Productive Thinking Model

The Productive Thinking Model (sometimes known as "Thinkx") was developed by Tim Hurson, a Canadian author, speaker, and creativity theorist. It is a structured approach to solving problems or generating creative ideas that is based in part on the Creative Problem Solving Process (CPS) and NASA's IDEF.[1] The Productive Thinking Model is a framework rather than a technique; that is, various creativity techniques such as brainstorming and lateral thinking can be applied at different stages of the process.[2]

Contents

Uses

The model is used in groups, businesses, nonprofits as well as by individuals. Aspects of it are taught at various creativity conferences including Mindcamp in Canada,[3] CREA Conference[4] in Europe, and ACRE in South Africa.[5] The nonprofit group Facilitators Without Borders uses the Productive Thinking Model to facilitate problem-solving in communities in need.[6]

The process

Like CPS, the Productive Thinking Model has six steps.[7] They are:

Step 1: "What's Going On?"

Establishes a context for the problems or opportunities being addressed, exploring different ways of stating the so-called "itch", exploring what factors, circumstances, and entities are involved, and what a solution might look like.

There are actually five sub-steps to this phase:

Step 2: "What's Success?"

The second step establishes a vision for a future with the problem solved or the opportunity exploited. In this stage often active imagination is used to imagine, explore, and describe how things would be if the issue were resolved. This vision then informs a process of creating a clearly articulated view of the future, using a tool called "DRIVE", short for:

Step 3: "What's the Question?"

The third step frames the challenge by turning it into a question. This is accomplished through brainstorm-like techniques eliciting as many questions as possible, and then clustering, combining, and choosing the question or questions that seem most stimulating.

Step 4: "Generate Answers"

Through the use of brainstorming and other idea-generating techniques, the fourth step is designed to create a long list of possible solutions to the problem question. One of those solutions (or several, combined) is selected for further development.

Step 5: "Forge the Solution"

Uses a specific tool called "POWER" to develop the selected solution into something more robust. POWER is short for:

Step 6: "Align Resources"

The final step translates the selected, developed solution into an action plan that may include, among other things:

References

  1. ^ Hurson, Tim (2007). Think Better: An Innovator's Guide to Productive Thinking. New York, New York: McGraw Hill. pp. xii. ISBN 978-0071494939. 
  2. ^ Hurson, Tim (2007). Think Better: An Innovator's Guide to Productive Thinking. New York, New York: McGraw Hill. pp. 91–94. ISBN 978-0071494939. 
  3. ^ "Great Answer! (Wrong Question)". Mindcamp. http://mindcamp.org/program.php?number=15. Retrieved 2008-01-05. 
  4. ^ "CREA Conference". http://www.creaconference.com/EN/team/Tim-Hurson+66.html. Retrieved 2008-01-05. 
  5. ^ "Presenters". 13th Annual International Creativity Conference in Africa. http://www.sacreativity.com/presenters3.asp#. Retrieved 2008-01-05. 
  6. ^ "What We Do". Facilitators Without Borders. http://fwb.ca/what.php. Retrieved 2008-01-05. 
  7. ^ "thinkx - how it works". Thinkx Intellectual Capital Inc.. http://thinkxic.com/how.php. Retrieved 2008-01-05. 

Further reading