CPI Creative Thinking & Problem Solving 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In creative problem solving, what is the primary goal of the 'incubation' stage?
- To formally document ideas
- To allow the subconscious to process a problem away from focused effort (Correct answer)
- To test prototypes with users
- To rank ideas by feasibility
Correct answer: To allow the subconscious to process a problem away from focused effort
Incubation lets the unconscious mind make novel connections while conscious attention is directed elsewhere.
Question 2: Which divergent thinking metric measures the variety of distinct categories that generated ideas span?
- Fluency
- Flexibility (Correct answer)
- Originality
- Elaboration
Correct answer: Flexibility
Flexibility counts how many different conceptual categories ideas represent, not just the total number of ideas.
Question 3: A facilitator asks participants to silently write ideas, pass their paper to the next person for additions, and repeat. This structured ideation method is called:
- Nominal Group Technique
- Brainwriting 6-3-5 (Correct answer)
- World Café
- Delphi Method
Correct answer: Brainwriting 6-3-5
Brainwriting 6-3-5 has 6 participants write 3 ideas in 5 minutes, then rotate sheets to build on others' ideas silently.
Question 4: Which problem-solving framework explicitly separates 'problem finding' from 'idea finding' and 'solution finding'?
- TRIZ
- Creative Problem Solving (CPS) model (Correct answer)
- Lean Startup
- PDCA cycle
Correct answer: Creative Problem Solving (CPS) model
The CPS model by Osborn and Parnes divides creative work into distinct stages including problem definition, idea generation, and solution development.
Question 5: When using the 'Five Whys' technique, what signals that you have found a root cause?
- When the answer involves a person's mistake
- When asking 'why' again yields a process or systemic factor with no further actionable cause (Correct answer)
- When the fifth why has been asked regardless of the answer
- When the team reaches consensus on the most popular answer
Correct answer: When asking 'why' again yields a process or systemic factor with no further actionable cause
Root cause is reached when the chain of whys uncovers a systemic issue where further questioning produces no actionable insight.
Question 6: In Edward de Bono's Six Thinking Hats, the Green Hat represents:
- Logical analysis and data
- Creative thinking, possibilities, and alternatives (Correct answer)
- Caution, risks, and critical judgment
- Emotions and intuitive feelings
Correct answer: Creative thinking, possibilities, and alternatives
The Green Hat signals creative energy, inviting participants to generate new ideas, alternatives, and possibilities.
Question 7: A product team applies 'Assumption Storming' to an innovation project. What is the first step?
- Prototype the leading concept
- List all assumptions currently embedded in the problem or solution (Correct answer)
- Benchmark competitors
- Write a user story
Correct answer: List all assumptions currently embedded in the problem or solution
Assumption Storming begins by surfacing hidden beliefs about users, context, and constraints so they can be challenged and reframed.
CPI Creative Thinking & Problem Solving 3
In creative problem solving, what is the primary goal of the 'incubation' stage?