SOCS10172GD: Creative Problem Solving Tools Analysis Assignment

This assignment analyzes creative problem-solving (CPS) tools, specifically focusing on divergent and convergent techniques, to address the challenge of saving money as a student. The student identifies the problem and sets a savings goal. The assignment then explores two divergent tools: "Stick 'Em Up" brainstorming, where various ideas are generated and categorized, and forced connection, linking disparate items to spark new solutions. Following divergent thinking, the assignment utilizes convergent tools, including targeting and the POINT (Pluses, Opportunities, Issues, New Thinking) method, to narrow down and evaluate the most effective strategies for achieving the savings goal. The student analyzes different expenses, explores various saving methods, and evaluates the effectiveness of each tool, providing a detailed application of CPS principles to a practical personal finance challenge.

Creative Problem Solving
Content
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Introduction..........................................................................................................................1
Problem Statement...............................................................................................................1
Challenge Statement............................................................................................................1
Divergent Tools...................................................................................................................2
“Stick ‘Em Up” Brainstorming.......................................................................................2
Forced Connection..........................................................................................................4
Convergent Tool..................................................................................................................6
Targeting..........................................................................................................................6
POINT..............................................................................................................................7
Conclusion...........................................................................................................................9

Creative Problem Solving
Introduction
Creative Problem Solving is a technique that is used for generating effective ideas
that can help both personally and professionally. Due to the current needs of attaining
better quality, it is crucial to include creativity in the problem-solving method. Thus, this
can be determined that creative problem solving is a method that is used to address a
problem or challenge with the help of a creative way. The reason that makes the solution
creative is due to the fact that it is not obvious. In this assignment, the main objective is
to learn the application of a different creative problem-solving tool for the identified
problem. There are two types of creative problem-solving tool, which are a divergent tool
and a convergent tool. Both of these tools help in solving a problem in a different way
and the approaches of both these tools are completely different.
Problem Statement
I am a student, who loves traveling. So, I want to save money for my future and
want to start from today. For my initial savings, I have decided on a deadline, which is,
by the end of 2019. I have a habit of spending money on worthless things, thus, this will
be a very difficult task for me.
Challenge Statement
In the current world of inflation and the increase in the living standards of people,
the expenses of each and every person are increasing at a rapid speed. Thus, sticking to a
budget to save money has become very difficult. Also, it is crucial to saving money as it
can become very useful during the time of emergency. Saving money is also very

Creative Problem Solving
important for students. The habit of saving money should be inculcated from an early
stage, but it can be undertaken any time.
Divergent Tools
For treating a problem, it is important to formulate a number of different options,
which can be taken into consideration for addressing the problem. This is known as
divergent thinking, the process of availing and finding a number of options to a particular
problem. Thus, it is crucial that to solve the problem of saving money various different
aspects should be taken into consideration and an effective brainstorming should be
practiced. The most effective practice during the divergent thinking stage is
brainstorming.
“Stick ‘Em Up” Brainstorming
In the process of stick ‘em up brainstorming, various different ideas are formulated,
analyzed and evaluated, by writing the various different options or ideas on a sticky note
and these options are examined to build new ideas or use the earlier ones to address the
problem. This is a speedy process in which a person needs to analyze the minute aspects
too, which can help in solving a problem. This process involves only clustering of
different ideas into various different categories, also the activities like discussion and
judgment are not a part of this process. At the end of this process, it is crucial to
finalizing a list of ideas that can be taken into consideration for solving the problem.
For addressing the problem of saving money, there are a number of aspects on which
ideas have to be brainstormed. They are –

Creative Problem Solving
 Firstly, it is important that a person should analyze their daily routine and identify
the different aspects on which they spend money in a day to day basis. It is crucial
that the person should categorize these expenses into two categories important
and waste. Also, mention the number of times they spend money on different
activities in a day for both important and waste expenses.
 Secondly, it is also crucial that the person makes a separate list of expenses that
include the different things on which they spend the most and it would be a most
difficult task to cut down on such expenses. For example, if a person has a fetish
for shoes and passing a shoe shop without buying a pair is the most difficult thing
to do, then it is crucial that this habit should be tackled in a creative way.
 Thirdly, it is very crucial to make a weekly and a monthly target for saving. This
will help more in the brainstorming process. Also, it is crucial that as the saving
has to be conducted till the end of 2019, deciding a target is very crucial.
 Lastly, all these sticky notes should be stuck in front of the person on a wall or a
board and should be properly categorized into different activities.
The process of stick ‘em up brainstorming is an effective approach as it is flexible
and convenient tool, as every option is evaluated before being implemented. It is due to
this reason that this option works immensely well as there is an availability of different
options, which have been formulated by paying attention to details. For example, money-
saving requires consideration of different aspects and the process of brainstorming helps
in it, by focusing on each and every one of it. I would not have done anything differently,
as this approach covers the smallest aspects, which increases the efficiency level of this
tool. Some of the aspects that should be taken into consideration are –

Creative Problem Solving
 Expenses on stationery.
 Expenses for transportation.
 Expenses on phone calls.
 Expenses on food.
 Expenses on entertainment.
 Expenses on clothing.
 Expenses on useless items.
After the analysis of the various expenses and the formulation of different ideas, it is
crucial that the various different options should be prioritized. It is crucial to evaluate the
various options as this will help in prioritizing the different activities. For example, if
adapting to walking helps in saving more money, then this practice should be followed
with full dedication. In the same way, this will help in analyzing the various different
ideas that are making a negligible contribution but the efforts in conducting them are
immense.
Forced Connection
The forced connection is another divergent tools, in which two items that are
disparate in nature are linked together. The linkage between these two items helps in
formulating new ideas to solve the problem. The process of forced connection completely
depends on external triggers. The person is forced to make a connection between the
external triggers and the problem. It is due to these triggers that people are able to expand
their perspective. This process supports the brainstorming technique by providing new
ideas with the help of linkage.
For example, the different attributes of apple are-

Creative Problem Solving
 It is red in color.
 It has an uneven shape at the top and the bottom.
 It is rich in iron.
 It smells great.
 It has a great amount of juice.
Linking it with the problem statement –
 Like the color red of an apple, there is a sign of danger that hangs on each and
every person who does not save money for an emergency.
 It will be a tough and a struggling task to save money and like the uneven shape
of an apple, the person also has to go through numerous ups and downs.
 The iron in the apple provides strength, in the same way, a strong financial
background offers security.
 It is a great feeling to smell an apple, in the same way, the final feeling of
achieving the goal will be great.
 An apple is immensely juicy, in the same way, to achieve my goal a person has to
swallow every ounce of different opportunities.
Thus, the process of forced connections helps in providing support to the
brainstorming ideas which help in addressing the problem in a better way. The forced
connection tool can be evaluated by identifying the changes that are conducted in the
options finalized in the brainstorming tool. If the forced connection is effectively
supporting the brainstorming options, then the tool has been effectively implemented. I
would have utilized the tool stick’em brainstorming and forced connection

Creative Problem Solving
simultaneously. This tool might not work as it can be difficult for people to make
connections.
Convergent Tool
The process of convergent tool helps in narrowing and selecting the best ideas
that will help in rapidly solving the problem. Thus, in the process of convergent thinking,
the options formulated in the divergent thinking process are narrowed down.
Targeting
During the process of targeting it is crucial that a number of ideas should be included
that help in addressing the problem. So, the various different ideas that can be taken into
consideration to save money, as a student are –
 To adapt to the habit of not making any impulse purchases.
 Try to save on books, by renting them rather than buying them.
 Try to reduce the expenses on any health hazard habits, like smoking and
drinking. Both these habits are bad for health and are extremely expensive too.
 Inculcating the habit of paying bills on time. This will exclude the late charges.
 Try to save on transportation and thus adapt to walking.
 For a student, it is recommended that they should adapt to phone packages, which
are less expensive and fulfill all their requirements. A package that offers the
facility of unlimited messages, a decent internet facility and a specified number of
free calls will be most effective.
 Students should take advantage of their position and thus, shopping at stores that
offer student discount is the best option.

Creative Problem Solving
 Selling those items which are of no use. This will help in making bigger saving
and it is the best option to get rid of waste.
 Summer trips and spring break are very important, but it is better to skip them as
they will help in making a bigger contribution to the mission of saving.
 The student should get into the habit of adapting to free services like finance
budget calculator. It is paramount that the student should regularly track their
expenses, for making changes when needed.
It is due to the different aspects that were brainstormed in the divergent process that
has helped in covering the different aspects, which can help a student to save money.
Thus, this tool works effectively as it utilizes the result of brainstorming tool. Thus, in the
convergent process, it is crucial to use the dot labels to carefully evaluate the
effectiveness of the selected ideas and then prioritize them accordingly. I would have
applied brainwriting tool along with targeting.
POINT
For the evaluation of the different ideas, there is a very effective convergent tool,
which is the POINT. POINT stands for pluses, opportunities, issues, and new thinking.
Pluses
 By adapting to walking, the student will be saving money and will also get
involved in a physical activity that will keep him fit.
 By reducing the expenses on harmful products like smoking and drinking, the
student will adapt a healthy lifestyle.

Creative Problem Solving
 By adapting to free stuff, like free music websites and free study material online,
the student will have the availability of things at any place and anytime in their
gadgets.
Opportunities
 This is a perfect opportunity to adapt to a lifestyle that is healthy.
 The biggest opportunity is utilizing the student discounts that are available at
different places.
Issues
 The main issues will emerge in the initial stage. Also, adapting to the changes will
be very difficult. There is a lifestyle, which student follows like hanging out in a
coffee shop, or on going to unplanned trips. The main issue will arise in
restraining from all such activities.
New Thinking
It is crucial to overcoming emerging issues. Thus, the process of new thinking has to
be conducted. Thus, the new ideas are –
 Scheduling the days in advance is a practice that should be conducted by the
students. This will help them in living an organized life. Also, this is the best way
to prevent from indulging in any unplanned activities.
 Developing a group that has the same objective and thus, supporting each other
through tough times. Also, with the surrounding people having the same
objective, there are chances of newer ideas from everyone, every now and then.

Creative Problem Solving
POINT works effectively because it analyzes different aspects from critical point of
view. This tool can be evaluated by regularly monitoring the increase in the saving. If the
saving are increasing at a constant speed then it is crucial to analyze aspects that can
accelerate it. If rate of saving decreases, then there are certain issues that has to be
addressed. I would have not altered nothing, while implementing this tool.
Conclusion
In the end, this can be concluded that through the various different ideas and the
other new thinking approaches, I will be able to achieve my target of saving a huge
amount of money by the end of 2019, which will help me in fulfilling my passion of
traveling. Also, the saved money will be very helpful during the time of emergency. Both
the creative problem-solving tool has different approaches, but they both works in
collaboration. So, during the complete analysis, even if there are chances of missing
something crucial, it will get identified in the next stage. This is the best attribute of
creative problem-solving.

Creative Problem Solving