Releasing trapped thinking in colleges. Part 1: using creative thinking in colleges

Abstract

Suggests that in order to meet the new challenges of the Learning and Skills Council, post‐compulsory education and training organisations need to develop a new organisational culture which is more open, informing and entrusting. As part of this, and enabling a more creative climate, organisations can extend their problem solving “toolkit” beyond the orthodox and traditional, by embracing creative problem solving (CPS) techniques. At a more structural level, they will need to develop idea generating systems as part of managing innovation. The bottom line benefits of CPS approaches are outlined. Examples of using CPS techniques are given and a means of developing critical practice in using them. A second article deals with more systematic organisational ways of using creative ideas and approaches to manage innovation. Some examples of the benefits and outcomes of this approach are given along with an organisational “primer” for managing innovation.