What do you do if creative problem solving is crucial for executive decision-making?

I find its essential to foster an environment that encourages innovation and diverse perspectives. Executives should actively seek out varied inputs, use brainstorming sessions to generate new ideas, and encourage a culture where questioning and exploring alternatives are valued. Implementing techniques like design thinking can also help in systematically approaching complex problems. Additionally, executives should be open to experimentation, learning from failures, and continuously adapting strategies based on feedback and emerging insights.

Here are some steps to enhance creative problem-solving in the context of executive decision-making: Begin by thoroughly understanding the situation or problem. Gather relevant data, analyze trends, and identify key factors. Define the desired outcome or goal. What does success look like? Having a clear direction helps guide the problem-solving process. Encourage brainstorming and explore various solutions. Involve diverse perspectives and consider both conventional and unconventional ideas. Assess the feasibility, impact, and risks of each option. Prioritize based on strategic alignment and resource availability. Implement the Preferred Idea: Once a decision is made, execute the chosen solution.

I prioritize fostering a culture of creative problem-solving within the executive team. This involves encouraging open communication, brainstorming sessions, and considering diverse perspectives. Additionally, I advocate for the use of data-driven insights and collaborative approaches to decision-making. By empowering executives to think innovatively and adaptively, we can effectively address complex challenges and capitalize on emerging opportunities for sustainable growth.

For a good quality executive decision making understanding the problem perfectly is very important first. Finding the problem cause and expected results must be clarified before even working on solutions. Choosing the right team having know how and experience is crucial.Team could even be users, vendors and consultants.Intellectual humbleness and curiosity will help not only in defining the problem correctly. Creativity is not everyones job is to clearly agreed.Hence nurturing a culture of curiosity , creativity, perspective building are required.Why Why, So what and What if analysis can be used

Creative problem solving is critical for any successful executive level decision making, and fostering a culture of curiosity that encourages asking questions is key, but easier said than done. The reason being is that it requires freedom & safety and that tone has to be set by the CEO/Owner. You can't just say you want your team to be more curious, challenge the status quo and ask 'what if' without you yourself leading by example and creating room for others.

Gather Different Perspectives: When facing a complex decision, it's beneficial to gather input from a diverse group of people with various backgrounds, expertise, and viewpoints. This diversity of perspectives can lead to more comprehensive analysis and innovative solutions. Avoid Groupthink: Groupthink occurs when everyone in a group thinks similarly and agrees without considering alternative viewpoints. By diversifying input, you can prevent groupthink and encourage critical thinking and creative problem-solving

-Enhanced Innovation: When diverse perspectives are brought together, it cultivates an environment where innovation thrives. Each individual brings unique insights and approaches to problem-solving, sparking creativity and generating a wider range of ideas -Improved Decision-making: Consulting individuals with varied backgrounds, experiences, and expertise ensures that decisions are more well-rounded and comprehensive.

From my experience, when faced with the problem of going for an interview inside the company, something they were looking for someone creative. Because I personally have a creative streak, I was able to whip up a presentation for 20 minutes, within 10 minutes, and then an hour later after some tweaking came out with the project. The manager who had asked for it, was surprised and then said to her other managers who were under her, If I could produce something like the wowee presentation on MS PowerPoint, in such a short time, what would I really manage to bring to the table given the time? This is just it, it's about giving your team and yourself the time to explore and resolve. I was under pressure to provide!

what i think is : Things don't always go as planned. Being flexible means you can adapt to unexpected changes or challenges without getting stuck or giving up. Sometimes, you might need to find alternative solutions if your original plan doesn't work. Flexibility helps you think creatively and find new ways to tackle problems.Being flexible helps you bounce back from setbacks or failures. Instead of dwelling on what went wrong, you can quickly adjust your approach and keep moving forward.

-Adaptability to New Information: Executives must recognize that decisions are often made in dynamic environments where new information constantly emerges. Being flexible means being open to reassessing situations and adjusting strategies accordingly. -Exploration of Diverse Solutions: Creative problem-solving thrives on exploring multiple perspectives and solutions. Executives should encourage a culture of innovation by recognizing that there's rarely a single "right" answer

This is crucial for driving innovation within a team. Fostering a culture where taking calculated risks is seen as a valuable part of the creative process is key. This means supporting your team in trying out new ideas without fear of repercussions from failure. By acknowledging that failure is often a stepping stone to success, you provide a safe space for your team to explore and innovate. This approach can lead to unique solutions and breakthroughs that conventional methods may not achieve, ultimately enhancing your organisation's capacity for problem-solving and innovation.

A professor friend of mine Ms Linda Cornell in Florida University calls it "Creative Areobics!" A sort of and yet differently devised brain stroming to get to a position and solution in the creative arena! Equally applicable to any management situation -- including team working for results.

In my experience of Public Sector transformation, in particular education, we practiced problem solving via Lab methodology. The method was made popular by PEMANDU, then delivery unit for Gov't of Malaysia and practiced extensively by my previous organisation PADU Corp for Ministry of Education. The problem solving lab (like an extended workshop between 3 to 6 weeks) which provide space for the team to thoroughly think the solution and develop the solution to the critical issue - which is kind of prototype. The prototype will be tested during the lab period and if deemed success, the proposed solution will be presented to the decision making stakeholders for implementation approval.

Personally I love experimenting, curiosity doesn’t always kill the cat. Experimenting is a fantastic way to lead into an “x” factor you may not have otherwise found.

Encouraging experimentation is crucial for fostering creative problem-solving in executive decision-making. What i think is: Encouraging experimentation means giving yourself and your team permission to try out new and untested ideas. This openness to experimentation can lead to innovative solutions that might not have been considered otherwise. Experimentation helps build confidence within yourself and your team. Even if an experiment doesn't yield the desired results, the act of trying and learning from it can boost morale and encourage further innovation.

Having a visual presentation of a flow chart with boxes can help people see the map of what you expect them to explore. Not everyone can cope with thought processes, without seeing the real thing. This also can become part of your own daily management of how to process and agree with yourself that this is how it will work and this is the outcome.

Visualization helps simplify complex concepts and ideas, making it easier to understand and analyze them. Visualization stimulates creativity by allowing executives to explore different perspectives and possibilities visually. By seeing ideas represented graphically, they can identify new connections and innovative solutions that may not have been apparent before.

📊👓Here’s how visualization can be utilized in a creative problem-solving setting for decision making: 🔹 Data Insights: charts, graphs, and dashboards help visualize key performance indicators and quickly grasp trends, identify outliers, and make informed decisions. 🔹 Scenario Modeling: can simulate the impact of different strategies on revenue and costs 🔹 Risk Assessment: heatmaps, tree diagrams, or spider charts help prioritize and allocate resources effectively. 🔹 Stakeholder Communication: infographics or interactive presentations convey complex information to stakeholders. 🔹 Process Mapping: workflows and decision pathways help identify bottlenecks, streamline processes, and optimize resource allocation.

The first thing is to envision the "done" state. If you can wave a magic wand and the entire thing is "perfect" what does that look like? Brene Brown has a great phrase for this; "Paint done for me". The second thing is to consider your Mission, Vision, and Values statements. How does this solution align with them? If you don't have the MVV defined yet, you should take a few minutes to get a rough draft in order. Then, make adjustments to the finished product to ensure alignment. Next, gather a diverse team to examine each part of the product/solution. Having many different points of view will maximize the likelihood of success. Lastly, remember GROWTH mindset. Experiment, fail, refine, then succeed.

-Enhanced Problem Articulation: Visualization tools like mind mapping or sketching allow executives to visually represent complex problems, enabling them to articulate them more clearly. -Identification of Connections and Opportunities: Through visualization, executives can identify connections and opportunities that might not be immediately obvious. By mapping out relationships between different elements of a problem or solution, executives can uncover insights and possibilities that may have been overlooked.

By sharing a chart of your vision and elaboration of the thoughts; helps team members to understand the bigger picture and unite everyone to the same vision.

In my experience, Utilising advanced tools such as Data Analytics and AI to uncover insights. Analytics helps in identifying the trends, patterns and opportunities, while AI can help provide predictive insights. This allows to make informed decisions more effectively and accurately. With the power of technology data can be transformed into actionable.

-Enhanced Learning and Growth: Reflection allows executives to gain deeper insights into the effectiveness of their problem-solving approaches. By identifying what worked well and what could have been improved, they can refine their skills and strategies.

Listening is key. There is creativity in everybody. The question is, can it be expressed and can it lead to something. Here is a list of solution killers caused by poor listening: 1. You cannot listen while speaking. If a conversation doesn't leave sufficient gaps, the silent voices will not speak up and you loose all their inputs. 2. You do not listen while thinking about a reply. Understanding the others means to think about what they say, not what you want to say. Rule of thumb: repeat yes, reply no. 3. Defensive attitude kills creative solutions. New ideas are vulnerable babies, they come with unknowns and uncertainties. If you think about how to stop them, you will stop them. Better think about what it needs to make them succeed.

It's important to continuously nurture a culture of continuous learning and open communication within the team. Sharing insights from both successes and failures can greatly enhance collective knowledge and drive further innovation. Staying abreast of industry trends and technological advancements can provide additional context and inspiration for creative problem-solving. This holistic approach ensures that creativity is not just an occasional exercise, but a fundamental aspect of the organisational culture.

En esta pregunta, de qué hacer cuando es crucial la resolución creativa de problemas para la toma de decisiones ejecutivas, es importante entender el contexto, por ejemplo en qué escenario se produce esta necesidad ¿Son los encargados de tomar decisiones personas con prejuicios para escuchar a otros? En este escenario, por el que atravesé como consultora, el desafío mayor es que el encargado de la toma de decisiones sea conciente de los beneficios de la diversidad de visiones y aportes. Los esfuerzos para mí estuvieron enfocados en ayudarle a entender el tipo de mentalidad necesaria con ejemplos sobre todo por tratarse de un asunto crucial, además de brindarle todo el apoyo para que sintiese que seríamos un equipo en caso de fallar.

I believe all problem solving should be both creatively and analytically thought through thinking of as many perspectives as one can. As previous contributors to this have mentioned, instilling an environment of a safe space your team feels comfortable to be honest in will drive the best outcomes and final product in my experience.

This is a loaded question. Creative problem solving is not cookie cutter. It's situationally based. Sometimes you have time to ponder, sometimes you have to immediately make a decision. Implementing your choice effectively is what needs to happen.