Critical Evaluation of Creative Thinking Skills

This report analyzes the importance of creative thinking skills in business development, using Drax Group plc as a case study. It explores individual creative thinking skills, barriers to creativity, and effective problem-solving techniques, providing recommendations for fostering a culture of innovation within organizations.

Critical Evaluation of
Creative Thinking skills

Table of Contents
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.............................................................................................................1
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
ANALYSIS......................................................................................................................................2
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
RECOMMENDATION...................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This report provides a critical analysis on how creative thinking skills helps in increasing
operational efficiency, performance and productivity of the company. Creativity is a broader
concept and the first step towards innovation. Creative thinking means bringing new and creative
ideas, skills and thoughts in different areas of interest to perform task effectively. Various
effective tools can be implemented to judge the capabilities of learning and helps achieve goals
of the organization by optimally utilizing the resources. Organisation uses different techniques to
motivate employees to be more creative at their work place. Stage Model theory is implemented
by DRAX to motivate their employees. Various characteristics of creativity and skills are
executed which helps in sustainable growth of the business. Creating and innovating some new
concept helps in solving and directing the creative value for future use. Techniques such as brain
writing helps them in panning the ideas and implementing them which leads to higher results and
outcomes. It has been analysed that, creative thinking is based on individual personality traits,
knowledge and cognitive style which leads to sustainable growth and success of Drax by
encouraging new ideas and thoughts of the individuals.
INTRODUCTION
Creative thinking means finding an innovative and creative way to do something out of
the box. Creative people have capability to devise new ways of doing a particular task and helps
in solving problems and meet challenges effectively and efficiently which leads to higher
operation efficiency, performance and productivity (Creative Thinking Definition, Skills, and
Examples, 2019). Creativity is the process of turning imaginative and new ideas into reality. On
the other hand, innovation is the process of implementing improved ideas which creates more
value for the business. Creativity and innovation are related and creativity is a broader concept
and the first step towards innovation (WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CREATIVITY
AND INNOVATION?, 2019). This study will critically evaluate modern day perspective which
leads organization to promote creative thinking in group of individuals which leads to higher
sustainable growth and development. Drax group plc is an electrical power generation company
which was founded in the year 2005. It mainly deals in electrical power and the by-products of
power products. Drax group plc aim at sanctioning zero carbon and reduced cost energy future.
Drax power station is one of the biggest renewable generator in United Kingdom. The main issue
faced by Drax plc is that the power station emits dust particles which adversely impact the
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environment. This study also critically evaluate development of individual /group creative
thinking skills and the characteristics that drive individual creativity in relation with Drax group
plc. This study also critically analyse individual barriers to creativity and how these problems
can be solved using effective theories and techniques. Lastly, it also includes conclusion and
effective recommendation for higher operational efficiency which leads to sustainable growth
and development of the company.
ANALYSIS
Analysis of Individual creative thinking skill Tools and theory:
Creative thinking means creating some new ideas in the form of thoughts, skills and
knowledge in different interest of fields. As every individual are creative but they show their
creative in many ways. Innovation is differed from creativity in many ways but the common
relation between them is focus is the main aspect which is needed in both to apply in
organisation (Creative Thinking Skills, 2019). Creativity is related to imagination i.e. imagine
various thoughts and ideas and implementing them for the fresh start as it involves less risk to
fulfil it. However, in case of innovation it is related to Implementation as if new ideas are not
implemented at that certain time it adopted by different person and they take patent for it.
To enhance the creativity of individual in every organisation there are various tools
which is to be implemented to judge the capabilities of learning and make it possible to achieve
goals (Mumford and et.al., 2017). Mind mapping is the tool that is used by the organisation to
examine the thinking of the employees and individual engaged with the company. Due to daily
activities in work they came across with many ideas regarding work improvement, task to be
achieved in different ways and to achieve target while working as a team. Organisation
encourage their employees to discus their plans and implement them to bring new and innovative
concepts in the market. Changes in Perspective is also an important tool to engage individuals
into creative thinking (Apino and Retnawati, 2017). As positive thoughts always welcome new
and fresh ideas in mind and to look that matters in different way helps them to make it more
successful.
Organisation uses different techniques to motivate employees to be more creative at their
work place. They give opportunities to look their surroundings and environment and manage to
analyse the changes which are needed to develop in their concept of working (Howard, Tang and
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Austin, 2015). As in case of DRAX, They had to motivate their employees by thinking in
different way to achieve targets in unique way. This can be possible by proving proper training
to employees to be innovate at their working places and change the condition of environment in
the best way.
As the Wallas Stage Model theory it tells the creative thinkers at 5 stages to interpret their
thinking. Preparation is the first stage which is used to collect the ideas and thoughts that came
from individual minds at the time of coming across certain issues. Incubation is where all ideas
run in the mind and they can't incubate the proper idea to execute. Intimation is somehow related
to the felling that individual minds while implementing the ideas (Birgili, 2015). Insight stages
boost the individual that they are going on the right track and go ahead with that ideas. And Last
one is Verification which verifies that ideas are properly verifies and evaluated and they are
ready to be implemented for the greater future success. This theory is also implemented by
DRAX to motivate their employees towards this Application and used it saves the economy of
the country (Forawi, 2016). The circumstances which occurs in DRAX is that it related to power
saving company and they always need new techniques to save the environment from low cost
energy for future perspective. By looking at this situation they engaged in bring new creative
skill's and ideas to save the nature as zero carbon fuel. Education, Learning and training are the
best opportunists DRAX company have in relation to employees as they can achieve the target
and can take risk in market for better future development. Limitation can be in respect of not
providing proper training regarding the utilization of resources.
Examination of characteristics of Individual creativity:
To examine the skills of individual in the DRAX company, various characteristics of
creativity and skills are executed to make it achievable in the business. First one is related to
cognitive style which based on insights process as they have the strong feeling to execute the
ideas (DeWaelsche, 2015). While at the time of making it they are aware about the changes and
risk which may occurs which result in conscious awareness of the individual mind.
Personal traits represent the theory as if the people who are of artistic background and
had interests in creativity and bringing new ideas in the products and design to bring new identity
represent the personal interest in the working. This helps the organisation to develop new
concept and innovate new products to change the previous identity. These techniques motivate
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the employee's knowledge and decision making power to bring new changes in the DRAX
working procedure (Aizikovitsh-Udi and Cheng, 2015). Motivation plays an active role in
achieving employees trust and more productivity in the company. To bring new changes in
business motivate employees to achieve target and bring new ideas in the market are the major
criteria. Creative is hidden talent which is established in every individual to bring them out,
motivation is important for employees to bring the talent from them.
Knowledge is unique for different field as every individual has different knowledge and
skills to implement the ideas and they applied in different way (Duran and Dökme, 2016).
DRAX company is also engaged with many employees and had many departments to save
nature. They use different knowledge and skills to operate in environment and operational
activities in internal procure.
Application
To evaluate this concept it helps the DRAX to sustain their company in the emerging
market and helps them to grow their business and save resource for future use. Employee posses
these skills if they are properly guided by the organisation and they appoint an appropriate
trainer to trained them. The situation when these skills are utilized when company is suffering
losses and risk in the environment (Yang, 2015). Gaps exist when employees have to work as a
team to achieve goal and every individual have different thinking to conduct the work this result
in cultivating the individual characteristic in different way.
Individual Barriers to Creativity:
As per Amold theory they describe various individual berries which reflect to bring their
skills in the organisation. As to bring never ending or perpetual changes in the organisation
employees are least interested to commit hard work for the same changes (Cause and Effect:
Barriers to Creativity and Innovation, 2019). They feel useless to work for the same product and
develop new ideas to bring changes in the product. As cultural difference is also a big issue
which results in barriers in the organisation. As individual scant work with other culture people
and not ready to accept the new ideas which develop the productivity in the company. As
cultural difference runs from the ancient times and its affect the skills and creativity of the
individual as well. Emotional is also one of the barriers which affect the individuals to bring their
skills and share with the senior person in the organisation. As juniors inn the organisation usually
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not discuss their issue with the senior in case if they reject the creativity of the employees and
they feel embarrassed to face such issues.
Application
In DRAX company they exit in respect of emotional characteristics which the employees faces
while using interpreting with their employees. They can present this measure by giving powers
to employee to take the decision and bring new skill and ideas to change the environment and
company resources to promote the product (Fuad and et.al., 2017). In the cases of bring new
ideas such as relation to prevention of dust article they can take ideas from employees to prevent
such measure and bring new ideas to secure the nature.
Creative Problem Solving:
As CPC concept is set to develop new ideas and solutions to the issue based on its
thinking styles and implementing it to solve in different manner. It helps the individual to first
focus on their minds and then evaluate the ideas to changes the concept in new and better way. It
promoted the individual to implement their ideas as without implementing they not came to
know the results of their product. So this concept is relevant for the individual to promote the
product and bring new ideas in business.
As Foster creativity under Wallas perspectives they provide guidelines to employer to
tolerate the mistakes of employees, this motivates them to bring new ideas or implement the
changes which is useful for the business (Totterdill and Exton, 2017). They should be supportive
and trained their employees to be positive while innovating new ideas in the product. The
structured way to use this technique is planning, executing and implementing the new ideas and
creativity in the organisation. Some techniques such as brain writing helps them in panning the
ideas and implementing them soon. Attribute listening is related to learning the changes which
organisation to be developed in their previous product.
Application
Yes, this is useful for DRAX in respect of the attribute listening to employees as
development of their theory to save the environment and maintain the economy.
Design Thinking:
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It not only concept of creating and innovating some new concept but also solving and
directing the creative value for future use. It uses to design problems form small scale to large
scale organisation (Totterdill, Dhondt and Boermans, 2016). It describes by collaborating data
from initial stage i.e. observation stage and then collaborate the further data according to the
situation.
Application
Yes this is used in DRAX company as various employees provide different ideas
regarding the same concept which is to be implemented to make it for better use (Dhondt and
et.al., 2017).
CONCLUSION
From the above study it has been summarized that, creative thinking means bringing new
and creative ideas, skills and thoughts in different areas of interest to perform task effectively
which leads to long term sustainable growth of the company. Drax aim at encouraging
employees of the organization to bring in new ideas, insights and thoughts for more success of
the business. It also includes that, Drax plc aim at bringing innovative and creative ideas into the
organization by implementing and adapting new technologies which helps in low carbon
emission and low cost of energy for future perspective. It has been analysed that, creative
thinking is based on individual personality traits, knowledge and cognitive style. It has been
concluded that, Drax aims at sustainable growth of the company by protecting resources for the
future use. It has been analysed and evaluated that there are various individual barriers to
creativity like cultural barriers, emotional barriers, intellectual, knowledge barrier, strategic
barriers. Every individual has different values, emotions, perception, thoughts and feelings which
act as a barrier to individual creativity. Further, Drax plc respect emotional barrier and give them
power to bring in new ideas and skills which helps in taking strategic decision which effectively
leads to sustainable growth and development of the company. It further highlights ways to
creatively solve the problem using CPS concept which helps in developing creative thinking
skills in the individual. Various effective techniques used are brain writing; attribute listing and
design thinking which helps in creatively solving problem which leads to higher operational
efficiency.
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RECOMMENDATION
Creative people have capability to devise new ways of doing a particular task which helps
in effectively solving problems and meet challenges of the organization which leads to higher
sustainable growth and helps Drax in maintaining competitive advantage (Creativity and
Innovation: Your Keys to a Successful Organization, 2017). Creative thinking skills helps in
looking at the problem from creative perspective which helps in achieving organizational goals.
Creative thinking skills helps in creating diverse work group with freedom of expression in the
organization by encouraging thoughts and insights of each employee in Drax plc. It should also
use CPS Osbourne Parnes as a training programme to creativity solve the problem which leads
to higher results and outcomes. This model helps in effectively understanding the problem,
generating ideas and implementing the action plan. In case of any, problem all individuals in the
organization should come together to effectively solve the problem which leads to higher
operational efficiency (Creative Thinking Definition, Skills, and Examples, 2019).
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REFERENCES
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Apino, E. and Retnawati, H., 2017, February. Developing instructional design to improve
mathematical higher order thinking skills of students. In Journal of Physics: Conference
Series (Vol. 812, No. 1, p. 012100). IOP Publishing.
Birgili, B., 2015. Creative and critical thinking skills in problem-based learning environments.
DeWaelsche, S.A., 2015. Critical thinking, questioning and student engagement in Korean
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Dhondt, S. and et.al., 2017. Five Steps to Develop Workplace Innovation. In Workplace
Innovation. (pp. 301-319). Springer, Cham.
Duran, M. and Dökme, İ., 2016. The effect of the inquiry-based learning approach on student’s
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Education. 12(12). pp.2887-2908.
Forawi, S.A., 2016. Standard-based science education and critical thinking. Thinking Skills and
Creativity. 20. pp.52-62.
Fuad, N.M. and et.al., 2017. Improving Junior High Schools' Critical Thinking Skills Based on
Test Three Different Models of Learning. International Journal of Instruction. 10(1).
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Howard, L.W., Tang, T.L.P. and Austin, M.J., 2015. Teaching critical thinking skills: Ability,
motivation, intervention, and the Pygmalion effect. Journal of Business Ethics. 128(1).
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Mumford, M.D. and et.al., 2017. Cognitive skills and leadership performance: The nine critical
skills. The Leadership Quarterly. 28(1). pp.24-39.
Totterdill, P. and Exton, R., 2017. Creating the bottom-up organisation from the top: Leaders as
enablers of workplace innovation. In Workplace Innovation. (pp. 189-207). Springer,
Cham.
Totterdill, P., Dhondt, S. and Boermans, S., 2016. Your guide to workplace innovation. Brussels:
European Workplace Innovation Network (Euwin).
Yang, Y.T.C., 2015. Virtual CEOs: A blended approach to digital gaming for enhancing higher
order thinking and academic achievement among vocational high school
students. Computers & Education. 81. pp.281-295.
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