Want to create or adapt books like this? Learn more about how Pressbooks supports open publishing practices.

Problem Solving Essays: Overview

Questions to consider:

  • How can determining the best approach to solve a problem help you generate solutions?
  • Why do thinkers create multiple solutions to problems?
  • How do writers translate these approaches and solutions into writing?

When we’re solving a problem, whether at work, school, or home, we are being asked to perform multiple, often complex, tasks. The most effective problem-solving approach includes some variation of the following steps:

  • Determine the issue(s)
  • Recognize other perspectives
  • Think of multiple possible results
  • Research and evaluate the possibilities
  • Select the best result(s)
  • Communicate your findings
  • Establish logical action items based on your analysis

Determining the best approach to any given problem and generating more than one possible solution to the problem constitutes the complicated process of problem-solving. People who are good at these skills are highly marketable because many jobs consist of a series of problems that need to be solved for production, services, goods, and sales to continue smoothly.

Think about what happens when a worker at your favorite coffee shop slips on a wet spot behind the counter, dropping several drinks she just prepared. One problem is the employee may be hurt, in need of attention, and probably embarrassed; another problem is that several customers do not have the drinks they were waiting for; and another problem is that stopping production of drinks (to care for the hurt worker, to clean up her spilled drinks, to make new drinks) causes the line at the cash register to back up. A good manager has to juggle all of these elements to resolve the situation as quickly and efficiently as possible. That resolution and return to standard operations doesn’t happen without a great deal of thinking: prioritizing needs, shifting other workers off one station onto another temporarily, and dealing with all the people involved, from the injured worker to the impatient patrons.

DETERMINING THE BEST APPROACH

Faced with a problem-solving opportunity, you must assess the skills you will need to create solutions. Problem-solving can involve many different types of thinking.

  • You may have to call on your creative, analytical, or critical thinking skills—or more frequently, a combination of several different types of thinking—to solve a problem satisfactorily.
  • When you approach a situation, how can you decide what is the best type of thinking to employ? Sometimes the answer is obvious; if you are working a scientific challenge, you likely will use analytical thinking; if you are a design student considering the atmosphere of a home, you may need to tap into creative thinking skills; and if you are an early childhood education major outlining the logistics involved in establishing a summer day camp for children, you may need a combination of critical, analytical, and creative thinking to solve this challenge.

What sort of thinking do you imagine initially helped in the following scenarios? How would the other types of thinking come into resolving these problems? Write a one- to two-sentence rationale on scrap paper or notepad that explains why you chose the answers to the questions below.

  • Analytical thinking
  • Creative thinking
  • Critical thinking

GENERATING MULTIPLE SOLUTIONS

Why do you think it is important to provide multiple solutions when you’re going through the steps to solve problems? Typically, you’ll end up only using one solution at a time, so why expend the extra energy to create alternatives? If you planned a wonderful trip to Europe and had all the sites you want to see planned out and reservations made, you would think that your problem-solving and organizational skills had quite a workout. But what if when you arrived, the country you’re visiting is enmeshed in a public transportation strike experts predict will last several weeks if not longer? A back-up plan would have helped you contemplate alternatives you could substitute for the original plans. You certainly cannot predict every possible contingency—sick children, weather delays, economic downfalls—but you can be prepared for unexpected issues to come up and adapt more easily if you plan for multiple solutions.Write out at least two possible solutions to these dilemmas:

  • Your significant other wants a birthday present—you have no cash.
  • You have three exams scheduled on a day when you also need to work.
  • Your car breaks down and requires an expensive repair and you need bus fare home—your cell phone is dead and you only have an ATM card with a max withdrawal limit of $200.
  • You have to pass a running test for your physical education class, but you’re out of shape.

Providing more than one solution to a problem gives people options. You may not need several options, but having more than one solution will allow you to feel more in control and part of the problem-solving process.

Writing Effective Problem Solving Essays

When someone’s purpose is to describe a problem and evaluate possible solutions, they will write a problem solving essay.  In academic writing, the problem solving essay is very common and useful. For example, students would use it in a ecological class if they were asked to discuss solutions to the problem of endangered species. Students also can write this type of essay in an computer science class if they needed to suggest some ways to solve the inefficient performance of a system.

Once someone has decided to write a problem solving essay, there are several techniques should be pay attention. First, he/she should carefully investigate if a problem exists and describe the problem clearly. While describing a statement of problem, he/she should mentions  why it is serious . Second, the solutions recommended for the problem should be convincing and effective. They must prove his viewpoint by  supporting it with persuasive facts and evidences . Finally, the essay must be able to influence the readers that the proposed solutions are practical and valuable.

Introduction

  • Describe the problem and state why it is serious.
  • Write a thesis statement that identifies possible solutions.

Supporting Paragraphs

  • Discuss one solution in each supporting paragraph.
  • Provide details to support each solution.
  • Organize the paragraphs according to order of importance.
  • Summarize the solutions.
  • Draw a conclusion or make a prediction based on your suggestions.

Sources Used to Create this Chapter

The majority of the content for this section has been adapted from the following OER Material:

  • Strategic Information Literacy: Targeted Knowledge with Broad Application by Kristin Conlin and Allison Jennings-Roche, which was published under a CC-BY-NC-SA 4.0 license.

A Guide to Problem Solving Essays by Ken Lang, which was published under the CC-BY-NC-SA 4.0 International License.

Starting the Journey: An Intro to College Writing Copyright © by Leonard Owens III; Tim Bishop; and Scott Ortolano is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

Share This Book

What is creative problem-solving?

Creative problem-solving in action

Table of Contents

An introduction to creative problem-solving.

Creative problem-solving is an essential skill that goes beyond basic brainstorming . It entails a holistic approach to challenges, melding logical processes with imaginative techniques to conceive innovative solutions. As our world becomes increasingly complex and interconnected, the ability to think creatively and solve problems with fresh perspectives becomes invaluable for individuals, businesses, and communities alike.

Importance of divergent and convergent thinking

At the heart of creative problem-solving lies the balance between divergent and convergent thinking. Divergent thinking encourages free-flowing, unrestricted ideation, leading to a plethora of potential solutions. Convergent thinking, on the other hand, is about narrowing down those options to find the most viable solution. This dual approach ensures both breadth and depth in the problem-solving process.

Emphasis on collaboration and diverse perspectives

No single perspective has a monopoly on insight. Collaborating with individuals from different backgrounds, experiences, and areas of expertise offers a richer tapestry of ideas. Embracing diverse perspectives not only broadens the pool of solutions but also ensures more holistic and well-rounded outcomes.

Nurturing a risk-taking and experimental mindset

The fear of failure can be the most significant barrier to any undertaking. It's essential to foster an environment where risk-taking and experimentation are celebrated. This involves viewing failures not as setbacks but as invaluable learning experiences that pave the way for eventual success.

The role of intuition and lateral thinking

Sometimes, the path to a solution is not linear. Lateral thinking and intuition allow for making connections between seemingly unrelated elements. These 'eureka' moments often lead to breakthrough solutions that conventional methods might overlook.

Stages of the creative problem-solving process

The creative problem-solving process is typically broken down into several stages. Each stage plays a crucial role in understanding, addressing, and resolving challenges in innovative ways.

Clarifying: Understanding the real problem or challenge

Before diving into solutions, one must first understand the problem at its core. This involves asking probing questions, gathering data, and viewing the challenge from various angles. A clear comprehension of the problem ensures that effort and resources are channeled correctly.

Ideating: Generating diverse and multiple solutions

Once the problem is clarified, the focus shifts to generating as many solutions as possible. This stage champions quantity over quality, as the aim is to explore the breadth of possibilities without immediately passing judgment.

Developing: Refining and honing promising solutions

With a list of potential solutions in hand, it's time to refine and develop the most promising ones. This involves evaluating each idea's feasibility, potential impact, and any associated risks, then enhancing or combining solutions to maximize effectiveness.

Implementing: Acting on the best solutions

Once a solution has been honed, it's time to put it into action. This involves planning, allocating resources, and monitoring the results to ensure the solution is effectively addressing the problem.

Techniques for creative problem-solving

Solving complex problems in a fresh way can be a daunting task to start on. Here are a few techniques that can help kickstart the process:

Brainstorming

Brainstorming is a widely-used technique that involves generating as many ideas as possible within a set timeframe. Variants like brainwriting (where ideas are written down rather than spoken) and reverse brainstorming (thinking of ways to cause the problem) can offer fresh perspectives and ensure broader participation.

Mind mapping

Mind mapping is a visual tool that helps structure information, making connections between disparate pieces of data. It is particularly useful in organizing thoughts, visualizing relationships, and ensuring a comprehensive approach to a problem.

SCAMPER technique

SCAMPER stands for Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to another use, Eliminate, and Reverse. This technique prompts individuals to look at existing products, services, or processes in new ways, leading to innovative solutions.

Benefits of creative problem-solving

Creative problem-solving offers numerous benefits, both at the individual and organizational levels. Some of the most prominent advantages include:

Finding novel solutions to old problems

Traditional problems that have resisted conventional solutions often succumb to creative approaches. By looking at challenges from fresh angles and blending different techniques, we can unlock novel solutions previously deemed impossible.

Enhanced adaptability in changing environments

In our rapidly evolving world, the ability to adapt is critical. Creative problem-solving equips individuals and organizations with the agility to pivot and adapt to changing circumstances, ensuring resilience and longevity.

Building collaborative and innovative teams

Teams that embrace creative problem-solving tend to be more collaborative and innovative. They value diversity of thought, are open to experimentation, and are more likely to challenge the status quo, leading to groundbreaking results.

Fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement

Creative problem-solving is not just about finding solutions; it's also about continuous learning and improvement. By encouraging an environment of curiosity and exploration, organizations can ensure that they are always at the cutting edge, ready to tackle future challenges head-on.

Get on board in seconds

Join thousands of teams using Miro to do their best work yet.

  • Business Essentials
  • Leadership & Management
  • Credential of Leadership, Impact, and Management in Business (CLIMB)
  • Entrepreneurship & Innovation
  • *New* Digital Transformation
  • Finance & Accounting
  • Business in Society
  • For Organizations
  • Support Portal
  • Media Coverage
  • Founding Donors
  • Leadership Team

creative problem solving essay

  • Harvard Business School →
  • HBS Online →
  • Business Insights →

Business Insights

Harvard Business School Online's Business Insights Blog provides the career insights you need to achieve your goals and gain confidence in your business skills.

  • Career Development
  • Communication
  • Decision-Making
  • Earning Your MBA
  • Negotiation
  • News & Events
  • Productivity
  • Staff Spotlight
  • Student Profiles
  • Work-Life Balance
  • Alternative Investments
  • Business Analytics
  • Business Strategy
  • Business and Climate Change
  • Design Thinking and Innovation
  • Digital Marketing Strategy
  • Disruptive Strategy
  • Economics for Managers
  • Entrepreneurship Essentials
  • Financial Accounting
  • Global Business
  • Launching Tech Ventures
  • Leadership Principles
  • Leadership, Ethics, and Corporate Accountability
  • Leading with Finance
  • Management Essentials
  • Negotiation Mastery
  • Organizational Leadership
  • Power and Influence for Positive Impact
  • Strategy Execution
  • Sustainable Business Strategy
  • Sustainable Investing
  • Winning with Digital Platforms

How to Be a More Creative Problem-Solver at Work: 8 Tips

Business professionals using creative problem-solving at work

  • 01 Mar 2022

The importance of creativity in the workplace—particularly when problem-solving—is undeniable. Business leaders can’t approach new problems with old solutions and expect the same result.

This is where innovation-based processes need to guide problem-solving. Here’s an overview of what creative problem-solving is, along with tips on how to use it in conjunction with design thinking.

Access your free e-book today.

What Is Creative Problem-Solving?

Encountering problems with no clear cause can be frustrating. This occurs when there’s disagreement around a defined problem or research yields unclear results. In such situations, creative problem-solving helps develop solutions, despite a lack of clarity.

While creative problem-solving is less structured than other forms of innovation, it encourages exploring open-ended ideas and shifting perspectives—thereby fostering innovation and easier adaptation in the workplace. It also works best when paired with other innovation-based processes, such as design thinking .

Creative Problem-Solving and Design Thinking

Design thinking is a solutions-based mentality that encourages innovation and problem-solving. It’s guided by an iterative process that Harvard Business School Dean Srikant Datar outlines in four stages in the online course Design Thinking and Innovation :

The four stages of design thinking: clarify, ideate, develop, and implement

  • Clarify: This stage involves researching a problem through empathic observation and insights.
  • Ideate: This stage focuses on generating ideas and asking open-ended questions based on observations made during the clarification stage.
  • Develop: The development stage involves exploring possible solutions based on the ideas you generate. Experimentation and prototyping are both encouraged.
  • Implement: The final stage is a culmination of the previous three. It involves finalizing a solution’s development and communicating its value to stakeholders.

Although user research is an essential first step in the design thinking process, there are times when it can’t identify a problem’s root cause. Creative problem-solving addresses this challenge by promoting the development of new perspectives.

Leveraging tools like design thinking and creativity at work can further your problem-solving abilities. Here are eight tips for doing so.

Design Thinking and Innovation | Uncover creative solutions to your business problems | Learn More

8 Creative Problem-Solving Tips

1. empathize with your audience.

A fundamental practice of design thinking’s clarify stage is empathy. Understanding your target audience can help you find creative and relevant solutions for their pain points through observing them and asking questions.

Practice empathy by paying attention to others’ needs and avoiding personal comparisons. The more you understand your audience, the more effective your solutions will be.

2. Reframe Problems as Questions

If a problem is difficult to define, reframe it as a question rather than a statement. For example, instead of saying, "The problem is," try framing around a question like, "How might we?" Think creatively by shifting your focus from the problem to potential solutions.

Consider this hypothetical case study: You’re the owner of a local coffee shop trying to fill your tip jar. Approaching the situation with a problem-focused mindset frames this as: "We need to find a way to get customers to tip more." If you reframe this as a question, however, you can explore: "How might we make it easier for customers to tip?" When you shift your focus from the shop to the customer, you empathize with your audience. You can take this train of thought one step further and consider questions such as: "How might we provide a tipping method for customers who don't carry cash?"

Whether you work at a coffee shop, a startup, or a Fortune 500 company, reframing can help surface creative solutions to problems that are difficult to define.

3. Defer Judgment of Ideas

If you encounter an idea that seems outlandish or unreasonable, a natural response would be to reject it. This instant judgment impedes creativity. Even if ideas seem implausible, they can play a huge part in ideation. It's important to permit the exploration of original ideas.

While judgment can be perceived as negative, it’s crucial to avoid accepting ideas too quickly. If you love an idea, don’t immediately pursue it. Give equal consideration to each proposal and build on different concepts instead of acting on them immediately.

4. Overcome Cognitive Fixedness

Cognitive fixedness is a state of mind that prevents you from recognizing a situation’s alternative solutions or interpretations instead of considering every situation through the lens of past experiences.

Although it's efficient in the short-term, cognitive fixedness interferes with creative thinking because it prevents you from approaching situations unbiased. It's important to be aware of this tendency so you can avoid it.

5. Balance Divergent and Convergent Thinking

One of the key principles of creative problem-solving is the balance of divergent and convergent thinking. Divergent thinking is the process of brainstorming multiple ideas without limitation; open-ended creativity is encouraged. It’s an effective tool for generating ideas, but not every idea can be explored. Divergent thinking eventually needs to be grounded in reality.

Convergent thinking, on the other hand, is the process of narrowing ideas down into a few options. While converging ideas too quickly stifles creativity, it’s an important step that bridges the gap between ideation and development. It's important to strike a healthy balance between both to allow for the ideation and exploration of creative ideas.

6. Use Creative Tools

Using creative tools is another way to foster innovation. Without a clear cause for a problem, such tools can help you avoid cognitive fixedness and abrupt decision-making. Here are several examples:

Problem Stories

Creating a problem story requires identifying undesired phenomena (UDP) and taking note of events that precede and result from them. The goal is to reframe the situations to visualize their cause and effect.

To start, identify a UDP. Then, discover what events led to it. Observe and ask questions of your consumer base to determine the UDP’s cause.

Next, identify why the UDP is a problem. What effect does the UDP have that necessitates changing the status quo? It's helpful to visualize each event in boxes adjacent to one another when answering such questions.

The problem story can be extended in either direction, as long as there are additional cause-and-effect relationships. Once complete, focus on breaking the chains connecting two subsequent events by disrupting the cause-and-effect relationship between them.

Alternate Worlds

The alternate worlds tool encourages you to consider how people from different backgrounds would approach similar situations. For instance, how would someone in hospitality versus manufacturing approach the same problem? This tool isn't intended to instantly solve problems but, rather, to encourage idea generation and creativity.

7. Use Positive Language

It's vital to maintain a positive mindset when problem-solving and avoid negative words that interfere with creativity. Positive language prevents quick judgments and overcomes cognitive fixedness. Instead of "no, but," use words like "yes, and."

Positive language makes others feel heard and valued rather than shut down. This practice doesn’t necessitate agreeing with every idea but instead approaching each from a positive perspective.

Using “yes, and” as a tool for further idea exploration is also effective. If someone presents an idea, build upon it using “yes, and.” What additional features could improve it? How could it benefit consumers beyond its intended purpose?

While it may not seem essential, this small adjustment can make a big difference in encouraging creativity.

8. Practice Design Thinking

Practicing design thinking can make you a more creative problem-solver. While commonly associated with the workplace, adopting a design thinking mentality can also improve your everyday life. Here are several ways you can practice design thinking:

  • Learn from others: There are many examples of design thinking in business . Review case studies to learn from others’ successes, research problems companies haven't addressed, and consider alternative solutions using the design thinking process.
  • Approach everyday problems with a design thinking mentality: One of the best ways to practice design thinking is to apply it to your daily life. Approach everyday problems using design thinking’s four-stage framework to uncover what solutions it yields.
  • Study design thinking: While learning design thinking independently is a great place to start, taking an online course can offer more insight and practical experience. The right course can teach you important skills , increase your marketability, and provide valuable networking opportunities.

Which HBS Online Entrepreneurship and Innovation Course is Right for You? | Download Your Free Flowchart

Ready to Become a Creative Problem-Solver?

Though creativity comes naturally to some, it's an acquired skill for many. Regardless of which category you're in, improving your ability to innovate is a valuable endeavor. Whether you want to bolster your creativity or expand your professional skill set, taking an innovation-based course can enhance your problem-solving.

If you're ready to become a more creative problem-solver, explore Design Thinking and Innovation , one of our online entrepreneurship and innovation courses . If you aren't sure which course is the right fit, download our free course flowchart to determine which best aligns with your goals.

creative problem solving essay

About the Author

We use cookies to provide our clients with the best possible experience. If You continue to use this site, you agree with our cookie policy. Read more »

  • Academic Guidance
  • Essay Examples
  • Essay Topics
  • How To Write
  • Other Articles
  • Research and Sources
  • Synonym Explorations
  • Writing Tips

How to Write a Problem Solution Paper

How to Write a Problem Solution Paper

Problem Solution Paper: How to Write

In adult life, every day people face various problems and conflicts at work or in the lives of their friends, relatives, or their own. It’s crucial to learn and be able to solve problems and to have troubleshooting skills to ease situations. Tutors in universities or colleges try to teach students how to do that by asking them to complete problem-solution research papers as a great way to boost their problem-solving and writing skills. Proposing a solution essay as a type of paper is common on exams to check student’s critical thinking and ability to respond with a solution. To reach a solution you need to learn to work through details and find ways to solve problems quickly and effectively. To make the writing of problem-solving papers simple follow the next steps.

Step One: Defining the Problem and Choosing a Problem Solution Research Topic

When asked to write a problem and solution essay you might be assigned to a situation to write about or be allowed to choose one. If the second happens – try to think about someone or something that bothers, annoys, or irritates you, and in case you thought about a solution for that before it could be a topic for your essay; as an alternative – make a list of groups you think you belong to (such as family, school, sports teams, hobby buddies, etc.) and identify issues you have faced as a member, choose one that needs to be and can be solved practically and create a community problem-solving paper. You can also choose the topic for your essay from this list.

Step Two: Brainstorming and Research

Think about the problem or the issue you have chosen and ask yourself: why it matters, why it’s a problem, and how it can be solved. Try to understand and clarify what you know about the problem and what a potential solution could be. To ease your research or writing create questions. Try to find answers by looking for some information in scholarly journals online, academic texts, or, perhaps, in your own library, ask for help from people that you think might help you with the answers to your questions. Try to spot facts and statistics to make the problem more vivid to the readers. You can make a survey and interview the people that you think faced similar problems. In this type of paper, the point of view of the second person is efficient to be used. Read as much as possible about the topic you are going to write. In case of using outside sources, you may need to cite them. Good research will benefit you with a solid solution to the problem.

Step Three: Understanding the Complexity and Deciding on the Best Solution

If a problem is simple a solution is obvious. In case of a difficult problem, it takes some work to find a solution. It’s a good idea to create a sort of mind map or outline to understand all possible causes of the problem. Describe the factors that may be a part of the problem as many as possible. Study all potential causes of the problem that may be relevant to the factors. Create a diagram of the factors and causes, how they are connected and analyze it. Depending on the complexity of the problem you can do an investigation by analyzing causes and also surveys you’ve done before. Use specific examples and facts to support your solution and mention that you have taken to concerns the solutions of others if it happens to find them while you do your research. Try to convince your target audience that your solution is cost-effective doable, and the most effective.

Step Four: Writing an Essay

Being able to organize yourself is a very important part when writing a problem and solution essay. The structure of a problem-solving essay is the same as the structure of an ordinary academic paper.

  • Introduction

Develop a strong thesis for your paper, that will appear in the introduction and the conclusion of your essay, the statement that will outline the problem and problem solution paper ideas that your essay will cover in one or two sentences. When the thesis is ready it’s time to start an introduction. The paragraph that includes a reader’s attention grabber. Interest your reader in the problem by giving a frame of the story and explaining how the problem developed and why it’s important and needs to be solved. The tone of your paper should be reasonable, rational, logical, and thoughtful.

Contain at least two or three paragraphs in the body of your paper proposing possible solutions and explaining those that wouldn’t work. Offer the solution that you think is the best. Explain your solution clearly with details. Use evidence that your solution will work by providing supporting details: statistics, studies, arguments, and all the notes you have from your previous research. Show your troubleshooting skills and why your solution is reasonable. Describe how you will implement your solution.

The conclusion should briefly emphasize the importance of the problem and sum up the proposed solution in one or more paragraphs. Explain how the situation will change if your solution is adopted. An effective way to convince your audience is to talk about the results of the problem if it remains unresolved. End your essay with a strong call to action, agitate, and motivate the reader to become involved.

Finally, write your first draft, leave your paper for some time, and get back to it later, review your work and make sure it has all the components of a problem-solution paper and follows the structure. It should identify the problem and the solution, a thesis shall appear in the introduction and the conclusion. Check for spelling, punctuation, and grammar mistakes by reading aloud to yourself or it’s a good idea to ask a friend to proofread it for you to avoid missing out on anything that needs editing. Stay focused, creative, and original, follow the steps above, and your writing process will be smooth, simple, and flow freely.

  • Place an order
  • About Writology
  • How it Works
  • Buy Custom Essays
  • Nursing Writing Services
  • Do My Assignment
  • Buy a Letter of Recommendation
  • Buy Research Papers

How To Answer UC PIQ Essay 2: Express Your Creative Side

Understanding the essay prompt.

Before you begin writing your UC admissions essay, it's crucial to fully understand the essay prompt. Let's break down the prompt: "Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem-solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side."

To effectively answer this prompt, you need to grasp its key components. Here are some points to consider:

1- Creativity is inherent in everyone: The prompt emphasizes that every individual possesses a creative side. This means that regardless of your background or interests, you have a unique creative aspect waiting to be explored and showcased.

2- Various forms of creativity: The prompt mentions different forms of creativity, including problem-solving, original thinking, and artistic expression. This suggests that creativity is not limited to artistic endeavors but can manifest in various fields and activities.

3- Describing your creative side: The prompt asks you to describe how you express your creative side. This requires you to reflect on your experiences, interests, and activities and explain how they demonstrate your creativity.

By understanding the essay prompt thoroughly, you can ensure that your response addresses all the necessary aspects and showcases your creative abilities effectively. Now, let's move on to exploring the various forms and expressions of creativity in the next section.

Defining Creativity: Different Forms and Expressions

Creativity is a multifaceted concept that encompasses various forms and expressions. To effectively address the UC admissions essay prompt, it's essential to explore and understand these different aspects of creativity. Let's delve into three key forms of creativity that the prompt highlights:

Problem-solving as a Form of Creativity

Problem-solving requires innovative thinking and the ability to come up with unique solutions to challenges. It involves analyzing situations, identifying obstacles, and devising creative strategies to overcome them. Whether it's finding alternative approaches to complex math problems or developing solutions to real-world issues, problem-solving showcases your creative thinking and ability to think outside the box.

Innovation and Original Thinking

Innovation entails introducing new ideas, methods, or products that bring about positive change. It involves challenging existing norms and conventions, pushing boundaries, and offering fresh perspectives. Whether it's developing a groundbreaking app, proposing a unique research project, or implementing innovative ideas in a social context, showcasing your original thinking and innovative mindset highlights your creative abilities.

Artistic Expression

Artistic expression encompasses a wide range of creative endeavors, including visual arts, performing arts, creative writing, and more. It involves using various mediums to communicate emotions, ideas, and experiences. Whether you express yourself through painting, dancing, playing a musical instrument, writing poetry, or acting, artistic expression reveals your unique creative voice and showcases your ability to interpret and communicate through different art forms.

By understanding and exploring these different forms and expressions of creativity, you can identify the areas where your creative strengths lie. This awareness will help you effectively describe and showcase your creative side in your UC admissions essay. In the next section, we will discuss how to accurately describe your creative side by identifying your strengths and using anecdotes and examples.

How to Describe Your Creative Side

Describing your creative side in your UC admissions essay requires thoughtful reflection and effective communication. In this section, we will explore how to accurately portray your creative abilities by identifying your strengths, using anecdotes and examples, and linking creativity to personal growth and future goals.

Identifying Your Creative Strengths

Begin by reflecting on your experiences and activities that highlight your creative strengths. Ask yourself the following questions:

1- What activities or hobbies do you engage in that involve problem-solving, original thinking, or artistic expression?

2- Have you participated in any projects or initiatives that required innovative ideas or solutions?

3- Do you have any unique skills or talents that demonstrate your creativity?

4- Have you received any recognition or awards for your creative endeavors?

Identifying your creative strengths will allow you to focus on specific examples and experiences that showcase your unique abilities.

Using Anecdotes and Examples

Once you have identified your creative strengths, it's crucial to use anecdotes and examples to illustrate them. Instead of making broad statements about your creativity, provide specific instances where you demonstrated your creative abilities. For example:

1- Share a story about a time when you faced a challenging problem and employed your creative thinking to find a unique solution.

2- Describe a personal project where you showcased your innovative approach or original thinking.

3- Discuss a specific artwork, performance, or piece of writing that exemplifies your artistic expression.

Using vivid anecdotes and concrete examples will make your essay more engaging and convincing, allowing the admissions officers to understand your creative side better.

Linking Creativity to Personal Growth and Future Goals

In addition to describing your creative abilities, it's essential to explain how your creativity has contributed to your personal growth and how it aligns with your future goals. Consider the following points:

1- Reflect on how engaging in creative activities has helped you develop skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, or adaptability.

2- Explain how your creative side has influenced your perspective on the world and shaped your values and beliefs.

3- Discuss how your creative abilities align with your academic and career aspirations, showcasing how they will contribute to your success in your desired field of study.

By linking your creativity to personal growth and future goals, you demonstrate the significance and impact of your creative side beyond the immediate context.

In the next section, we will guide you through the process of planning and writing your UC admissions essay, ensuring that you effectively convey your creative abilities and make a lasting impression on the admissions officers.

Planning and Writing your UC Admissions Essay

Planning and writing your UC admissions essay requires careful thought and organization. In this section, we will guide you through the process of creating an essay outline, writing the first draft, and revising and finalizing your essay.

Creating an Essay Outline

Before diving into writing, it's essential to create a solid essay outline. An outline serves as a roadmap, helping you structure your thoughts and ensure a logical flow in your essay. Here's a suggested outline for your UC admissions essay:

1- Introduction:

  • Grab the reader's attention with a compelling hook.
  • Provide context for the essay prompt and introduce your approach to addressing it.
  • Clearly state your thesis or main argument.

2- Body Paragraphs:

  • Start each paragraph with a clear topic sentence that supports your thesis.
  • Use specific anecdotes and examples to illustrate your creative side.
  • Reflect on the personal growth and skills development resulting from your creativity.
  • Connect your creative abilities to your future goals and aspirations.

3- Conclusion:

  • Summarize your main points and reaffirm your thesis.
  • End with a strong closing statement that leaves a lasting impression.

By creating an outline, you can ensure that your essay remains focused and effectively addresses the essay prompt.

Writing the First Draft

With your outline in hand, it's time to write the first draft of your UC admissions essay. Remember the following tips as you write:

1- Be authentic: Write in your own voice and be true to yourself. Admissions officers value genuine and original perspectives.

2- Show, don't tell: Use descriptive language and specific examples to illustrate your creative abilities. Engage the reader by painting a vivid picture of your experiences.

3- Be concise: Stay within the word count limit and prioritize the most impactful details. Avoid unnecessary repetition or tangents.

4- Edit later: Focus on getting your ideas down on paper during the first draft. Don't worry too much about grammar or sentence structure at this stage.

Revision and Finalization

Once you've completed the first draft, take the time to revise and refine your essay. Consider the following steps:

1- Review for clarity and coherence: Ensure that your ideas flow logically and that your essay is easy to understand.

2- Check for grammar and spelling errors: Proofread your essay carefully and use grammar-checking tools to catch any mistakes.

3- Seek feedback: Ask a trusted teacher, counselor, or family member to review your essay and provide constructive feedback.

4- Make revisions: Incorporate the feedback you receive and make any necessary changes to strengthen your essay.

5- Proofread once more: Before submitting your essay, do a final proofread to ensure it is error-free and polished.

By going through the revision process, you can refine your essay and make it as strong as possible.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

While crafting your UC admissions essay, it's important to be aware of common mistakes that can hinder the effectiveness of your essay. In this section, we will highlight three common pitfalls to avoid:

Vagueness and Lack of Detail

One common mistake is being too vague or general in your essay. Admissions officers want to get a clear understanding of your creative abilities and experiences, so it's important to provide specific details and examples. Avoid using generic statements or clichés and instead focus on providing concrete examples that showcase your unique creative side.

Overemphasis on Achievements

While it's important to highlight your accomplishments, it's equally important to avoid solely focusing on them. Admissions officers are interested in learning about your personal growth, creative process, and how you express your creativity. Instead of simply listing your achievements, delve deeper into the experiences, challenges, and lessons learned that have shaped your creative journey.

Neglecting to Answer the Prompt Fully

It's crucial to ensure that your essay fully addresses the UC admissions essay prompt. Sometimes applicants get carried away with their storytelling or personal anecdotes and forget to explicitly address how they express their creative side. Make sure to connect your experiences and examples to the different forms of creativity mentioned in the prompt, such as problem-solving, original thinking, and artistic expression.

By avoiding these common mistakes, you can strengthen your UC admissions essay and effectively showcase your creative side to the admissions officers. Finally, let's move on to the conclusion, where we will summarize the key points discussed and offer some closing thoughts.

Final Thoughts

Tapping into your creative side and translating it into words for the UC admissions essay can be a fulfilling journey. Creativity isn't just about artistic flair but spans a spectrum from problem-solving to innovative thinking. The core of your essay should be an authentic reflection of your experiences and how they have molded your unique creative expression. Remember, it's not just about showcasing your talents, but revealing the story behind them. Embrace the process, be authentic, and give UC admissions a compelling peek into your creative universe. Best wishes on your application journey!

I hope you found this guide useful. Navigating campus life can be daunting, but you don’t have to do it alone. Once you're accepted into college, hop onto MeetYourClass – your go-to platform to find roommates, friends, and your community. Connect with like-minded students, find your perfect roommate, and immerse yourself in campus culture. As you embark on your application journey, remember: your next chapter of friendships and experiences is just a click away. Best of luck, and we hope to see you soon on MeetYourClass!

blake-mischley

Find Your College Roommate!

Keep reading, how to answer uc piq essay prompt 4: educational barrier.

Before College

9 min read  •  Sep 23, 2023

Blake Mischley

Blake Mischley

How To Answer UC PIQ Essay Prompt 6: Academic Inspiration

14 min read  •  Sep 24, 2023

How To Answer UC Personal Insight Prompt 7: Community

16 min read  •  Sep 25, 2023

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

Duke University

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

creative problem solving essay

How to Write the “Creative Side” UC Essay

This article was written based on the information and opinions presented by Vinay Bhaskara in a CollegeVine livestream. You can watch the full livestream for more info. 

What’s Covered:

Creativity in a non-creative pursuit, innovation in context, avoiding a cliche essay.

The second University of California system essay prompt asks: 

Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem-solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.

A lot of students can be scared away from this prompt. Many people, when seeing the word “creative,” automatically think of something artistic, such as theater, visual arts, or music. If those pursuits don’t apply to you, you may be intimidated by this prompt.

However, almost everyone should be able to write a response to this essay prompt, because everyone has something about them that is unique and interesting – something they do or think that makes them different from everyone around them. This prompt gives you the opportunity to talk about what makes you unique in a completely random context. 

One of the most powerful ways to approach this essay is to write about how you’ve used creativity in a non-creative pursuit. This is an opportunity to think a little outside the box with how you define creativity. 

You can write about a creative pursuit as something that you find yourself getting lost in. This doesn’t necessarily have to be an artistic pursuit; it can be any subject you enjoy, such as economics, science, or physics. Writing about getting into a creative flow when you’re doing something you love can make for a powerful narrative essay. You can also examine creativity in the context of problem-solving, taking the reader through how your brain works.

In writing a college essay, you are usually telling an admissions officer some combination of three things: what matters to you, how you think about the world, and how you approach situations, both mentally and emotionally. This essay prompt is a great way to open up about how your mind works.

Something about this prompt that often trips people up is the phrase “innovative thinking.” What exactly are they asking for? The best way to define this is innovation in the specific context in which you’re operating. 

Nobody’s expecting you to have come up with a new economics theorem or engineering postulate. Rather, this essay asks how you might approach a problem or idea differently than the people around you. You don’t need to be innovative on a global scale. You can absolutely be innovative in the context of a class, a club, or your family, to name a few examples.

Talking about family is actually an underrated response to this prompt. If you have a difference in mindset from your parents, siblings, or extended family, that can become a great essay. If you decide to write about this, make sure you’re drawing the contrast between what you’d consider a conventional approach compared to an unconventional approach. 

Another powerful version of this essay is one that subverts the expectations of the admissions officers. They expect to read about creativity in a positive context: an innovative idea leads to a positive outcome, such as a sports team working better together or a family changing their behavior. But a very powerful essay can also come from writing about an experience where you took a creative approach and it didn’t work out.

This is a great way to avoid a cliche essay. Consider the story you’re telling in your essay. Pretend you’re describing it to someone, and that when you’re 80% through, they ask, “What happens next?” Whatever the expected answer is, write the opposite. Writing about a creative approach that failed breaks the cliche and makes for a compelling read.

Where to Get Your UC “Creative Side” Essay Edited

Do you want feedback on your UC “Creative Side” essay? After rereading your essays countless times, it can be difficult to evaluate your writing objectively. That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays. 

If you want a college admissions expert to review your essay, advisors on CollegeVine have helped students refine their writing and submit successful applications to top schools. Find the right advisor for you to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

Finally, if you want  more information on how to write responses for the other UC essays, consider reading this breakdown of each personal insight question on CollegeVine’s blog !

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

creative problem solving essay

ESSAY SAUCE

ESSAY SAUCE

FOR STUDENTS : ALL THE INGREDIENTS OF A GOOD ESSAY

Essay: Business notes: Creative problem solving

Essay details and download:.

  • Subject area(s): Business essays
  • Reading time: 6 minutes
  • Price: Free download
  • Published: 9 September 2015*
  • File format: Text
  • Words: 1,612 (approx)
  • Number of pages: 7 (approx)

Text preview of this essay:

This page of the essay has 1,612 words. Download the full version above.

1 Unit 1 – Creative problem solving 1.1 Introduction A business leader is expected to identify problems, implement solutions and find business opportunities. To do so, they must learn to plan, analyse situations, identify and solve problems (or potential problems), make decisions, and set realistic and attainable goals for the business/unit. These are the fundamental thinking/creative requirements for leadership, and these set direction to a successful future. Without this critical competence, you will have to rely on others to do your thinking for you, or you will simply have to learn to nurture your creative thinking skills which will help you on your journey towards successful business. Creative thinking forms part of this continuous problem solving process, and is the fundamental basis for facilitating in the development of solutions, new initiatives, products or services. In an entrepreneurial context, the end result of this process should be directly linked to a feasible opportunity in the market environment. Quote – What lies behind us and what lies before us, are tiny matters, compared to what lies within us. – William Morrow The creative problem solving process consists of the following four steps: ‘ Problem analysis ‘ Solution analysis ‘ Decision analysis ‘ Solution implementation 1.2 The process The creative problem solving process consists of an important core process, namely the idea generation process see figure 1. This is an important step, especially if you need to come up with creative ideas for products, services, and processes, to solve a consumer problem. The idea generation process consists of the following four steps: ‘ Step 1 – Generating ideas ‘ Step 2 – Developing ideas into a concept ‘ Step 3 – Converting a concept into a tangible or intangible product ‘ Step 4 – Finally protecting the tangible or intangible product Figure 1 – The process of creative thinking (idea generation) Initially you need to understand the problem and find the root cause of the problem. Many techniques are available to find the causes of problems, you can use the 5 Why technique in this case, if you are familiar with it. The more advanced courses will describe how to use the major problem identification techniques, but this course will focus on the idea generation process. 1.3 Where to start In the entrepreneurial phase, the best way to start the idea generation process is when you are required to come up with a new product or service, to identify a potential consumer problem. Initially, focus on identifying problems in the area of your expertise (your knowledge base). If you have no knowledge of the problem, the product development stage could be a challenge for you. You will learn in the next section that not all problems are opportunities, and entrepreneurs should be careful as to how they approach this stage, when generating ideas in trying to identify a new product or service. 1.4 Problem versus opportunity In most cases, the idea-generation phase in the creative problem solving process is neglected. Individuals normally identify a problem or an opportunity (which may seem like an opportunity, but is actually just an idea), and then develop a new product in line with the new assumed idea or opportunity. It is therefore important to distinguish between an idea and an opportunity. Resources may be wasted if a mere idea is incorrectly perceived as an opportunity. Any opportunity is initially problem based (e.g. a coffee shop in a destination where there is a lack thereof, this creates several problem situations and potentially feasible opportunities for the entrepreneur). The creative thinking (idea generation process) involved, is the means to solving these problems, and bring forth solutions to the market problems, which create further opportunities. 1.4.1 Difference between problem and opportunity There is, however, a critical difference between a problem and opportunity. Consider the following: ‘ Is it an idea or an opportunity to develop a high speed train between two major cities which are not far from each other? Some may say it is a great idea, but when you need to pay R200 a day to make use of it, it is simply not an opportunity. Only a few people would make use of the service, resulting in a negative impact on the market. ‘ If it is possible to transport people between the two cities for a lower cost, say R10, it would possibly be a more feasible opportunity. Here is a good example of an opportunity – Around the turn of the twentieth century, a shoe manufacturer sent a representative to Africa, to open up a market in the undeveloped area in that continent. After exploring the culture for a month, the rep sent a telegram to the home office shouting, ‘Disaster! Disaster! These people do not wear shoes. Bring me home immediately!’ A short time later, another shoe company sent their agent to Africa for the same purpose. A month later his home office also received a telegram: ‘Opportunity! Opportunity! These people do not wear shoes! Triple production immediately!’ Quote – Every situation contains the potential for disastrous problems or unprecedented success. The event is what we perceive it to be. Unknown Now the question arises: How do I distinguish between an idea and an opportunity? Looking at above examples, every problem is not an opportunity, and it really depends at how you are looking at the problem. If you see a viable opportunity in a problem then you are looking at the problem with a different perception than most people (the glass is half full or half empty). From a business perspective all opportunities are not necessarily a viable opportunity, the market determines the available opportunities. Without the knowledge to interpret the market conditions, you could miss it totally in terms of your opportunity analysis. Table 1 shows the different industries in South Africa, the level of entrepreneurial activity, and how the same opportunity differs in each of these market areas. 1.4.2 The global entrepreneurship monitor The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor ‘ specifically identified the entrepreneurial activity in the various industries of South Africa. It can be generalized to state that an industry with a high level of entrepreneurial activity, gives away more business opportunities (e.g. manufacturing, retail, hotel, restaurant and business services), while one with a lower level will indicate far less opportunities (e.g. agriculture, forestry, hunting, fishing, finance, insurance, real estate and health, education and social services). If we analyse just one ‘high-opportunity’ industry, for instance manufacturing, it may be an opportunity today to manufacture a final product, and export it to an international market. A ‘low-opportunity’ industry, for instance insurance (especially in the market entry phase), may be negative as having an extremely high crime rate and insurance companies have to pay out claims at an alarming rate. It is also evident that low-opportunity industries may create feasible opportunities. An entrepreneur should therefore be wary of following a fad, (latest trend) and exploiting assumed opportunities in a ‘popular’ industry. Percentage of Entrepreneurs ISIC Category Start-ups New Firms Total Agriculture, forestry, hunting, fishing 1,3 2,6 1,6 Mining, construction 9,7 5,0 4,1 Manufacturing 14,3 19,1 13,8 Transport, communications, utilities 9,8 0,7 8,0 Wholesale, motor vehicle sales, repairs 6,0 6,5 6,3 Retail, hotel, restaurant 40,8 47,7 43,5 Finance, insurance, real estate 0,3 5,2 1,4 Business services 10,1 7,9 9,4 Health, education, social services 2,6 0,7 2,3 Consumer services 11,0 3,5 9,7 Source: Driver. Wood, Segal & Herrington, 2001 Table 1 – The percentage of entrepreneurs in the different industries in South-Africa 1.4.3 What is an opportunity? What exactly is an opportunity and how does an entrepreneur exploit a feasible opportunity? According to Hesrich & Peters (2002), an opportunity is the process whereby the entrepreneur assesses whether a certain product, service or process, will yield the necessary earnings based on the resource inputs that are required to manufacture and market it. ‘ The nature of opportunities needs to be assessed – thus, what leads to the existence of an opportunity? The following factors may result in an opportunity: ‘ General and specific problems faced by consumers ‘ Market shifts ‘ Government regulations ‘ Competition There are two equally important criteria in the assessment of an opportunity. Firstly, the size of the market – will the number of customers reward the input and energy required, to create and deliver the product? Secondly, the length in terms of the frame of the opportunity (window of opportunity). For example, is the demand for this product only a short fashionable phenomenon or is it based on sustainable business, or how long will it take before someone else (a competitor), to grab the opportunity? These two aspects should also link directly to the personal skills and competence of the entrepreneur. For example, entrepreneurs with no skills or interest in information technology will not necessarily achieve their personal goals. They should rather venture into an opportunity which suits their experience and personality. 1.4.4 Transform opportunity into a business Table 2 shows how the development of a business plan links to the identification and evaluation of opportunities, the determination of the resources required and the eventual management of the enterprise. All of these factors play a significant role in the correct assessment of the business opportunity. This means that the business plan must explain in sufficient detail how the business will exploit the situation, to transform the opportunity, into solving a problem for the consumer, which generates extraordinary profits for the people involved. ‘ Identify and evaluate the opportunity Develop the business plan Determine the resources needed Manage the enterprise Creation and length of opportunity Real and perceived value of opportunity Risk and returns of opportunity Opportunity versus skills and goals Competitive situation Title page Table of contents Executive summary Description of business Description of industry Marketing plan Financial plan Production plan Organisational plan Operational plan Summary Appendices Existing resources of the entrepreneur Resource gap and available supplies Access to needed resources Management style Key variables for success Identification of problems and potential problems Implementation of control systems Source: Hisrich, R.D. & Peters, M.P. 2002: 40. Entrepreneurship. Boston: Irwin/McGraw-Hill. Table 2 – Link between Opportunity and business plan 1.5 Instruction Exit and resume to your current page.

...(download the rest of the essay above)

About this essay:

If you use part of this page in your own work, you need to provide a citation, as follows:

Essay Sauce, Business notes: Creative problem solving . Available from:<https://www.essaysauce.com/business-essays/business-notes-creative-problem-solving/> [Accessed 30-03-24].

These Business essays have been submitted to us by students in order to help you with your studies.

* This essay may have been previously published on Essay.uk.com at an earlier date.

Essay Categories:

  • Accounting essays
  • Architecture essays
  • Business essays
  • Computer science essays
  • Criminology essays
  • Economics essays
  • Education essays
  • Engineering essays
  • English language essays
  • Environmental studies essays
  • Essay examples
  • Finance essays
  • Geography essays
  • Health essays
  • History essays
  • Hospitality and tourism essays
  • Human rights essays
  • Information technology essays
  • International relations
  • Leadership essays
  • Linguistics essays
  • Literature essays
  • Management essays
  • Marketing essays
  • Mathematics essays
  • Media essays
  • Medicine essays
  • Military essays
  • Miscellaneous essays
  • Music Essays
  • Nursing essays
  • Philosophy essays
  • Photography and arts essays
  • Politics essays
  • Project management essays
  • Psychology essays
  • Religious studies and theology essays
  • Sample essays
  • Science essays
  • Social work essays
  • Sociology essays
  • Sports essays
  • Types of essay
  • Zoology essays
  • Save your essays here so you can locate them quickly!
  • Lateral Thinking
  • Brainstorming
  • Creative Problem Solving

CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING Bibliography 3 Pages 675 Words

             Creative problem solving can be one of the best tools an organization              uses to keep current in the marketplace, and keep its staff on its toes.              Creative problem solving which involves everyone concerned with the problem              can encourage many types of creative thinking, such as brainstorming, group              solutions, and other techniques that might not have been considered              One key to creative problem solving is thinking "outside the box,"              which means thinking outside the confines of what is "normal" or accepted.              Experts on problem solving almost universally agree that thinking in              innovative ways without the usual structure is how most creative problem              solving is truly accomplished. "Vertical" and "horizontal" thinking are              two other modes of this thinking outside the box that can lead to more and              better ideas for creative problem solving. One expert says, "Most of us              tend to rely on safety and security of tried-and-true solutions -- the so-              called conventional wisdom so typified by the expression, 'That's the way              it's always been done...' It takes courage to step out in a fresh, new              Continuous innovation can keep an organization on top of the              competition, but it takes quite a bit of effort to maintain creativity all              the time. There are several stages to creative problem solving, and              problem solving in general, as we have seen. Creative thinking relies on              several tactics, some of which have turned up before in implementation and              solution. Some critical tactics are: suspend judgment of others, self-              assessment, develop a positive attitude, use checklists, and be self-              confident. All of these tactics help the group be more open to ideas, and              give the group members more assurance their ideas will not be ignored or              ridiculed (O'Keefe, 2000). Always be positive and constructive when              thinking creatively, and ideas that are more viable will be the result.              ...

Continue reading this essay Continue reading

Page 1 of 3

More Essays:

Academia.edu no longer supports Internet Explorer.

To browse Academia.edu and the wider internet faster and more securely, please take a few seconds to  upgrade your browser .

Enter the email address you signed up with and we'll email you a reset link.

  • We're Hiring!
  • Help Center

paper cover thumbnail

Problem Solving (Essay)

Profile image of Nathan Neal

Related Papers

Behaviour Research and Therapy

Timothy Elliott

creative problem solving essay

International Journal of …

Kaye ABakar

Computers & Education

Youngkyun Baek

Current Psychology

Bahadir Bozoglan

Biennial Review of Counseling Psychology

Adam Mohamed

Modeling the Relationships between School Administrators' Creative and Critical Thinking Dispositions with Decision Making Styles and Problem Solving Skills

Mustafa Özgenel

The aim of this study was to modeling the relationship between of school administrators' creative and critical thinking dispositions in relation to their decision-making styles and problem solving skills. A total of 586 school administrators participated in research from a district selected through the random sampling method. Data was collected using four different scales; Decision Making Styles Scale, Social Problem Solving Inventory-Short Form, Marmara Creative Thinking Dispositions Scale and Marmara Critical Thinking Dispositions Scale. A theoretical model was proposed to determine the relationship patterns between the research variables and the proposed theoretical model was tested using a structural equation model. The school administrators' critical and creative thinking dispositions were both predicted decision-making styles and problem solving skills; moreover, it was determined that rational, avoidant and spontaneous decision-making styles significantly predicted the problem-solving skills of school administrators. The school administrators' critical and creative thinking dispositions also effected their problem solving skills by way of their decision making styles (e.g., rational, avoidant and spontaneous). In addition, the school administrators' creative and critical thinking dispositions, along with their decision-making styles (e.g., rational, avoidant and spontaneous), constituted 45% of the change observed in their problem solving skills.

Cognitive Therapy and Research

Elizabeth Jeglic

Neuropsychological …

Joseph F Rath , Rose Lynn Sherr

Alberto Maydeu-Olivares

RELATED PAPERS

Lorna Goddard

Social Problem Solving and Offending

AYŞEGÜL ERÇEVİK

… journal of geriatric …

Alexandre Dombrovski

Journal of Aging and Health

Linda Garand

Journal of School …

Brian R Barber , Gregory Taylor

erdal hamarta

Andrew M H Siu

Problem-Seeking In Teacher Education: Empowering Students To Grapple With The Complexities Of The Profession

Libby Flynn (Gleadhill)

Juan Jiménez Flores

Social Indicators Research

Özlem Bektaş Öztaşkın

Stylianos Hatzipanagos

Eating Behaviors

Michael Perri

Psychological …

Sandra Muñoz

Diabetes Spectrum

Haseeb Majid

James McGuire

European Journal of Psychological Assessment

Urbano Lorenzo-Seva

Personality and Individual Differences

Osvaldo Morera

Rehabilitation Psychology

Omega-journal of Death and Dying

Juana Gomez , Urbano Lorenzo-Seva , Joaquin Tomas-Sabado

Joseph F Rath , David Litke

rick shewchuk

Mark A Reinecke

Wahyu Rahardjo

Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings

Laura Dreer , Monica Kurylo

Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care

Joan Keltner

Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry

Alberto Maydeu-Olivares , Thomas Nygren , Monica Skewes

coskun arslan

Oncology Nursing Forum

Georgia Sadler

Dena Derkzen

Kristin Salber

Mehmet Eskin

Cognitive and Behavioral Practice

Bonita Fisher

RELATED TOPICS

  •   We're Hiring!
  •   Help Center
  • Find new research papers in:
  • Health Sciences
  • Earth Sciences
  • Cognitive Science
  • Mathematics
  • Computer Science
  • Academia ©2024

IMAGES

  1. Grade 11 Creative thinking

    creative problem solving essay

  2. Creative Thinking Activities and Problem Solving Cards

    creative problem solving essay

  3. Problem Solving Essays: 5 Easy Steps to Choose the Best Problem to

    creative problem solving essay

  4. 100 Best Problem Solution Essay Topics

    creative problem solving essay

  5. Masdar City Project and Creative Problem Solving

    creative problem solving essay

  6. Problem/Solution Essay

    creative problem solving essay

VIDEO

  1. Helping students with essays I The best essay 2023

  2. Creative Problem Solving Chapter 4

  3. Creative Problem Solving Chapter 7

  4. Creative Problem Solving Chapter 1

  5. Creative Problem Solving Chapter 5

  6. Creative Problem Solving Chapter 2

COMMENTS

  1. PDF Creative Problem Solving

    CPS is a comprehensive system built on our own natural thinking processes that deliberately ignites creative thinking and produces innovative solutions. Through alternating phases of divergent and convergent thinking, CPS provides a process for managing thinking and action, while avoiding premature or inappropriate judgment. It is built upon a ...

  2. How to Write a Problem-Solution Essay: Step-by-Step Instructions

    Step 1: Think about groups that you belong to and the problems that those groups have. Make a list of groups you belong to, such as: Step 2: Make a list of problems you have encountered in some of these groups. Sometimes there is a plan for a solution, but it isn't working, or maybe the plan isn't being enforced.

  3. What Is Creative Problem-Solving & Why Is It Important?

    Its benefits include: Finding creative solutions to complex problems: User research can insufficiently illustrate a situation's complexity. While other innovation processes rely on this information, creative problem-solving can yield solutions without it. Adapting to change: Business is constantly changing, and business leaders need to adapt.

  4. 100 Problem Solution Essay Topics with Sample Essays

    After you have chosen your topic, you can find instructions about how to develop your ideas, find a unique solution to the problem, and organize your essay in "How to Write Your Problem Solution Paper." 4 Parts of Problem Solution. Describe a problem vividly. Propose a solution. Argue that the solution is practical, feasible, cost-effective ...

  5. How Has Creativity Helped You in Problem Solving: Essay

    The challenge of using creative -problem-solving techniques allows people mind's how to play out different scenarios. the second step is to "find your center" as it is important that thinking must be clear so removing inner confusion. the third one is 'explore the content' as one urgent necessity is to zoom out from the content of the ...

  6. All You Need to Know About Writing a Problem Solution Essay

    The best guide for a problem solution essay outline is the four components mentioned above. Cover the situation, the problem, the solution, and then evaluate both or all sides of the story. To drill down further into the outline, you should have an introduction that will set out your paper's structure. Then you should present the situation.

  7. Problem Solving Essays: Overview

    When we're solving a problem, whether at work, school, or home, we are being asked to perform multiple, often complex, tasks. The most effective problem-solving approach includes some variation of the following steps: Determine the issue (s) Recognize other perspectives. Think of multiple possible results. Research and evaluate the possibilities.

  8. The Role of Insight and Creativity in Problem-Solving Essay

    Rickards, T. (1997). Creativity and problem-solving at work. Brookfield, USA: Gower Publishing Company. This essay, "The Role of Insight and Creativity in Problem-Solving" is published exclusively on IvyPanda's free essay examples database. You can use it for research and reference purposes to write your own paper.

  9. What is Creative Problem-Solving?

    An introduction to creative problem-solving. Creative problem-solving is an essential skill that goes beyond basic brainstorming. It entails a holistic approach to challenges, melding logical processes with imaginative techniques to conceive innovative solutions. As our world becomes increasingly complex and interconnected, the ability to think ...

  10. How to Be a More Creative Problem-Solver at Work: 8 Tips

    8 Creative Problem-Solving Tips. 1. Empathize with Your Audience. A fundamental practice of design thinking's clarify stage is empathy. Understanding your target audience can help you find creative and relevant solutions for their pain points through observing them and asking questions.

  11. Crafting Effective Problems and Solutions Essay Topics

    A problem-solution essay asks you to identify a problem or problems and come up with a solution to that problem. They can be broad-based or specific, depending on the nature of the problem you are addressing in the essay. Learning how to write a problem-solution essay means understanding the different components of the essay and how to present ...

  12. Teaching Creativity and Inventive Problem Solving in Science

    In this essay, I review the evidence that creativity is not a single hard-to-measure property. The creative process can be explained by reference to increasingly well-understood cognitive skills such as cognitive flexibility and inhibitory control that are widely distributed in the population. ... Creative problem solving: the history ...

  13. Critical Thinking and Creative Problem Solving Essay example

    Com 420 - Critical Thinking and Creative Problem Solving Essay. Critical thinking is the process of rationally analyzing and attempting to solve a problem accurately without guessing. The first step in critical thinking is to understand the problem thoroughly which will allow you to restate the problem in different ways to learn about it and ...

  14. Creative Thinking And Problem Solving Education Essay

    It is intended to aid in problem solving and reflective thinking. This will help you on how to take an action for your problem. Identify the problem. Generate possible solutions. Evaluate the solutions. Design an action plan. Implement the plan. Evaluate the results.

  15. Step-by-step Guide on How to Write a Problem-Solution Essay

    Describe the factors that may be a part of the problem as many as possible. Study all potential causes of the problem that may be relevant to the factors. Create a diagram of the factors and causes, how they are connected and analyze it. Depending on the complexity of the problem you can do an investigation by analyzing causes and also surveys ...

  16. How To Answer UC PIQ Essay 2: Express Your Creative Side

    Consider the following points: 1- Reflect on how engaging in creative activities has helped you develop skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, or adaptability. 2- Explain how your creative side has influenced your perspective on the world and shaped your values and beliefs. 3- Discuss how your creative abilities align ...

  17. 111 Problem Solving Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

    Problem Solving Skills Training and the Workplace. It allows them to evaluate the impact and severity of unconventional solutions to the underlying problem with the stakeholders, clients, and allies. The training program will help employees to set aside and segregate the facts. Problem Solving Process and Methods.

  18. How to Write the "Creative Side" UC Essay

    What's Covered: Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem-solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side. A lot of students can be scared away from this prompt. Many people, when seeing the word "creative," automatically think of ...

  19. Essay: Business notes: Creative problem solving

    This is an important step, especially if you need to come up with creative ideas for products, services, and processes, to solve a consumer problem. The idea generation process consists of the following four steps: ' Step 1 - Generating ideas. ' Step 2 - Developing ideas into a concept.

  20. Discover the 5 Stages of Creative Problem Solving

    The 5 stages of creative problem-solving are: Preparation: Gathering information, doing research, and identifying the problem. Incubation: Subconsciously working on a solution. Insight: The "aha" moment when the solution presents itself. Evaluation: Critically analyze the solution to determine its effectiveness.

  21. 10 Creative Problem-Solving Techniques You Need to Try Today

    In this blog post, we'll explore 10 creative problem-solving techniques you need to try today. 10 Creative Problem-solving Techniques 1. Brainstorming. Brainstorming remains a classic method for rapidly generating a plethora of ideas, creating an atmosphere devoid of judgment. This technique can be used individually or in a group setting, and ...

  22. The problem-solving and Creative Thinking Essay Example [Free]

    The creative thinking process is responsible for unorthodox solutions to normal solutions. This thinking process mainly goes beyond what is known in order to explore what is unknown. There are various methods that have been identified as being part of creative thinking. These include; evolution, synthesis, revolution, changing direction and re ...

  23. CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING essays

    Experts on problem solving almost universally agree that thinking in. innovative ways without the usual structure is how most creative problem. solving is truly accomplished. "Vertical" and "horizontal" thinking are. two other modes of this thinking outside the box that can lead to more and. better ideas for creative problem solving.

  24. (DOC) Problem Solving (Essay)

    Modeling the Relationships between School Administrators' Creative and Critical Thinking Dispositions with Decision Making Styles and Problem Solving Skills. ... PROBLEM-SOLVING ESSAY 1 According to D'Zurilla, Nezu, & Maydeu-Olivares (2004), a problem is any life situation or task that demands a response, but no effective response is ...