An overview of the Osborn-Parnes creative problem solving process, with a dash of Forth wisdom.

1. CREATIVE
PROBLEM SOLVING
PROCESS
Osborn – Parnes
Creative Education Foundation

2. CPS PROCESS
• Created 1950s
• Alex Osborn & Dr. Sidney J. Parnes
• Follows natural human process
• Three stages, six steps

3. TYPICAL APPROACH
• Gather around the whiteboard
• Present the Problem
• Ask for Ideas
• Shoot Down Ideas
• Reach Uncomfortable Consensus.

4. THREE STAGES
• Explore the Challenge
• Generate Ideas
• Prepare for Action

5. SIX STEPS – EXPLORATION

6. SIX STEPS – EXPLORATION
• Objective Finding
• Fact Finding
• Problem Finding

7. SIX STEPS – IDEAS

8. SIX STEPS – IDEAS
• Idea Finding

9. SIX STEPS – SOLUTIONS

10. SIX STEPS – SOLUTIONS
• Solution Finding
• Acceptance Finding

11. WHAT’S WITH THE ARROWS DUDE?

12. DIVERGENCE AND CONVERGENCE
• Brainstorming Done Right

13. DIVERGENCE
• Creative Process
• Gather Many Options
• No Judgement!
• Write It All Down
• Move Quickly.

14. CONVERGENCE
• Analytical Process
• Reduce the Options
• Apply Judgement
• Write It All Down
• Move Less Quickly

15. DIVERGENCE AND CONVERGENCE
• Brainstorming Done Right
• Divergence – Exploring Ideas
• Convergence – Selecting Ideas

16. SIX STEPS

17. FACILITATION
• Select one Person as a Guide
• They Oversee Each Step
• Keep People On Track.

18. FORTH WISDOM
• Forth?
• Restate the Problem Until it Goes Away
• Identify and Reject Your Illusions – Things that don’t help
• Identify and Reject Non-Problems
• Simplify Viciously
• Write 90% Less Code – And Make It Awesome!

19. CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING
• Use The Process
• Use The Principles
• Embrace Simplicity

20. MAKE AWESOME HAPPEN
Life is too short to do anything else.