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
Which TRIZ inventive principle suggests solving a conflict by dividing an object into independent parts?
Answer: Segmentation
TRIZ Principle 1 (Segmentation) resolves contradictions by splitting an object or system into separate, independently functional parts.
A CPI candidate uses 'random word' stimulation to break out of conventional thinking. This technique works by:
Answer: Forcing unexpected associations between the problem and an unrelated concept
Random input introduces a semantic trigger that forces the brain to form novel connections it would not generate through linear reasoning.
What distinguishes 'wicked problems' from 'tame problems' in innovation contexts?
Answer: Wicked problems are complex, socially embedded, and have no definitive formulation or single correct solution
Wicked problems, defined by Rittel and Webber, resist standard analytical approaches because each attempt to solve them changes the problem itself.
In the Osborn-Parnes CPS model, 'convergent thinking' during solution finding is best characterized by:
Answer: Applying criteria to evaluate and select the most promising ideas
Convergent thinking applies affirmative judgment to evaluate options against defined criteria, narrowing possibilities to actionable solutions.
An innovator frames a problem as 'How to reduce hospital readmissions' and later reframes it as 'How to keep patients healthier at home.' This reframing technique is an example of:
Answer: Problem re-definition or reframing
Reframing shifts the problem boundary, revealing new solution spaces that were invisible under the original framing.
Which term describes the phenomenon where groups converge prematurely on an idea due to social pressure, suppressing diverse creative input?
Answer: Groupthink
Groupthink causes cohesive teams to prioritize harmony over critical evaluation, reducing the quality and diversity of generated solutions.
A facilitator uses 'dot voting' after a brainstorming session. What phase of the creative process does this represent?
Answer: Convergent thinking — narrowing and prioritizing ideas
Dot voting is a convergent tool that democratically filters a large idea set down to the highest-priority candidates for development.