Creative Problem Solving

Connect learning to your work

A practical place
to begin.

Open up the problem before choosing the answer

A familiar solution can narrow a team's thinking before the problem is fully understood. This Skill Lab explores how to describe who is affected, what they need and which constraint may have been assumed. It then moves from generating distinct options to choosing a small test that can provide useful information.

Imagine an illustrative team that wants another meeting because updates keep getting missed. Examine the underlying need: people may need a reliable decision record rather than more shared time. Develop alternatives that address that need in different ways, such as a clearer handoff, a concise written update or a change in ownership. Avoid judging every idea only by how closely it resembles the current process.

Compare and test thoughtfully

Choose criteria related to the problem, including effort, accessibility and the effect on other people. Select a modest experiment and state what it should help you learn. Review the result before treating the idea as a permanent solution. This practice gives creativity a practical destination: an option worth examining and a decision that can be informed by experience. It does not require a special brainstorming tool or an assumption that novelty is always better.

Topics to explore

Your learning focus.

Start where you are

Who it’s for.

Professionals and teams improving a process or solving a work problem

Bring a workplace situation you want to approach differently. We can discuss your experience, priorities and the support that would be useful before agreeing on delivery.

Learning that fits your context

Explore your online options.

Ask about live online, self-paced or blended online learning. The available approach, content scope and schedule are agreed for your request.

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