Workshop presented at the Oklahoma Creativity Forum (#OKFC2011) on 11.1.11 in Norman, OK by Tamara Christensen and Cynthia Rolfe.

1. Big Ideas,
Focused Action,
Problem Solved.
Oklahoma Creativity Forum
11.1.11
CYNTHIA ROLFE, Ed.D., Ph.D.
TAMARA CHRISTENSEN, MSD, ABD
VP of IT + Assistant to the President, UCO
Consultant (& creativity guru)
Founder, Seven Wheelstm
Portigal Consulting
crolfe@uco.edu
tamara@portigal.com
@Cynthia.E.Rolfe
@drtamara

2. why are we here?
We know that training in creative thinking
(i.e. process) improves the work climate
(i.e. environment) of teams.
~Firestien, 1996
Leaders who wish to foster creative
thinking and change must recognize the
importance of all the facets of creativity.
~Puccio, 2007

3. breaking it down
creative problem solving
big ideas + focused action
ll2reflect

4. breaking it down
creative problem solving
big ideas + focused action
ll2reflect

5. DIVERGENT
Generating lots of ideas.
imagination, quantity
the faucet
CONVERGENT
Judging ideas and making decisions.
logical, quality
the funnel

6. DIVERGENT
Generating lots of ideas.
imagination, quantity
the faucet
Guidelines
Defer judgment
Combine and build on ideas
Seek wild ideas
Go for quantity

7. Guidelines
Be deliberate
Check your objectives
Improve your ideas
Be affirmative
Consider novelty
CONVERGENT
Judging ideas and making decisions.
logical, quality
the funnel

8. breaking it down
creative problem solving
big ideas + focused action
ll2reflect

9. creative problem solving
Identify the Challenge
Objective Finding (OF)
Facts and feelings exploration
Fact Finding (FF)
Problem framing & reframing
Problem Finding (PF)
Idea generation
Idea Finding (IF)
Solution development
Solution Finding (AF)
Action planning
Acceptance Finding (AF)

10. creative problem solving
{
Identify the Challenge
Objective Finding (OF)
Problem
exploration
Facts and feelings exploration
Fact Finding (FF)
Problem framing & reframing
Problem Finding (PF)
Brainstorming
{
Idea generation
Idea Finding (IF)
{
Solution development
Solution Finding (AF)
Getting into action
Action planning
Acceptance Finding (AF)

11. creative problem solving
Identify the Challenge
Objective Finding (OF)
Facts and feelings exploration
Fact Finding (FF)
Problem framing & reframing
Problem Finding (PF)
Idea generation
Idea Finding (IF)
Solution development
Solution Finding (AF)
Action planning
Acceptance Finding (AF)

12. breaking it down
creative problem solving
big ideas + focused action
ll2reflect

13. big ideas

14. OUR
MISSION
IS
TO
ESTABLISH
OKLAHOMA
AS
A
WORLD-­‐
RENOWNED
CENTER
OF
CREATIVITY
&
INNOVATION
IN
EDUCATION,
COMMERCE,
&
CULTURE

15. What’s the problem?
WMBATW
(What Might Be All The Ways)
for you to preserve and share
your learnings today?
OUR
MISSION
IS
TO
ESTABLISH
OKLAHOMA
AS
A
WORLD-­‐RENOWNED
CENTER
OF
CREATIVITY
&
INNOVATION
IN
EDUCATION,
COMMERCE,
&
CULTURE

16. DIVERGENT
Generating lots of ideas.
imagination, quantity
the faucet
Guidelines
Defer judgment
Combine and build on ideas
Seek wild ideas
Go for quantity

17. Visual Connections
When you see the image, think of
and/or jot down some words
and phrases to describe it.
Next use those words and
phrases to get you thinking
about new ideas for the
challenge. Record these ideas.
Go for quantity! As many ideas as
you can generate. Edit later.

18. WMBATW for you to preserve and share your learnings today?

19. WMBATW for you to preserve and share your learnings today?

20. WMBATW for you to preserve and share your learnings today?

21. How many ideas do you have?
Stand up if…
You generated 3 or more ideas.
You generated 8 or more ideas.
You generated 15 or more ideas.
You generated 21 or more ideas.
[applause]

22. focused action

23. Guidelines
Be deliberate
Check your objectives
Improve your ideas
Be affirmative
Consider novelty
CONVERGENT
Judging ideas and making decisions.
logical, quality
the funnel

24. Criteria
Go for ideas that are FUN!
Functional
Will it work?
Useful
Does it solve the problem?
(to preserve and share your learnings today)
Novel
Is it a fresh way of thinking?

25. Got your list of ideas?
Pick your favorite 3 ideas
Find 2 strangers & share ideas
(make new friends!)
Each select 1-2 favorite ideas
Share with each other and
determine the best solution

26. problem solved

27. What’s the solution?
WMBATW
(What Might Be All The Ways)
for you to preserve and share
your learnings today?
OUR
MISSION
IS
TO
ESTABLISH
OKLAHOMA
AS
A
WORLD-­‐RENOWNED
CENTER
OF
CREATIVITY
&
INNOVATION
IN
EDUCATION,
COMMERCE,
&
CULTURE

28. breaking it down
creative problem solving
big ideas + focused action
ll2reflect

29. shapely
reflection
3
1
?

30. shapely
reflection
3
1
?
3 things that 1 thing that Questions still
stand out for really squared circling
you about the with you
session

31. crolfe@uco.edu
tamara@portigal.com