creative-problem-solving

Creative Problem-Solving

Generate breakthrough solutions using structured creativity techniques matched to problem type. Forward-looking, divergent thinking — complements critical-intuition (backward-looking, convergent).

When to Use / Not Use

Use when:

• Conventional approaches have failed and you need fresh thinking
• Breaking through mental blocks on a project
• Strategic decisions involving competitors, stakeholders, or incentive dynamics
• First-principles analysis of whether the problem itself is the right one to solve
• Generating diverse alternatives with trade-offs

Do NOT use when:

• Analyzing or critiquing existing ideas -> use critical-intuition
• Detecting bias in evidence or proposals -> use critical-intuition
• Making a final decision between known options -> use prioritization
• Pattern recognition in data -> use critical-intuition

Decision Tree

What type of problem are you solving?
├── Stuck in conventional thinking / mental block
│   └── Lateral Thinking -> random entry, provocation, escape assumptions
├── Need systematic exploration of solution space
│   └── SCAMPER + Morphological Analysis -> structured ideation
├── Strategic or competitive problem
│   ├── Incentives/misaligned actors -> Game Theory -> Nash equilibrium, incentive alignment
│   └── Fundamental constraints -> First Principles -> question everything assumed
├── Organizational/team dynamics
│   └── Systems Thinking -> feedback loops, leverage points, second-order effects
├── Choosing between generated options
│   └── Decision Frameworks -> expected value, Pareto optimization, reversibility test
└── Need to evaluate existing ideas, not generate new ones?
    └── Use critical-intuition instead

Five-Step Process

Step 1: Deep Understanding

Extract the real problem beneath the stated one:

• What is the stated problem vs. the underlying goal?
• What constraints are real vs. assumed (ghost constraints)?
• Who are the stakeholders and what do they want?
• What happens if we do nothing?