How can you evaluate potential solutions in the context of strategic partnerships?

1 What is creative problem solving?

Creative problem solving is a process that involves generating, analyzing, and choosing novel and effective solutions to complex and ill-defined problems. It consists of four main stages: clarifying the problem, generating ideas, developing solutions, and implementing actions. Creative problem solving can help you overcome cognitive biases, assumptions, and constraints that may limit your ability to find optimal solutions.

2 How to generate ideas for strategic partnerships?

One of the first steps in creative problem solving is to generate as many ideas as possible for potential strategic partnerships that can help you achieve your objectives. You can use various techniques to stimulate your creativity, such as brainstorming, mind mapping, SCAMPER, or the six thinking hats. The key is to defer judgment, encourage diversity, and aim for quantity and variety. You can also look for inspiration from successful examples of strategic partnerships in your industry or other sectors.

3 How to evaluate ideas for strategic partnerships?

After generating a large number of ideas, you need to evaluate them and select the most promising ones for further development. You can assess each idea's feasibility, desirability, and viability by considering its alignment with your vision, mission, values, and goals; its fit with your capabilities, resources, and culture; its value to you, your partner, and your customers; the potential risks and challenges associated with it; and its novelty compared to competitors and alternatives. You can use tools such as the SWOT analysis, the PESTEL analysis, or the risk-reward matrix to help you narrow down your options to those that have the highest potential and lowest risk.