 6 sub-teams that represents each
hats. • Each sub-teams then focuses their discussion based on the hat that they represent. •
Each hat has their own respective roles• Propose an action plan for this project

Ideation checklist: DOs and DON’Ts

establish the correct environment • keep an open mind • suspend judgement • brainstorm
individually first, then in groups • involve others • focus on quantity • give yourself time to
utilize thought experiments (focused daydreaming) • expand and build on ideas • link
seemingly random ideas –connect the unconnected • capture all ideas • take breaks • listen
to others • have multiple small ideation sessions rather than one long meeting • borrow
another person's point of reference • look outside for inspiration – mirror others and improve
• sleep on it – allow incubation time • ignore discouragement from doubters • make it
seriously fun
rush idea generation • create and evaluate at the same time • be negative at this stage • bully
others with your ideas • try and be sensible • wander off topic • multitask when trying to
generate ideas• dismiss insane ideas as being impossible• Keep “infeasible mindset”• fall foul
of “listening to the experts” syndrome• lack confidence• brainstorm without structure