Innovative Problem Solving

Source: Scandura (2021)

Creative Problem Solving for Individuals

The ability to solve problems is essential for leaders in any organization. According to Scandura (2021), leaders who encounter challenges related to organizational change and the need to remain competitive are increasingly looking for creative problem-solving methods across all areas of work. As a result, leaders must have strong individual problem-solving skills. Inspired Classroom LLC (2020) emphasizes that the S.C.A.M.P.E.R. framework can help generate innovative problem-solving ideas.

Source: Inspired Classroom LLC (2020)

S.C.A.M.P.E.R.

Substitute

Is there a replacement that will do the same thing

Combine

What can be combined to give another use

Adapt

Is there an adaptation for another use

Magnify, minify, or modify

Larger, smaller, using part of an object for another/new use

Put to another use

How can it be put to another use other than its original purpose

Eliminate

What can you take away for a new use

Rearrange or reverse

Can it be used from a different perspective

Creative Problem Solving for Teams

Using a team of people to solve problems gives leaders the advantage of considering ideas from a diverse, interdisciplinary perspective. Trust among team members can reduce feelings of vulnerability, allowing for more effective collaboration toward achieving their goals, as noted by Scandura (2021). Therefore, it is essential for leaders overseeing a team to understand the dynamics among team members. This knowledge will help them determine which problem-solving approach will be most effective in finding the best solution to the problem at hand.

Below, I have listed the most common types of team problem-solving and the characteristics of each approach.

Consensus

Hear out every member and support the final decision from discussion
Ask Clarifying questions
Discussion
Establish basic direction
Synthesize or modify the proposal as needed
Call for consensus

Multivoting

Voting can lead to dissatisfaction with decisions and lack of commitment
Private voting with pen and paper
Display the list of options
Number all items
Decide how many items must be on the final reduced list
Working individually, each member selects the five items they think are most important
Tally votes
If a decision is clear, then stop; if not, continue the voting process

Nominal Group Technique (NGT)

Effective when the team has a dominating member
Allows every member to voice their opinion
Each member writes on an index card
Each member give the facilitator one idea, and the facilitator presents the ideas from the members
Team discussion from all ideas
Ask clarifying questions
Each member silently ranks the ideas independently
The highest total ranking is the final decision

Brainstorming

The most common form of team decision-making
Idea generation is separate from idea evaluation
Build on the ideas of others
Stay focused on the topic
Be visual
Go for quantity

Stepladder

Reduces the impact of dominating members
Present the task
Two-member discussion
Add one member to the discussion
Repeat, adding one member at a time
Final decision

Source: Scandura (2021)

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References

Inspired Classroom LLC. (2020). S.C.A.M.P.E.R.: Inventive thinking [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2I4PSdt7_8

Scandura, T. (2021). Essentials of organizational behavior: An evidence-based approach (3rd ed.). SAGE.

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