Designing and Using the Idea Box for Creative Thinking - Essay Example

?EVALUATING THE IDEA BOX CREATIVITY TECHNIQUE By Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 Evaluating the Idea Box Creativity Technique Introduction Everyone wishes to be creative in his or her undertakings. Additionally, organizations appreciate those employees who are creative since they can aid in finding solutions for organization problems. Creativeness entails learning how to manage ones thinking. Creativity is crucial for personal as well as organizational development since it enables individuals to strengthen their abilities enhancing teamwork and overall productivity. Moreover, creativity is a technique that can be learned. The idea box is a creativity technique used to explore new ideas as well as options. The idea box technique works by nudging the thinker to enhance creative thinking and come up with apposite solutions. I choose the idea box techniques because I have used it in the past. Additionally, the technique enables one to play with different ideas as well as possibilities before coming up with a solution. This ensures that the root of the problem is identified and the most appropriate solution applied. Additionally, brainstorming makes this method appealing, since it does not include any predetermined approaches. Therefore, it makes it possible to deal with the problem conclusively without making assumptions. This paper focuses on the use of idea box creative technique in enhancing business performance. The paper will make use of a personal experience to describe the procedure followed while developing and using an idea box to come up with a solution. Additionally, the benefits and shortcomings of using the idea box will be identified. Overview of the Idea Box Technique The Idea box is a morphological analysis technique that was invented by Fritz Zwicky. The technique enables a person to examine all the relationships in comprised in multidimensional problems. Additionally, the idea box helps in generation of ideas. By using the idea box, one generates multiple ideas, which can be combined in different ways to produce different creations. Having several combinations increases the chances of obtaining a workable combination. Designing and Using the Idea Box for Creative Thinking My brother Alex owns a coffee retail shop, which has three coffee outlets. When he initially opened the business, the number of customers grew rapidly since there were no coffee retail shops in the neighborhood. The business activities include roasting of coffee beans, sale of coffee beverages and other soft drinks, as well as sale of snacks. After operating his business for some time, another retailer opened a coffee shop a few meters from one of my brother’s outlets. This was a threat to Alex’s business since some of the clients started switching to the newly opened coffee retail shop. I was one of Alex employees and he sought my assistance in developing a way to prevent the loss of customers. Additionally, he wanted a solution that would enable his business attract new customers. We thus decided to use the idea box to come up with possible ways of attracting new customers and retaining the existing ones. To develop the idea box we followed a number of steps. To generate the idea box, you have to identify your objectives. The next step is to identify the parameters of the problem. After identifying the different parameters, one makes a list of variations. This is followed by combining the different variations and examining the different outcomes (Desaeyere, n.d.). We analyzed the problem and wrote it as the caption of the idea box. The idea was to improve performance of the retail business to retain the existing and attract new customers. We realized that there were quite a number of factors that we hindering maximum performance in the retail business. We thus identified the different areas that required to be analyzed. The areas identified were those that determined the performance of a retail business. After analyzing the problem, we came up with four parameters and entered them in the first column of the idea box. We decided to work with four parameters to avoid complexity. Additionally, we tried to select parameters that were independent of one another. To come up with these parameters, we asked ourselves some questions. One question was the possible strategies that we could use to market the retail business. The next question was how we could measure the performance of the business to see if it was growing. We also considered way in which we could assess the level of satisfaction amongst the customers. Another question was the ways we could use to ensure constant performance. The next step involved determining all the possible attributes for each of the parameter. For each parameter, we decided to use five attributes. In case marketing strategies, we considered the most cost effective ways that we would use to attract new customers or making the retail business appear more appealing than our competitor does. On the performance measure, we considered the different ways that could be used to assess how the different departments were performing. This was crucial in establishing the areas that required changes (Sefertzie, 2000; United Nations, 2009). The next parameter was on how we could assess the level of customer satisfaction, which was crucial in determining how we could identify the needs of our customers and address them effectively. The next parameter was on constant improvement. In this case, we sought for attributes that could be used to ensure that the business operation were expanding and becoming more efficient. After analyzing each of the parameters, we inserted the different attributes we had come up with on the rows below each parameter. For every parameter, we brainstormed and came up with five alternatives. The next step entailed determining the different combinations. We did this by picking different attributes and combining them. We considered each combination to be a possible solution to the problem. This involved choosing different ideas randomly and combining them to create new possibilities. While combining, we would pick an attribute affecting each parameter and combine them. We considered each combination to be a potential solution. We would assess how the combination affected the challenge facing the business. After making several combinations, we started evaluating the different combinations to examine their suitability and technical feasibility. In the process, we would eliminate some combinations. At the end, we were left with a few combinations from which we choose the most appropriate combination, which would offer a solution to the problem. This was crucial since it enabled us to come up with an ideal solution (Michalko, 2011). Improving the Performance for a Coffee Retail Business Marketing Strategies Performance measures Assessing Customer Satisfaction Constant Improvement 1. Packaging Quality Customer feedback Employee training 2. Advertisement Visit to buy ratio Assess competition Customer analysis 3. Promotion Stock transactions Loyalty measure Unique products 4. Social Media Daily transactions Behavioral measures Customer Relations 5. Service quality improvement Customer conversion ratio Customer expectations Service hours extension After assessing the different combinations, we found the most appropriate combination to be service quality improvement, daily transactions, customer feedback, and employee training. The selection was made by identifying the most appropriate attributes for each of the parameters. The combination provoked a design that would ensure that the customers’ needs were identified and addressed. By improving the service quality, we would be able to retain the existing customers. Word of mouth recommendation is a crucial marketing strategy in retail business (DTI, 2005; Lifton & Lynch, 2006). We realized that by improving the quality of our services, our products will become popular and appreciated by our customers who would recommend others to visit and buy from the retail shop. To assess if there was improvement, assessing the daily transactions would enable us realize whether the number of customers was increasing. Increase in number of customers would mean that our marketing strategy was working. Customer feedback would help us identify the areas where change was required and those areas that were performing well. Additionally, the feedback would help identify possible new products that we could reconsider adding into the retail business depending on the customer’s preferences (European Orthopaedics, 2006). To be able to deliver quality services, we realized that frequent training of the employees was necessary. This would ensure that they were updated on retail business issue. Additionally, training would enable the employees relate better with the customers. Moreover, the quality of our services would improve leading in improvement in overall performance of the business. Benefits and Shortcomings of Using the Idea Box The idea box works by enabling one to combine different parameters and generate ideas. One benefit of idea box is that it enables one to break down the problem into elements that can be dealt with easily. By breaking down the problem into smaller element, one is able to establish how the different parameters are related, something that is not possible when dealing with the problem as a whole. Before designing the idea box, we were clueless on how we could resolve the problems facing the business. However, we used the idea box to review the various options that would work to the betterment of the performance (Toma, 2009). Although we did not incorporate all the ideas, we were able to identify the most appropriate solution. After coming up with the best approach, my brother started applying it in the business, which is growing rapidly since the qualities of services have improved resulting in customer satisfaction. Another advantage of the idea box is that it can be used for personal development as well as for the organization. I had never considered designing an idea box. However, helping my brother design one made me realize that it was an easy technique useful in resolving complicated problems. The major benefit of using the idea box is that it enables one to combine smaller elements into issues (Aristigueta, et al., 2001). One problem that arises while dealing with the idea box is its complexity. After making the different combinations, we came up with too many combinations such that it was very cumbersome analyzing them. Additionally, some parameters appeared to be interconnected due to existence of different variations. Additionally, it was quite hard determining the most appropriate combination since most of them appeared workable (educatevirtually, 2010; Stephenson, 2007). Improving the Idea Box Technique To ensure that the idea box we design is appropriate, it is crucial that you deal with the issue by taking an approach not used before. Sometimes, people assume that a given situation is similar to previous situation and use similar approached in resolving it, this results in further complication of the problem. To avoid this it is advisable that you deal with the problem as a novel one. Another way to improve the creative box is avoiding preconceived notions. When you approach the problem without any notions, it becomes easier to find an applicable and lasting solution (Carvalho, 2012; Desaeyere, n.d.). To make the idea box technique more effective, it is important to seek help from another person especially if you are using the method to generate a solution for an organization. Brainstorming as a group is likely to result in ideas that are more appropriate. Idea box can work best when an employer wants to get the opinions of the employees regarding a given issue (McFadzean, 2005). The idea box will encourage the employee to give their opinions without fear since all the opinions are considered important. Additionally, the employee will have the opportunity to analyze the various ideas and decide on the most appropriate solution (educatevirtually, 2010). Conclusion The idea box is a useful technique that enables creative thinking. Even for creative people, using a designed tool or technique to explore on their ideas is helpful. This is because it enables a systematic way of dealing with a problem. By analyzing a problem systematically, it becomes easier to identify the root cause of the problem. This is crucial in coming up with an appropriate solution. Idea box is one of the most appropriate tools for creative thinking since it enables brainstorming. Additionally, the method is easy to use and appropriate while dealing with personal as well as organization problems. By making use of idea box, one can generate effective ideas that can be used to solve problems effectively. By systematically analyzing the relationship between different ideas in a multidimensional problem, one can come up with an applicable solution. Although the method appears complex, it leads to effective solutions. Additionally, using idea box requires fewer skills. Idea box can be applied to resolve personal as well as organizational problems. In my experience, we were able to identify the different approaches that can be used to enhance performance in a retail shop. By analyzing several combinations using the idea box, it was easy to identify the most appropriate through elimination. An additional usefulness of the idea box is that it allows creative thinking. By thinking creatively, one is able to generate solutions other than worrying about the problem. Trying to resolve a problem without using any technique results in time wastage since most of the time is spent worrying other than designing ways to resolve the problem. By using creative thinking, issues that may require to be addressed in future are identified. Through brainstorming, several ideas come up and provide insights regarding the underlying problem. Works Cited Aristigueta, M, Denhardt, R & Denhart, J 2001, Managing Human Behavior in Public and Nonprofit Organizations, SAGE, New York. Carvalho, A, de Matos, A, Serpe, L.F. & dos Reis, D 2012, "Creativity Management Tools and their Organizational Influence", International Journal of Organizational Innovation (Online), vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 6-25. Desaeyere, W n.d., The Think Tank, ACCO, London. DTI 2005, Creativity, Design and Business, Accessed 16 Nov 2012, . educatevirtually 2010, Idea Box Brainstorming Creativity Technique, Accessed 16 Nov 2012, . European Orthopaedics 2006, Creativity Techniques, MATHYS, Vol 2. Iss. 2, pp. 1-8. Lifton, H & Lynch, M 2006, Training Clips: 150 Reproducible Handouts, Discussion Starters, and Job Aids, Human Resource Development, London. McFadzean, E 2005, "Creativity in MS/OR: Choosing the appropriate technique", Interfaces, vol. 29, no. 5, pp. 110-122. Michalko, M 2011, Creative Thinkering: Putting Your Imagination to Work, New World Library, London. Sefertzie, E 2000, Creativity, INNOREGIO project, pp. 1-20. Stephenson, J 2007, Ultimate Small Business Marketing Guide: 1500 Great Marketing Tricks That Will Drive Your Business Through the Roof, (2 ed.), Entrepreneur Press, New York. Toma, V. 2009, "Innovation and Creativity within the Economic Organizations,” Economy Transdisciplinarity Cognition, no. 2, pp. 92-108. United Nations 2009, Enhancing the Innovative Performance of Firms: Policy Options and Practical Instruments, United Nations Pulications, New York. Read More