Creative techniques in management

Syllabus

1. The nature and importance of creativity in management. Introduction to the issue of creativity in the work environment. Definition of creativity. The principle of using creative techniques in management. Creativity as a prerequisite for innovation in an organisation. Creativity as a challenge in management. Creativity as a tool for organizational competitiveness. Creativity as a prerequisite for success. Solving creative tasks. Comparison of creative and classical approaches in solving assignments. Group solutions and discussion. 2. Components of creative performance. Creative process - preparation, incubation, inspiration, and verification phases. Problem solving according to the different phases of the creative process. Comparison and description - progression through the different phases of solution, collaboration, time considerations, difficulty and outcome. Group solutions. Identifying blocks to creative work - work blocks, psychological blocks, time blocks, group blocks. Ways of managing and removing creative work blockages at individual and group level. 3. Signs of a creative personality. How the brain works, using its potential. Right and left brain hemisphere and its connection - laterality and dominance. Ways of identifying one's own laterality - training the activation of the right and left hemispheres. Divergent and convergent thinking. A typology based on a cognitive approach to problem solving. Basic features of creativity - fluency, flexibility, originality, elaboration, imagination. Techniques of development of lateral thinking. Solving tasks for individual and group development of creative traits. 4. Techniques to promote the development of creative personality. Analysis of reserves for the development of employee creativity. Focusing on the areas of cognitive traits, motivation, creative competence, attitudes towards work outcomes, attitudes towards the group, risk-taking, tolerance of handling criticism and failure. Developing a personal creative strategy. Techniques aimed at discovering one's own creative potential, keeping a creative diary. Practices for self-development - techniques for developing sensory channels, mental training, neuro-linguistic programming techniques, imagery, relaxation techniques. Identifying own barriers to using creativity at work. 5. Brainstorming techniques. Brainstorming as a basic creative technique in the process of finding and generating ideas. Clarification of the principles and rules of working with creative techniques. Summary of the principles of using bainstorming. Roles of brainstorming members and their functions - moderator, recorder, members. Practicing the procedure of different forms of brainstorming - classical, negative, rolestorming, group, questioning, gordon method, reverse. Branwriting - written form of brainstorming, method 635. Practice, possibilities of use in practice, advantages and limitations. Discussion. 6. Creative techniques aimed at problem analysis and searching for ideas. Creative techniques aimed at understanding the principle of the situation or problem. At the same time, it allows for different perspectives on a single situation and the possibility of linking individual ideas into a whole. Practice of creative techniques through which a closer analysis of the situation arising and the setting of possible solutions is possible - 5W and 1H, 6 hats, SCAMPER method. Presentation and group discussion. Possibilities of application in the working field. 7. Association and synectic methods. Associations as part of creative techniques for gathering information and generating ideas that are linked to stimuli at the sensory level (hearing, sight, touch, smell, taste). Familiarity with different modes of association - serial associations, centred associations, KaGa, KaWa. Individual and group applications. Synectic methods based on the principle of joining and linking the parts into a new whole. Search for analogies, bissociation. Practice of individual techniques and discussion. Possible applications in solving work tasks. 8. Techniques of visualization. Creative techniques deliberate in the use of graphic and pictorial recording of ideas. Use of symbols, colour and non-linguistic representation of information. Training in processing thoughts and ideas through mind mapping. Creating individual and group mind maps. Presentation and experience. Practice of other visual techniques - top-mapping, wallchart techniques, sketchnoting. Possibilities of using creative visual techniques in practice. 9. Developing team creativity. Creating conditions for team creativity. Team creativity as part of project work, interdisciplinary cooperation, workshops, conferences, etc. Summarising appropriate conditions for joint creative cooperation. Creativity in the different phases of team formation. Creative potential of team roles. Typology - benefits, limitations, comparison. Principles of creative cooperation. Training of creative team cooperation - Walt Disney technique, Triffer method. Group presentation. 10. The process of creative problem solving. Comparison of classical and creative approaches to solving problems. Problem as a challenge for innovative solutions. Application and practical training of the Design Thinking process as a complex approach to solving situations in the organization. Group assignments focusing on the different phases - empathy, problem definition, creative ideas using creative techniques, prototyping and testing the design of the solution. Evaluation and presentation of the design. 11. Creative manager and creative management. A creative team needs a creative manager with an innovative approach to management. Prerequisites of a creative manager - tolerance for ambiguity, stimulating freedom, functional freedom, flexibility, willingness to take risks, coping with confusion, perseverance, courage, independence from stereotype. Problem solving and validation of the principles of the creative manager approach, discussion. Principles of team leadership to foster creativity. The role of the manager in forming a creative team. 12. Barriers to creativity. Identification and classification of factors that hinder the development of individual and group creativity. Stereotypical perceptions and understanding of reality, cultural influences and biases, critical and rational solutions, environment, emotions. Creativity myths and their explanation - how they arise and their relevance. Collaborative work and creative discussion. Ways of managing and removing barriers that negatively affect the development of individual and group creativity. 13. Implementing creativity in practice. The application and development of creativity in conjunction with the human factor. Finding opportunities for relevant links to the field of personnel management. Selection of creative employees, evaluation and development of employees' creativity, setting up innovative working procedures, non-traditional forms of rewarding work results, promotion of creative climate in the organization, formation of innovative corporate culture. Creating a creative work environment. Summarizing the findings and the possibilities of relevant use in the organization.