Creativity, Creative Thinking, and the Osborn-Parnes Creative Problem Solving Process
Creativity and creative thinking are pivotal components in the modern landscape of problem-solving. They form the backbone of innovation, allowing individuals and organisations to navigate the complexities of contemporary challenges. The Osborn-Parnes Creative Problem Solving Process (CPS) is a systematic framework that revolutionises our approach to creative endeavours.
Traditionally, creativity has been shrouded in mystique, often viewed as a spontaneous burst of insight available only to the “gifted” few. However, creativity is not confined to the arts or the inherently talented; it is a cognitive process that can be harnessed in virtually any context. Creative thinking is the deliberate generation of ideas and concepts that are new and valuable, and it can be systematically cultivated through practice and technique.
Alex Osborn, an advertising executive, and Sid Parnes, an academic, collaboratively developed the CPS process, a structured approach to generating and implementing innovative solutions. This process is central to understanding creative thinking in action.
The Phases of CPS
Objective Finding: Identifying the goal or challenge. This stage is about understanding the desired outcome and recognising the need for a solution.
Fact Finding: Collecting data. Here, the focus is on gathering relevant information that will inform the understanding of the problem.
Problem Finding: Defining the problem. It involves looking at the challenge from various angles to identify the core problem.Idea Finding: Generating solutions. This phase involves brainstorming and divergent thinking to produce various possible solutions.
Solution Finding: Developing the solution. Ideas are refined, evaluated, and developed into workable solutions in this phase.
Acceptance Finding: Gaining buy-in. This final stage addresses the solution’s practicalities, including planning and persuading stakeholders.
The universality of the CPS model allows its application across different fields, from education to business and even personal life. For instance, in education, teachers can use CPS to foster a creative mindset in students, encouraging them to think beyond standard conventions. In business, leaders can apply the CPS framework to innovate products, services, and processes, staying ahead in competitive markets.
CPS is a powerful reminder that creativity is not a sporadic, uncontrollable force but a disciplined process that can be managed and optimised. By adopting the CPS model, we can demystify and democratise creativity, making it an accessible and practical tool for everyone. It empowers individuals and teams to confront problems confidently and produce transformative solutions.
The Osborn-Parnes CPS process is a testament to the structured nature of creativity. It encourages the generation of novel and valuable ideas and provides a pathway to bring them to fruition. In a world where the only constant is change, embracing such a process is beneficial and essential. It equips us with the means to harness our collective creative potential to innovate, adapt, and excel.
Join us at ACRE28, Africa’s Premier Creativity and Creative Thinking Conference in 2024 at Klein Kariba, South Africa! https://acreconference.com
