CREATIVITY and

CREATIVE THINKING

Creativity= new ideas, concepts, doing things in a way hitherto not done.- it is a resource of high competitive value.

- it is sth novel (new), has superior value.- it happens through a process that is either conscious or unconscious

insight.-It is conceiving original and unique alternatives to the solution of existing

problems.John Mee:

“Creative thinking is the process of bringing a problem before one’s mind clearly as by imagining, visualizing, supposing, musing, contemplating, or the like, and then originating an idea, concept, realization, or picture along new or unconventional lines. It involves study and reflection rather than action.”

Creativity and Innovation

Creativity1. It is the ability to bring sth

new into existence.2. Emphasizes the ability, not

the activity of bringing sth new into existence.

3. It is conceiving a new idea and envisioning how that idea will be useful.

4. It is the prerequisite to innovation.

Innovation1. It is the process of doing

new things.2. It is the transformation of

creative ideas into useful applications.

3. Ideas have little value until they are converted into new products, services, or processes.

Components of Creativity1. Conceptual Fluency: it is the ability to generate a large number of

relevant ideas relatively rapidly with reference to a given problem/solution/issue under consideration.

2. Conceptual Flexibility: it is the ability to shift perspectives/viewpoints, to move from one frame of reference to another, and to change or vary the approaches to solutions to problems.

3. Originality: it is the ability to produce unusual, novel answers to questions, responses to problems and interpretations of issues, situations and events.

4. Complexity Orientation: it is the ability to challenge, and find meaning in complex and ambiguous problems/solutions, and to enjoy the efforts to analyze, integrate, clarify and resolve them.

5. Imagination: it is an addition to new idea. Must be able to combine imagination with knowledge.

6. Perseverance.

7. Tolerance: need to tolerate uncertainty, complexity and disorder, etc.

8. Confidence and Courage.

9. Optimism.

Stages of Creative Process1. Idea Generation : it is mostly referred to an individual’s interest or

curiosity about a specific problem or area of study.,2. Preparation: involves developing a clear understanding of what one

wants to achieve through a novel idea, how to put the new idea into practice.

3. Incubation: process of reflective thought and is often conducted subconsciously. It involves putting the problem on the back burner, but the problem still simmers in one’s mind, but it is not at the forefront of one’s attention.

4. Illumination (Insight): occurs when the idea resurfaces as a realistic creation. May be triggered by an opportune incident.

5. Verification: verifying the idea as realistic and useful. It requires consciously thinking about the occurred new idea and subjecting it to evaluation and experimentation.