P.O. BOX 1685,
CAPITOLA, CA 095010-1685
TEL: (610) 793-3520
genelieb@lieb.com
Creative Problem Solving Workshops
Most solutions to business problems are rather routine and do not give
any particular competitive advantage. On the other hand, unique, creative
solutions can give strong competitive advantage. Unfortunately
, the corporate environment tends to quench the creative process.
Creative ideas often have "outlandish" elements. To propose them
within a typical corporate structure can mean taking career chances.
The Creative Problem Solving Workshop is a means of reducing this risk.
The goal of these sessions are to establish an environment which will foster
creative activities. In addition, the creative problem solving environment
tends to help facilitate communications among the participants. This is often a
major goal of the sessions. Custom Decision Support, Inc. has arranged
and conducted a large number of these sessions. We have used this procedure to
identify:
Nurture Embryonic Projects
These workshops also enable the development of embryonic concepts in a
supportive environment. Often concepts that are identified in the normal
work-a-day critical environment die prematurely. Few concepts are so robust
when first put forth that they can bear immediate critical review. Most
concepts develop strength as they are modified to overcome apparent weaknesses.
The Creative Problem Solving Workshop provides sufficient protection for
these embryonic ideas to allow for their evolutionary development.
Workshop Procedures
A workshop consists of a series of semi-structured meetings in which the
"facilitator", under the guidance of the "client", leads
the session in a series of idea-expanding and
idea-focusing phases with closure on possible solutions to the problem.
Speculative thought among the participants is encouraged. All group output is
recorded on chart pads. These pages are kept visible during the session, and
are later transcribed, becoming the notes of the session.
Two persons function in what might normally be the chairman's job. One is
the client role (the person who directs the content of the workshop) and the
other is the facilitator role (the individual who attends to how things are
accomplished in the meeting). The facilitator must be trained in the process
and often comes from outside the organization. The client, however, must be the
key person responsible for solving the problem. We have found that a strong,
well-informed client is essential for a successful workshop.
The length of the workshop depends on the nature of the problem, the
desired number of possible solutions, and the skill of the participants. We
have run workshops from one-half day to two days in length with between eight
and 24 participants. Workshops appear to be improved when held at off-site
locations. This permits concentration on the problem and establishes an
atmosphere of "not business as usual".