Creative Problem Solving (CPS) is a flexible and adaptable process that can help you find innovative solutions to complex challenges. However, not every client has the same needs, goals, and preferences when it comes to solving problems. How can you tailor a CPS strategy to meet a client's specific needs? Here are some tips to consider.
Before you jump into generating ideas, you need to understand the problem from the client's perspective. What are their pain points, expectations, and desired outcomes? How do they define success and failure? What are the constraints and opportunities they face? You can use various tools and techniques, such as interviews, surveys, observation, or SWOT analysis, to gather relevant information and insights about the problem.
To tailor a Creative Problem Solving strategy for a client, start by understanding their unique goals. Conduct a needs assessment to pinpoint challenges. For instance, if a tech company aims to enhance innovation, leverage CPS techniques like brainstorming sessions with interdisciplinary teams. Define the problem clearly and choose methods that align with the client's industry. For example, in healthcare, utilize Six Thinking Hats to analyze diverse perspectives when addressing patient care challenges. Iterate based on client feedback, ensuring a customised approach that directly addresses their specific needs and objectives.
Understanding the real problem is critical for next steps and for designing solution strategy and success measures. Here I would say expand the view of the problem in every perspective you get, avoid focusing on the "object" of the problem only, avoid focusing on the effect only, but observe the observer, try to see with others eyes, try to listen with others ears, try to feel with others hands.
Start by thoroughly understanding the client's specific needs, challenges, and goals. Have detailed discussions with the client to gather all the necessary information and gain a deep understanding of their expectations. Research and gather relevant information about the client's industry, market trends, competitors, and any other factors that may impact the problem at hand. This will help you gain insights and identify potential solutions that are tailored to the client's specific context.
Before thinking up ideas, understand what the client thinks about the problem. Ask them about their issues, expectations, and goals. Use tools like talking to them or surveys. Also, look at the good and not-so-good things (SWOT analysis). Know how they see success and what limits they have.
Whenever we face a problem we often try to opt for the most creative ways to solve the problem. You often hear this is the brainstorming,' Think out of the box', in my view it's equally important to 'think inside the box' first to evaluate if all the possibilities in control are checked thoroughly or not. Not all problems need out of the box approach, some can be surely solved with simple views, and perspectives
CPS is not a one-size-fits-all method. There are different approaches and models that you can use, depending on the nature and scope of the problem. For example, you can use the Osborn-Parnes model, which consists of six stages: mess-finding, data-finding, problem-finding, idea-finding, solution-finding, and acceptance-finding. Alternatively, you can use the FourSight model, which focuses on four thinking preferences: clarifier, ideator, developer, and implementer. You can also mix and match elements from different approaches to create your own customised CPS strategy.
Three things to remember: ? Problem solving by humans is essentially an iterative process. Our understanding of both the problem and the solution evolves as we work on it. So do not assume that the first solution is always the best one. ? Willingness to experiment and an open mind are essential for creative approaches to meet a client's needs. Best interests of the client have to be kept in focus, without ego or biases getting in the way. ? My dad gave me some simple but insightful advice - he said always write down the problem and your options. The process of writing things down brings clarity in our minds and engages our intuition. Sounds too simple, but simple things are often the most powerful ?? Hope this helps!
Picking the right way to solve problems creatively is super important. There's no one-size-fits-all method. You can use different models depending on the problem. You can also mix and match parts from different ways to create your own strategy. This helps to be flexible and solve all kinds of problems.
Match the approach to the problem type - analytical, creative, design thinking, etc. Consider biases, assumptions, and mental models that may limit options. There are always multiple ways to tackle a problem. Advice: "Creativity is just connecting things. When you ask creative people how they did something, they feel a little guilty because they didn't really do it, they just saw something." - Steve Jobs Learn: Whole brain thinking, lateral thinking techniques, solving techniques by problem type
Break down the problem into its core components and analyze each one individually. Identify the root causes and underlying factors that contribute to the problem. This analysis will help you develop a comprehensive understanding of the situation and guide your problem-solving approach.
To tailor a Creative Problem Solving strategy for a client, first analyze their mission statement to understand their core values and objectives. Incorporate these insights to ensure the strategy aligns with their vision, emphasizing innovative solutions that resonate with their goals. This approach ensures the problem-solving process is deeply connected to what the client stands for, leading to more meaningful and effective outcomes.
One of the key principles of CPS is to involve the client in the problem-solving process. This way, you can ensure that the client is engaged, committed, and satisfied with the solution. You can involve the client in various ways, such as asking for feedback, inviting them to brainstorming sessions, or co-creating prototypes. By involving the client, you can also leverage their knowledge, experience, and perspective to enrich the solution.
The client is most situations, and often times the stakeholders are crucial when solving or implementing a solution to a problem (business problem). Not only it helps in keeping the communication channels open, but also helps gather feedback to pivot and recalibrate as necessary, to address the problem efficiently and effectively. There are strategic and tactical ways; in any case involvement of the client is beneficial, when the solution is progressing in positive or negative path.
One of the core principles that guide our problem-solving process at Sydani is that we involve the client from the get-go. The client gets to be a part of our inaugural design workshop and strategy session where we co-design the solution that meets the client's expectations. We also have regular check-ins with the client to ensure an ongoing feedback loop where necessary adjustments and refinements are made as needed. This has been a game-changer for us.
One thing I have found that helps is involving clients and stakeholders in process as early as possible, to establish the confidence and trust. Even if your approach is at the level zero, you should communicate your thoughts on how you are approaching about it. Often problems get solved , but in the process sometimes relationships , trusts , business confidence are impacted. So it's equally important to solve the problem the holistically
Clients have key insights you lack. Co-creation builds buy-in and gets you out of your own limited headspace. But don't make them do the work - facilitate creatively engaging their input. Advice: "No matter how brilliant your mind or strategy, if you’re playing a solo game, you’ll always lose out to a team." - Reid Hoffman Learn: Co-creation workshops, engagement techniques, roles in creative sessions
Encourage and facilitate brainstorming sessions with your team or the client to generate a wide range of creative ideas and potential solutions. Encourage thinking outside the box and consider different perspectives to come up with innovative approaches that address the client's specific needs.
Once you have generated and selected a potential solution, you need to test and refine it to make sure that it meets the client's needs and expectations. You can use various methods, such as experiments, simulations, or pilot projects, to test the solution in a realistic setting. You can also use various criteria, such as feasibility, desirability, or viability, to evaluate the solution. Based on the results, you can modify, improve, or discard the solution until you find the best one for the client.
Evaluate each potential solution based on its feasibility, alignment with the client's requirements, and potential impact. Prioritize the solutions that are most likely to meet the client's specific needs and deliver the desired outcomes. Consider the client's constraints, resources, and timeline when making decisions.
No solution is worth it's meat that hasn't been put to the test. The pilot deployment of the solution is the initial introduction of the prototype in a real-world setting to measure the need, use and impact. The data gathered during this phase will become the trigger for necessary modifications or improvements to make the solution better.
Testing with real users reveals flaws and opportunities early, when you can still pivot. Build prototyping and rapid iteration into your process. Be willing to kill your darlings. Advice: "I don't care how early adopters you are, you need to validate your product first." - Satya Nadella
Evaluate each potential solution based on its feasibility, alignment with the client's requirements, and potential impact. Prioritize the solutions that are most likely to meet the client's specific needs and deliver the desired outcomes. Consider the client's constraints, resources, and timeline when making decisions.
The final step of CPS is to communicate and implement the solution to the client. You need to present the solution in a clear, concise, and convincing way, highlighting its benefits, features, and value. You also need to provide the client with a detailed plan of action, including the steps, resources, and timeline for implementing the solution. You can use various tools and techniques, such as reports, presentations, or demonstrations, to communicate and implement the solution.
Communication of the solution must happen in every step of the problem resolution and must be ongoing. Communication is not one time task and is crucial for keeping the client and/or stakeholders informed. Implementing the solution to be successful is to be done in a systematic fashion with a detailed breakdown of stages involved along with a backout plan in case the implementation does not go as planned and successfully. This backout plan is also referred to in certain situations as kill switch. In my experience, the solution had to be rolled back due to unforeseen issues which snowball into major issues.
Bring stakeholders along in each phase so the solution doesn't seem to come out of the blue. Make sure they understand the why behind it. Plan a strong communication strategy for rollout. Advice: “If you can’t explain it to a six year old, you don’t understand it yourself.” ― Albert Einstein Learn: Stakeholder communication, change management, project management basics
Even after you have implemented the solution, your CPS strategy is not over. You need to monitor and follow up with the client to ensure that the solution is working as intended and delivering the desired results. You can use various metrics and indicators, such as feedback, satisfaction, or performance, to measure the impact and effectiveness of the solution. You can also provide the client with ongoing support, guidance, or advice to help them sustain and improve the solution.
Governence is the soul of every process. So it's wise to put a close monitoring control steps to ensure your solution is on the right track. I have seen , in some cases a rigid governence becomes the primary hurdle in the process of the solution, hence it's equally important to ensure the 'the intent' of the governance framework is enable the process to success and not otherwise
Tracking solution effectiveness provides accountability and learning. Build in ongoing feedback loops and optimization. Be ready to course correct quickly if needed. Advice: "It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent. It is the one most adaptable to change." - Charles Darwin Learn: Data dashboards, A/B testing, agile methodologies, pivot techniques
One other thing to consider is to start with a design thinking workshop where user-centred principles are utilized to develop a prototype that actually connects to the pain point of the users and can even improve on the initial idea of the client. I mean that's why we are consultants. We go where even clients don't know to go.
Immerse yourself in the client's world. Collaborate broadly. Stay nimble. Listen more than you speak. Make it visual and tangible when possible. Have fun! Advice: “Creativity is just connecting things. When you ask creative people how they did something, they feel a little guilty because they didn't really do it, they just saw something.” – Steve Jobs Learn: Design thinking, visual thinking, business immersion, facilitation skills, creative culture