METHODS OF IMPROVING CREATIVITY

Creativity is the ability to bring forth something new into existence. Innovation on the other hand is the process of doing things, differently and in a better way, innovation is therefore the process of transformation of creative ideas into useful applications, but creativity is prerequisite to innovation. Innovation is the creative regeneration and application of new ideas that achieve significant improvement in product, activity, structure, etc.

These are the methods of improving creativity:-

1.      Brainstorming – contributions of participants, all ideas are recognized, and no criticizing or evaluating of ideas during brainstorming. 

2.      Reverse brainstorming: - here contributions made by participants are criticized; negatives about a contribution are brought to surface. 

3.      Brain writing – contributions of participants are written down and shared.

4.      Gordon method – usually participants do not know the exact nature of the problem – this prevents idea being clouded by preconceived ideas. A general concept associated with a problem is given and the group responds by expressing a number of ideas. 

5.      Checklist – developing   new ideas through a list of related issues. 

6.      Free associations – developing a new idea through a chain of word association -a chain of ideas ending with a new product.

7.      Force relationships – forcing relationships among some products – product combinations.

8.      Collective notebook method – recording ideas about a problem in a notebook regularly e.g. 3 times a day. By end of week a list of the best ides is developed, along with suggestions. 

9.      Attribute listing – list attributes of an item or a problem and then look at each from a variety of view point. Unrelated objects can be bought together to form a new combination and possible new uses that better satisfy a need.

10.  Big dream approach – new idea developed through dreams thinking big. 

11.  Parameter analysis – involves parameter identification and creative synthesis involves identification of parameters – analyzing elements in a situation to determine their relative importance. After the primary issues have been identified, the relationships between parameters that describe the underlying issues are examined.