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Creative Thinking & Problem Solving Flashcards

7 cards from real CPI practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Creative Thinking & Problem Solving flashcards as text

  1. In creative problem solving, what is the primary goal of the 'incubation' stage?

    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.

  2. Which divergent thinking metric measures the variety of distinct categories that generated ideas span?

    Answer: Flexibility

    Flexibility counts how many different conceptual categories ideas represent, not just the total number of ideas.

  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:

    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.

  4. Which problem-solving framework explicitly separates 'problem finding' from 'idea finding' and 'solution finding'?

    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.

  5. When using the 'Five Whys' technique, what signals that you have found a root cause?

    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.

  6. In Edward de Bono's Six Thinking Hats, the Green Hat represents:

    Answer: Creative thinking, possibilities, and alternatives

    The Green Hat signals creative energy, inviting participants to generate new ideas, alternatives, and possibilities.

  7. A product team applies 'Assumption Storming' to an innovation project. What is the first step?

    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.