Creative Problem-solving Workshop
Authors: Adi Muslic, PMP, VP Sponsors & Partners / Tetiana Pavliuk, PMP / Joachim Dehais, PMP, VP Volunteers
Following the successful "Wicked Problem-solving Workshop" at the PMI Annual Conference in October, we ventured to Lugano to share the practice of creative problem-solving, which integrates powerful elements, such as systems thinking, visualisation, creativity, and open collaboration.
The workshop, organised in collaboration with the local Association for Project Management (APM Ticino), took place at the Professional School of Italian Switzerland (SUPSI). Through newly acquired systems thinking, visualisation, and creative collaboration concepts and tools, the participants achieved broadened perspective. This enabled the formation of new and innovative solutions for long-standing, strategic problems, including those that they had experienced themselves.
Picture the challenge before you as a dynamic constellation of interconnected elements, each influencing, and being influenced, by each other. Systems thinking invites one to step back, see the bigger picture, and comprehend the intricate dance of variables at play.
Unleash the power of visualisation to illuminate the unseen. Imagine your ideas taking shape in vibrant images and dynamic forms. Visual imagery not only clarifies one’s understanding, but also serves as a canvas for one’s inventive mind to explore innovative solutions. Whether one’s preferred methods include mind-maps, diagrams, or interactive simulations, one should allow one’s ideas to materialize in the visual landscape. This is your roadmap for innovation.
Now let us infuse your journey with creativity – the catalyst that transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary. Embrace the unconventional, dance with ambiguity, and dare to dream beyond the constraints of the status quo. Your creative spirit is the spark that ignites novel connections, leading to breakthrough solutions. Remember… constraints are merely invitations for inventive thinking.
Yet, the true magic lies in collaboration – the symphony of minds harmonising towards a common goal. Engage in open and safe collaboration, where diverse perspectives converge into a collective force. Each participant brings a unique point of view to the orchestra, contributing to a melody of ideas that goes beyond limitations of one’s perspective. Through open dialogue and shared creativity, the boundaries of what is possible expand unexpectedly.
Should you join this creative problem-solving odyssey, remember that the journey itself is as valuable as the destination. Embrace the joy of discovery, relish the challenges, and celebrate the triumphs of ingenuity. Innovation thrives at the intersection between systems thinking, visualisation, creativity, and close collaboration. This is where your problem-solving narrative becomes a tapestry of inspiration for others.
The next Creative Problem-solving Workshop, which is to be held in January 2024, will be hosted in Swiss Romandie. Follow us on LinkedIn, check our website regularly, or look out for event notifications to register for this invaluable workshop.
See you soon!
Joachim, Tetiana and Adi