ENEF (TSEF)

Creativity and innovation course

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 Course objective
This practical course will provide students with a range of simple techniques that they can use
to generate ideas and solve problems at work through real life applications and opportunities.

Specific objectives
1. To appreciate the imperative of innovation within the society to dispel
common misconceptions regarding innovation and creativity (to
understand why some people are naturally creative, but also how
everyone can develop their creative skills);
2. To critically analyse theories of innovation and creativity (to obtain
knowledge of how to use a range of creative thinking methods, tools and
techniques to generate ideas and solve problems);
3. To use evidence to critically challenge innovation practices and
communicate recommended behavioural changes (to have the opportunity
to apply the methods and tools to generate ideas for improving areas of
their own work);
4. To identify possible changes in established environments and routines to
challenge status quo (improving performance and livelihood of our
society).

Weighting Learning
No Assessment task Task type Length
(%) outcomes

1 Reflective thinking Individual 60 mins 30 1, 3, 4

2 Group presentation Group 15 min pres 20 1, 2, 3

3 Creative trade tasks Individual 500 words 20 3, 4

30 mins

4 Case study Individual 1500 words 30 1, 2, 3, 4

120 mins

Total 100

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 Creativity and innovation
1. Chapter One: Overview
1.1. What is creativity and innovation?

Creativity is defined as the tendency to generate or recognize ideas, alternatives, or

possibilities that may be useful in solving problems, communicating with others, and
entertaining ourselves and others.

Creativity is typically centered around original thought and knowledge, which unleashes
potential and is an integral part of idea generation. Innovation, on the other hand, is used to
turn the creative idea that you come up with into a viable solution. Hand in hand, they are
powerful ways to disrupt and adapt, and to create the next great idea, which is increasingly
important in today’s ever-changing world

In this example, the thought of creation of a new traveling motorcycle is creativity, but the
actual invention of it is innovation.

1.2. Background of creativity

The word creativity first came into being in the 14th century in Chaucer's 'Paradise Lost.' But
the word got its actual meaning in the enlightenment age.

Creativity is required at every stage/ phase of life. It is helpful in solving problems, in

communication, in writing, blogging, etc. Well, creativity is an essential part of one's life as it
helps in create new things and develop existing and new skills. For instance, engaging in a
creative activity helps in improving our problem-solving skills, imagination power, etc.
Creativity helps us in devising new ways to solve problems or generate something. Creativity
enables many functions like empathy, non-linear thinking, etc.

1.3. Tips for boosting creativity

Here are a few ways to help you improve on your creativity,

Read about and listen to the creative ideas of others. You might discover the seed of an idea
you can grow or set your own imagination free.
Try something new. Take up a creative hobby, such as playing an instrument, drawing, or
storytelling. A relaxing hobby can help your mind wander to new places.
Look within. This can help you gain a deeper understanding of yourself and what makes you
tick. Why do you gravitate toward certain activities and not others?
Keep it fresh. Break your set patterns and go outside your comfort zone. Take a trip to a
brand-new place. Immerse yourself in another culture.
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Take a course in an un-familiar subject.

Tips and tricks

 When you get new ideas, write them down and work on developing them further;
 Brainstorm: when you face a problem, try several ways to get to a solution;
 When doing simple tasks, such as washing the dishes, leave the TV off and let your
mind wander to new places;
 Rest, relax, and laugh to let your creative juices flow.

Even something as creative as music takes time, patience, and practice. The more you practice
any new activity, the more your brain adapts to the new information.

1.4. Innovation
Innovation is the process of executing ideas regarding goods and services. Innovation
involves improvement in the goods and services provided. New processes, techniques, and
ideas are applied to the existing goods and services so that they can be regenerated and
renewed. Different people have different definitions of innovation, but it is interesting to note
that there are four significant kinds of innovation. They are incremental innovation,
architectural innovation, disruptive innovation, and radical innovation. There are other types
of innovation as well, but these four are significant. Innovation is also an essential part of our
life as it helps us in building new ideas and technologies that help us in increasing
productivity and generate higher output as well. However, there are certain contrasting points
between creativity and innovation.

1.5. Four Stages of Innovation (the cycle of innovation)

Jaruzelski, Dehoff, and Bordia (1994), developed the four key stages of innovation are:

1. Ideation – Basic research and conception.

2. Project Selection – The decision to invest.
3. Product Development – Building the product or service.
4. Commercialization – Bringing the product or service to market and adapting it to
customer demands.

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2. CHAPTER TWO: DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CREATIVITY
AND INNOVATION

NO. CREATIVITY INNOVATION

1. Creativity is the process of creating On the other hand, innovation is the process
new products. of implementing ideas and technologies so
that the goods and services are renewed.

2. Creativity can be tangible or Innovation is majorly intangible.

intangible.

3. The word create/ creativity was The word innovation came into being in the
first used in the 14th century. 16th century.

4. In creativity, new products are In innovation, new ideas and technologies

formed. regarding goods and services are formed.

5. Creativity is an imaginative Innovation is a productive process.

process.

6. Creativity is related to Innovation is related to introducing new ideas

brainstorming and thinking about and technologies to carry out production
new ideas. smoothly and efficiently.

7. There is no money consumption in There is money consumption in innovation.

creativity.

8. The risk factor is negligible in The risk factor is quite apparent in

creativity. innovation.

9. Creativity is about formation. Innovation is all about bringing change.

10. Creativity is immeasurable and Innovation is measurable and quantifiable.

cannot be quantified.

11. Creativity precedes innovation. Creativity is succeeded by innovation.

12. Creativity may or may not involve Innovation involves an organization for the
an organization. production of services and goods.

13. Creativity does not depend on Innovation depends upon the monetary factor,
materialistic things. i.e., how to implement the ideas into profit-
earning.

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14. The novel ideas are communicated Inventions are communicated through
through creativity. innovation.

2.1. Lecturer presentation and group discussion

3. CHAPTER THREE: BREAKING THROUGH

THOUGHT PATTERN

3.1. Distinguish between left and right brain thinking

The left brain handles reading, writing, and calculations. Some call it the logical side of the
brain. The right brain is more visual and deals in images more than words. It processes
information in an intuitive and simultaneous manner.

They are described as logical, analytical, and orderly. The theory suggests that people who are
left-brain dominant do well in careers that involve linear thinking, math, and verbal
information, such as an accountant, scientist, or computer programmer

Right brain thinkers on the other hand are supposed to be intuitive and creative free thinkers.
They are "qualitative," big-picture thinkers who experience the world in terms that are
descriptive or subjective. For example, "The skies are gray and menacing; I wonder if it's
going to rain?"

3.2. Tips for keeping your brain sharp

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, keeping your brain active via mentally challenging
activities, like learning a new skill, may have benefits for brain health in the short and long
term. They also suggest that a lack of mental stimulation may increase the chance of
developing Alzheimer’s disease.

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Some tips and tricks
Here are a few tips to stimulate your brain:
 Spend some time each day reading, writing or both;
 Never stop learning. Take a class, go to lecture or try to acquire a new skill;
 Complete challenging “crosswords” and “Sudoku” puzzles;
 Play memory games, board games, card games or video games;
 Take a new hobby that requires you to focus, like learning a new language or a
musical instrument.

3.3. Determine, how creative you are.

3.4. Individual creative thinking exercise, Group review and self-assessment questionnaire

4. CHAPTER FOUR: ENABLING CREATIVITY

4.1. Simple tactics and methods to develop creativity

Creativity is an essential aspect of learning that helps students gain a positive impact on
learning and makes it fun. Creativity allows individuals to solve daily life problems and
become more productive. Creativity helps improve skills in practical thinking, which is one of
the significant outcomes of a good education.

The sense of desire and imagination are essential words of creativity, as creativity is the desire
of an individual to find creative solutions to any kind of problem through vision. Schools,
including apprenticeship zones are the most suitable area for developing creative thinking and
imagination as humans tend to learn more quickly at a younger age. Hence, developing a
creative mindset in students can be very crucial.

Students tend to learn new things quickly as it is their growing age; hence learning new things
is comparatively more straightforward. Moreover, seeing other students doing creative stuff
can boost the motivation of students to be more creative.

Curiosity often leads to more creative thinking; curious minds are most creative. Creativity
helps in the overall development of any individual, and hence students need to develop an

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innovative and curious mind. The different ways to develop creativity in students are listed
below:

1. Creating learning activities

The administration can arrange various learning activities for the students to improve creative
thinking. Such activities can increase creativity among students on their own and by learning
from other students. These activities make the student more mindful, and becoming more
aware of the environment. Creative writing is a great activity that teachers can give to their
students, and many schools already host such creative writing contests to improve students’
creativity.

2. Teaching various skills that can help them increase creativity

Teaching different skills like teaching how to use new software or knit or many more skills
can boost a student’s creativity; hence, gaining new skills apart from academic teaching can
help develop creativity. Exploring new skills on various opportunities lying in front of the
student that as well help develop a student’s curiosity.

3. Be a good listener
Listening to students’ creative ideas can be very helpful for motivating them. One can be a
good listener by concentrating on the speaker, being comfortable with silence, asking good
questions, and not interrupting the speaker.

4. Reward students
No matter how small, reward the students whenever they present their creative ideas—it
encourages them to think creatively. Verbal praise in front of the class is a good way of
rewarding a student. Rewarding a student boosts their motivation and helps in developing
creative thinking.

5- Giving feedback
Giving feedback to students can boost motivation; hence, feedback is a powerful way to
develop creativity in students. Feedback may include better approaches for the problem,

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giving critical remarks regarding what to do and what not to do, and so on. Good feedback
consists of these four questions:
-What can the student do?
-What can’t the student do?
-How can the student do better?
-How does the student’s work compare with that of others?

6- Giving different angles on their creative work

Expanding a student’s creative idea by giving them your ideas to improve their creativity can
be very effective while developing creativity in students. Students find it challenging to
approach the same problem in different ways; hence, it may hinder developing a creative
mindset. Therefore giving different angles for solving the same problems can help build their
creativity and curiosity.

7- Sharing everyone’s ideas to everyone

Sharing creative ideas with the whole classroom can be helpful as it increases different
perspectives on the same topic. This method can help improve the productivity of the entire
classroom simultaneously, and this method is frequently applied to many institutions already.
When a teacher explains the approaches of all students, the student waits for his turn, which
makes them more enthusiastic and curious as it develops competitive feelings among students.
It results in getting more input from the student developing their creativity.

8. Different approaches for the same real-life problem

Asking the students to use creativity to solve a real-life situation in different ways can help
improve their creativity. Teachers can also provide various methods to solve problems and
creative ideas to open up students’ minds.

4.2. Determining ways to extra develop creative thinking

4.3. Exercises: Individual practical and group review

5. CHAPTER FIVE: Methods and techniques for creating

ideas

 Brainstorming
 Reverse brainstorming
 Sort cards or mind maps
 Sticky notes
 Meta-planning technique
 Determining when to apply each method of idea generation
 Facilitator technique show with group learning review

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6. CHAPTER SIX: Logical versus lateral thinking
6.1. Logical thinking
Usually, logical thinking is used to solve problems in a direct, straightforward way (also
known as vertical thinking). Lateral thinking however, looks at things from a sideways
perspective (also known as horizontal thinking), in order to find answers that aren't
immediately apparent.

The logical thinking definition is analyzing a situation or problem using reason and
coming up with potential solutions. Logical thinkers gather all the information they can,
assess the facts, and then methodically decide the best way to move forward.

What are examples of logical thinking?

Logical thinking requires the use of reasoning skills to study a problem critically, which will
enable you to draw a reasoned decision on how to proceed. Examples of logical thinking: The
Rubik cube. Mathematical puzzles and riddles.

A good example of logical thinking in action is the game of chess. Playing chess involves
working through a sequence of individual steps which take you closer to victory. Each step is
an individual problem to be solved – within the framework of a larger game.

6.2. What is a lateral thinking person?

Lateral thinking—a term first coined by Edward de Bono in 1967—refers to a person's
capacity to address problems by imagining solutions that cannot be arrived at via
deductive or logical means

As an example of lateral thinking, is following a recipe or solving a math problem because

they use logical, straightforward steps. It's best for more complex issues where there isn't an
immediate and simple solution.
Edward de Bono proposed four techniques for lateral thinking: awareness, random
stimulation, alternatives, and alteration. De Bono thought we should first cultivate an
awareness of how our minds process information. Resisting established patterns is the first
step toward greater innovation.

De Bono identifies four critical factors associated with lateral thinking: (1) recognize
dominant ideas that polarize perception of a problem, (2) searching for different ways of
looking at things, (3) relaxation of rigid control of thinking, and (4) use of chance to
encourage other ideas.

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 6.3. What is the advantage of lateral thinking?

Lateral thinking involves an indirect and creative thought process that accelerates many
aspects of life. Lateral thinking is a manner of solving problems using an indirect and creative
approach. It also helps stimulate creativity and innovation and facilitates brainstorming.

6.4. Valuing your strength

Five (5) ways to find out your strengths
 Ask around. A great way to find out more about yourself is to ask people you like,
trust and respect what they think you're best at. ...
 Discover your personality. ...
 Write down what you do. ...
 Look for patterns. ...
 Keep an open mind.

6.5. Boost exercise, short presentation, “message in a bottle” exercise, review

7. CHAPTER SEVEN: Creative problem solving

7.1. Using problem checklist, “go wild” and 5 whys (check for images in presentations)

What is checklist method?

A checklist is a management tool that lists different tasks, activities, and behaviours that
need to be followed to achieve a systematic result

A checklist is a list of all the things that you need to do, information that you want to find out,
or things that you need to take somewhere, which you make in order to ensure that you do not
forget anything. Make a checklist of the tools and materials you will need. [ + of]

Seven (7) Key Steps to Improve Your Problem Solving Skills

 Step 1: Define The Problem. ...

 Step 2: Analyse The Problem. ...
 Step 3: Develop Potential Solutions. ...
 Step 4: Evaluate The Options. ...
 Step 5: Select The Best Option. ...
 Step 6: Implement The Solution. ...

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  Step 7: Measure The Results.

7.2. Exercise: Applying to work related problems

7.3. Exercise: Demonstration of techniques, pairs or trios
7.4. Application: Turning creative ideas into action

7.5. Turning ideas into action

Once you have decided which idea(s) to implement and have a plan, you have to make the
time to make it happen! Getting focused means creating the space and time to turn the idea
into reality. It has to move from the idea stage into action. Focus your energy on making that
happen.

Implementing Your Ideas

 Step One: Define Who Will Be Affected by Your Idea. ...

 Step Two: Think About How It Will Affect Them. ...
 Step Three: Plan "Backward" ...
 Step Four: Evaluate Your Proposal. ...
 Step Five: Ask for Feedback. ...
 Step Six: Start Taking Action. ...
 Step Seven: Focus on the End Result.

Case study

The Six “Gets”

Get Aligned. Whether you are an individual or a part of an organization, there are goals and
objectives in front of you. What are the most important things that you are trying to
accomplish? Having a good idea isn’t enough. The idea must also be relevant and important
to your goals. Ideas that don’t pass this first test should be set aside for later (or never).

Get Clarified. Ideas in their infancy are fun and exciting, but they are seldom complete or
crystal clear. Before taking action on your ideas, make sure you truly understand what is
meant by and involved in the idea and what results you expect. This step is especially
important for ideas that will be implemented by a group, as not everyone will have the same
clear picture of the idea until it is clarified.

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Get Organized. If your idea has passed the first two tests, it is time to plan. Figure out the
implementation steps. Think about the timeline. Put this idea into the larger scope of your
efforts. Time spent in planning and organizing will always pay dividends.

Get Help. You may not be able to turn your idea into reality by yourself. Your planning
should help you see where you might need other experience, insight or another pair of hands.
This is true for teams as well. Think about what resources you will need and work on lining
them up early on. When you do these things your idea will become real much more quickly.

Get Focused. Once you have decided which idea(s) to implement and have a plan, you have
to make the time to make it happen! Getting focused means creating the space and time to
turn the idea into reality. It has to move from the idea stage into action. Focus your energy on
making that happen.

Get Over Them. You may have an idea (or many) that you love. Remember that there is a
big difference between a good idea and the right idea. You may have many good ideas on
your list. For some of them the time isn’t right. Some of them don’t aren’t important enough.
Some won’t be completely aligned with your goals and objectives. That is ok. In order to
implement our best ideas sometimes we must be willing to let go of, or at least defer some
others. When you are willing to do this you improve your chances of implementing the others
you have chosen.

Any one of these suggestions above will be helpful, but when you take them together they
will help you as an individual with your own ideas and priorities; as a leader in sharing and
prioritizing ideas; and as a team to decide what to work on and who should be involved.

Finally, creativity and idea creation requires action before any idea will have real value. These
six ideas can help you take that all important next step on your ideas.

7.6. Exercise: group practical problem solving and creative thinking activities, group
feedback and review

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8. Chapter: The Messy Nature of Creativity
8.1. Determining practices that help promote creativity and innovation

8.2. Differences between concentrating on results and concentrating on good process

8.2.1. Focus on results

Meet with each team member and agree on ambitious, but attainable goals. Get confirmation
from all team members that they are clear on objectives. Promote a positive and enthusiastic
atmosphere. Help every employee become fully engaged in the mission.

Results Focus is a concern for surpassing a standard of excellence. The standard may be
one's own past performance (striving for improvement); an objective measure (achievement
orientation); challenging goals that one has set; or even improving or surpassing what has
already been done (continuous improvement).

Leaders who are focused on results will likely achieve results. Focus on results is
contagious. A leader's attention to priority tasks and a continual focus on what needs to be
done is a model to team members. If the leader is focused, team members will be as well and
the results will be beyond what is expected.

Five (5) Proven Tips For Becoming A Results-Oriented Leader

 Set measurable goals and challenge your team to achieve them.

 Be relentless in pursuing success.
 Encourage healthy competition among your team members.
 Be transparent with your strategy and why you're making certain decisions.
 Lead by example.

One example of a result-oriented leader's behavior might be setting clear and specific goals
for the team, and regularly checking in on progress towards those goals. While doing so, a
result-focused leader demonstrate confidence and clarity.

8.2.2. Focus on the process

It the breakdown of a task into smaller pieces and do one thing at a time. Concentrate on the
first and do it well, and then move on to the next piece. The road to any goal is a matter of
taking one step after the next.
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Some tips of how to improve focus

 Eliminate distractions. ...

 Reduce multitasking. ...
 Practice mindfulness and meditation. ...
 Get more sleep. ...
 Choose to focus on the moment. ...
 Take a short break. ...
 Connect with nature. ...
 Train your brain.

Why is it important to focus on the process?

When you start focusing your attention and energy less on the results but rather on the
processes or the techniques involved you discover that you learn faster, are more successful
and even happier at the outcome. Altogether you gain more in life when you focus on the
process rather than the results.

What is an example of process focus?

Process focus in a factory; these processes might be departments devoted to welding,
grinding, and painting. In an office the processes might be accounts payable, sales, and
payroll. In a restaurant, they might be bar, grill, and bakery. The process focuses on low
volume, high variety products are also called job shop.

8.3. Describe the link between courage, confidence and creativity

9. Chapter: Cultivation of new ideas and solutions

9.1. Applying different brainstorming methods for creating ideas
9.2. Explain the methods that make for successful brainstorming
9.3. Exercise: Determine which idea production tool work best for different situations

Good luck!!!

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