1.

0 Introduction to Creativity and Innovation

Dr. Hasril bin Amiruddin
hasril@uthm.edu.my

1.1 Definition and Concept of Creativity

1.2 Definition and Concept of Innovation
1.3 The Need for Creativity and
Innovation
1.4 Stimulants to Creativity
1.5 Obstacles to Creativity

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Chapter Highlights

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Visual Intelligence Problems

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Cont

Cont

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Connect all nine dots with four (4) straight

continuous lines without your pen (or pencil)
leaving the paper.

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Cont

Cont

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Connect all of the sixteen circles shown below,

using six contiguous straight lines.

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Cont

Cont

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Rearrange so that the triangle points to the

left instead of right by moving 3 circles.

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Cont

 A man who couldn't swim fell off a yacht into deep

water. He was not wearing anything to keep him
afloat. It took 30 minutes for the people on the
yacht to realize someone was missing, and the
man was rescued two hours later. Why didn't he
drown?
My life can be measured in hours,
I serve by being devoured.
Thin, I am quick
Fat, I am slow
Wind is my foe.
What am I?

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Lateral Thinking Problems

 Six eggs are in a basket. If six individuals each

take one of the eggs, then how come one of
the eggs is still left in the basket?
Three switches outside a windowless room are
connected to three light bulbs inside the room.
How can you determine which switch is
connected to which bulb if you may enter
the room only once?

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Cont

CREATIVITY

Involves the ability to avoid the traps of

problem solving:
Mental sets
Functional fixedness
Misrepresentation of the problem

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Definition a cognitive activity that

results in a new or novel way of viewing a
problem or situation

Characteristics of a Creative Person

1.

Knowledgeable and intelligent

3.
Motivation willing to make the cognitive
investment and effort to develop a solution

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2.
Personality self-confident and not afraid to be
wrong or look foolish

Cont
The process of producing something that is both
original and worthwhile
Creative individuals show creative productivity,
producing inventions, insightful discoveries, artistic
works, revolutionary paradigms
Creative individuals usually have creative lifestyles,
characterized by flexibility, no stereotypical
behaviors, and nonconforming attitudes

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Creativity

Cont
Its How Much You Produce

Its What You Know

What distinguishes remarkably creative individuals
from less remarkable people is their expertise and
commitment to their creative endeavor

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Creative individuals can come up with many

different ways to solve problems

Cont
Role of personality and motivation in creativity.
Intrinsic motivation (enjoyment of the creative
process) is essential to creativity, whereas extrinsic
motivation (fame, fortune) actually may impede
creativity.

Its Where You Are

External factors that contribute to creativity.
Context (time, space, resources) of creative work

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Its Who You Are

Separate idea generation from evaluation

Test assumptions
Avoid patterned thinking
Create new perspectives
Minimize negative thinking
Take Prudent risks

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Creative Thinking
Principles

Cont
Divergent vs Convergent. Dont do both, it wont do
either one well.
Creative Thinking vs Critical Thinking.
The best way to get ideas is to defer judgments.

Test Assumptions
We see only what we think we see.
Reality vs Optical illusions

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Separate idea generation from evaluation

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Imagination Exercise

Cont
We cant be effective unless we know how to test
assumptions.
E.g. as simple as daily decisions we do everyday.
Breakthrough solutions bear jokes.
The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking
new lands, but in seeking with new eyes.
How to test assumptions? Follow Albert Einstein
answer.

Avoid Thinking Patterned

Try any body exercises (for instance youll see natural
and unnatural of behaving and thinking.
Breaking out of a rut by breaking habit bound thinking.

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Everyday Assumptions

Cont
There can be no creative product without a creative
perspective.
E.g. Archimedes who found the principle of
displacement and Art Fry who found Post-it note.
Keeping sight of the big picture.

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Create new perspectives

Cont
What is your typical 1st reaction when someone
proposes a new idea?
Exercises: Take five minutes and write down every
negative response you can think of to a new idea.
Develop balanced responses:
Try viewing ideas as raw material
Every time you hear a new idea, train yourself to think
or say , whats good about it?
Used balanced response to evaluating new ideas

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Minimize negative thinking

Cont
A failure is an opportunity to start over again, but
more intelligently Henry Ford.
The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has
nothing, and is nothing.

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Take prudent risk

 Select any creator or inventor and discuss their

creativity according to creativity principles that
have been covered in the class.
Submission before 1200hrs , 7th October 2014.
Lucky selected student will present during class
on 10th October 2014.

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Individual Assignment

 Find one simple group activity that encourage

creativity and innovation among group
members/class and present it during next lecture
(10th October 2014). Activity may consist
cognitive, psychomotor or affective value.
Each group will be given 5-15 minutes to conduct
the activity.

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Group Assignment