Creative Problem Solving for Managers: Developing Skills for Decision Making and Innovation - Softcover

Proctor, Tony

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0415196795 ISBN 13: 9780415196796

Publisher: Routledge, 1999

Synopsis

This updated text provides a lively introduction to the essential skills of creative problem solving. Using extensive case-studies and examples from a wide range of business situations, it explores a wide range of problem-solving theories and techniques, illustrating how these can be used to solve a range of management problems.

Thoroughly revised and redesigned, this new edition retains the accessible and imaginative approach to problem solving skills of the first edition. Contents include:

• blocks to creativity and how to overcome them
• key techniques including lateral thinking, morphological analysis and synectics
• computer-assisted problem solving
• increased coverage of group problem solving techniques and paradigm shift.

As creativity is increasingly recognized as a key skill for successful managers, this book will be welcomed as a comprehensive introduction for students and practising managers alike.

About this title

From the Back Cover

How can managers tackle complex problems? How do you encourage innovation? How do you implement new solutions? Is creativity the key to management success?

This accessible text provides a lively introduction to the essential skills of creative problem solving. Using extensive case-studies and examples from a wide range of business situations, it explores a wide range of problem-solving theories and techniques, illustrating how these can be used to solve a range of management problems.

Thoroughly revised and redesigned, this new edition retains the accessible and imaginative approach to problem solving skills of the first edition. Contents include:

* blocks to creativity and how to overcome them
* key techniques including lateral thinking, morphological analysis and synectics
* computer-assisted problem solving
* increased coverage of group problem solving techniques and paradigm shift

As creativity is increasingly recognised as a key skill for successful managers, this book will be welcomed as a readable and comprehensive introduction for students and practising managers alike.

Synopsis

This text provides an essential introduction to the ideas and skills of creative problem solving. It shows how and why people are blocked in their thinking, how this impairs the creative problem solving process and how creative problem solving techniques can help overcome these difficulties. Theories of creative thinking are critically examined and used to justify the variety of techniques which can be used to find insights into difficult management problems. Contents include: paradigm shift and the need for creative thinking in management blocks to creativity and how to overcome them defining and redefining problems Extensive explanations and illustrations of the methods and techniquest of the creative problem solving process - Lateral Thinking, Morphological Analysis and Synectics evaluating ideas - qualitative and quantitative approaches implementing ideas and effecting the management of idea acceptance. Using case studies and case histories, together with extensive diagrams, examples and thought-provoking questions, this textbook provides the most up-to-date and extensive approach to this important topic.

Edition details

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0415196795
• ISBN 13: 9780415196796
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 332