Problem Solving & Creativity

In a world that's changing at breakneck speed, swiftly adapting and thinking outside the box is crucial for effective problem-solving. But what does it really mean to be creative in this context?

Creativity = Innovation + Resourcefulness + Quick-Thinking

These are the elements that come together to define creativity in problem-solving. But how does this play out in real-life situations? Here's a short story I'd like to share!

September 2018, Kolar District, Karnataka, India

It was the last day of our rural camp. Sixty social work students, including myself, were tasked with beautifying four schools in the small villages of Kolar. We were given basic supplies—paints, a few paintbrushes, and full creative freedom. The school compound, newly built, was in dire need of color. This is what they looked like before we got to work.

Under the scorching heat of Kolar, with limited time and resources, we began our task. The most creative in the group had ideas and designs in mind, while the artistic ones picked up brushes to bring those ideas to life. But there was a catch—only a few brushes for 15 enthusiastic students, which left some of us unable to contribute to the task at hand.

We had about an hour or two to complete the wall painting. The brushes were brittle, the paint was running thin, and I was trying to figure out how to make the most of our time. As I scanned the surroundings, I noticed a dumpster filled with discarded supplies—a plastic water bottle, a few toothbrushes, and other odds and ends.

Suddenly, I saw potential. The plastic bottle could be a palette, and the toothbrushes, our makeshift paintbrushes. After rinsing the grimy articles, and cutting the bottles into usable halves, those of us who had been waiting jumped into action.

Within an hour, the school walls looked like this—

This experience taught me a valuable lesson: Sometimes, we don’t have everything we need to get a task done. But that doesn’t mean the task is impossible. Faced with strict deadlines, crucial milestones, or tough clients, we often encounter the "triple constraint" dilemma—time, budget, and scope. Balancing these constraints isn’t easy, but creativity is a powerful tool in navigating them.

There are limits to constraints, but creativity is boundless and available to those willing to test those limits. Is creativity a learnable skill or an intuitive acumen? That’s open to interpretation, and perhaps something we all need to ponder!