Depending on the methods and means utilized, creative techniques can be categorized in seven groups as follows:
1. Conditioning/motivating/organizing techniques
The techniques, procedures and/or special conditions and means belonging to this group help create an environment that facilitates the removal of various mental blocks, unleashes natural creativity, etc.
Examples: Napoleon technique, listening to music
Other techniques from this group merely suggest the use of various helpful tools such as notebooks, stickers, boards, flip charts, etc.
2. Randomization
Since psychological inertia usually keeps an individual “inside the box” of his/her paradigms/perceptions/assumptions, forcing an individual to make more random attempts to solve a difficult problem were found to be very helpful. Randomization makes the search more chaotic.
Example: Brainstorming
3. Focusing techniques
Many people have difficulty with random idea generation when no guidelines or focusing steps or subjects are offered. Special focusing techniques are used to help an individual focus on one issue at a time and avoid frustration. Focusing elements (steps) may be presented with or without any particular order (random focusing).
Example: Attribute listing
4. Systems
A system contains a set of focusing or random steps to be followed in a specific order.
Example: QFD
5. Pointed techniques
These techniques offer single or multi-step recommendations following a pre-determined, promising direction. This direction may be identified as useful based on intuition, experience or documented knowledge.
Examples:
Problem reversal (single step)
ARIZ (multi-step process targeting the ideal solution)
6. Evolutionary directed techniques
These techniques offer directions according to fundamental patterns of evolution.
Example: Utilization of the TRIZ Patterns/Lines of Technological Evolution
7. Innovation knowledge-base techniques
These techniques utilize structured knowledge derived from the past human innovation experience.
Example: Contradiction Table and 40 Innovation Principles
Comparative Analysis of Creative Methods(2)
Method |
Group |
Source/Reference |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
Random input (feature transfer, focused-objects technique, organized random search, picture stimulation) |
|
X |
X |
|
|
|
|
|
Problem reversal |
|
|
|
X |
X |
|
|
|
Questions Ask |
|
|
X |
X |
X |
|
|
Alex Osborn |
Question Summary |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
|
|
Lateral Thinking |
|
|
X |
X |
X |
|
|
|
The Discontinuity Principle |
|
|
|
X |
|
|
|
|
Thinkertoys |
|
|
X |
X |
|
|
|
|
Brainstorming |
|
X |
|
X |
|
|
|
|
Forced Analogy |
|
X |
X |
|
|
|
|
|
Attribute Listing |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
|
- Robert Platt Crowford
- Creating Workforce Innovation, by Michael Morgan
|
Morphological Forced Connections |
|
|
|
X |
|
|
|
Koberg and Bagnall |
Morphological Analysis |
|
|
|
X |
|
|
|
Zwicky |
Imitation |
|
|
|
|
X |
|
|
|
Mind Maps * |
|
|
X |
X |
|
|
|
Tony Buzan |
Storyboarding |
X |
|
X |
X |
|
|
|
- Sergei Eisenstein
- Walt Disney, 1928
- Mike Vance, Creative Thinking
- J. Higgins, p.166
|
Synectics ** |
|
|
X |
X |
X |
|
|
William Gordon |
Lotus Blossom Technique |
|
|
X |
X |
|
|
|
Matsumura Yasuo, Clover Management Research |
In the Realm of the Senses |
|
|
X |
X |
|
|
|
Mike Vance, Think Out of the Box |
Drawing and Visual Thinking |
X |
|
X |
|
|
|
|
Betty Edward and Robert McKim's Experiences in Visual Thinking, Stanford |
Camelot |
|
|
|
|
X |
|
|
James Higgins 101 |
Checklists |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
|
James Higgins 101 |
Limericks and parodies |
|
X |
|
|
|
|
|
James Higgins 101 |
Role playing |
|
X |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Workout/retreats |
X |
X |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Method |
Group |
Source/Reference |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
Kepner-Tregoe |
|
|
X |
X |
|
|
|
|
Draw a picture |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
|
|
Experience kit |
|
|
X |
X |
|
|
|
IdeaScope, Cambridge |
Fishbone diagram |
|
|
X |
X |
X |
|
|
Kaoru Ishikawa |
King of the mountain |
|
X |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Redefining a problem/opportunity |
|
X |
|
X |
|
|
|
|
Squeeze and stretch |
|
|
X |
X |
X |
|
|
|
What patterns exist? |
|
|
|
|
X |
|
|
|
Why-why diagram |
|
|
X |
X |
X |
|
|
|
Assumption reversal |
|
|
|
|
X |
|
|
|
Associations |
|
X |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Circle of opportunity |
|
X |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deadlines |
X |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fresh eye |
X |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Idea bits and racking |
X |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Idea notebook |
X |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Input-output |
|
|
|
X |
|
|
|
|
Listening to music |
X |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name possible uses |
|
X |
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Napoleon technique |
X |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Product improvement checklist |
|
X |
|
|
|
|
|
Arthur B. VanGundy |
Relatedness |
|
X |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Relational words |
|
X |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reversal – dereversal |
|
|
|
|
X |
|
|
|
7x7 technique |
|
|
|
X |
X |
|
|
|
Sleeping/dreaming on it |
X |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The two-words technique |
|
X |
X |
|
X |
|
|
|
Visualization |
|
X |
|
|
|
|
|
|
What if? |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
|
|
Gordon/Little |
|
|
X |
X |
X |
|
|
|
Group decision support systems |
X |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wilson Learning Systems, Minnesota |
Idea board |
X |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Idea triggers |
X |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Innovation committee |
X |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Intercompany innovation groups |
X |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lion’s den |
X |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NHK method |
|
X |
|
X |
|
|
|
Hiroshi Takahashi |
Method |
Group |
Source/Reference |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
Nominal group technique |
X |
X |
|
X |
|
|
|
|
Phillips 66 |
X |
X |
|
X |
|
|
|
Don Phillips, Michigan |
Photo excursion |
|
X |
X |
|
|
|
|
|
Scenario writing |
|
X |
X |
|
|
|
|
|
SIL method (combining) |
|
X |
|
X |
X |
|
|
Batelle, Germany |
TKJ |
X |
X |
|
X |
|
|
|
Tokio Institute of Technology |
Delphi |
X |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
|
Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) |
X |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert Dilts |
Assumption Smashing |
|
|
|
|
X |
|
|
|
DO IT |
|
|
|
X |
|
|
|
The Art of Creative Thinking, by Robert W. Olson |
LARC |
X |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unleashing the Right Side of the Brain, by Robert Williams and John Stockmyer |
Unconscious Problem Solving |
X |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basadur Simplex process |
|
|
|
X |
|
|
|
http://www.basadursimplex.com/ |
Fuzzy Logic (Fuzzy Thinking) |
|
|
|
X |
|
|
|
Lotfi Zadeh
Fuzzy Thinking, by Bart Kosko;
Fuzzy Logic - The Revolutionary Computer Technology that is Changing the World, by Daniel McNeill and Paul Freiburger |
SERENDIPITY |
X |
X |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wallas’ model |
|
|
|
X |
|
|
|
Graham Wallas (1926) |
Rossman creativity model |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rossman (1931) |
Working Paper: Models for the Creative Process |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
http://www.directedcreativity.com/
DirectedCreativity is a trademark of Paul E. Plsek & Associates, Inc. |
Barron’s Psychic Creation Model |
X |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
Henri Barron (1988) |
Creative Problem Solving (CPS) Model |
|
|
|
X |
|
|
|
- Parnes (1992)
- Isaksen and Trefflinger (1985)
|
Koberg and Bagnall's Universal Traveler Model |
|
|
|
X |
|
|
|
|
Robert Fritz’s Process for creation |
X |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
|
Seven Steps by Roger von Oech |
|
|
|
X |
|
|
|
|
TRIZ Contradiction Table and 40 Innovation Principles |
X |
|
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
TRIZ Ideality Concept |
X |
|
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
TRIZ System Approach |
X |
|
X |
X |
X |
|
|
|
Ideation/TRIZ Patterns/Lines of Evolutions |
X |
|
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
Method |
Group |
Source/Reference |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
Ideation/TRIZ Patterns/Lines of Evolutions |
X |
|
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
Ideation/TRIZ Problem Formulation |
X |
|
X |
X |
X |
|
|
|
Ideation/TRIZ ISQ |
X |
|
X |
X |
X |
|
|
|
Ideation/TRIZ ARIZ |
X |
|
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
|
TRIZ Substance-Field Analysis |
X |
|
X |
X |
X |
|
|
|
TRIZ 76 Standard Solutions |
X |
|
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
Ideation/TRIZ System of Operators |
X |
|
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
Ideation/TRIZ IPS |
X |
|
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
Ideation/TRIZ DE |
X |
|