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
In design thinking, 'extreme users' are deliberately included in research because:
Answer: Their amplified needs reveal insights and solutions that also benefit mainstream users
Extreme users experience problems more intensely, surfacing latent needs and edge-case solutions that improve designs for all users.
Which creative problem-solving approach uses biological analogies to solve technical challenges, asking 'What in nature already solves this problem?'
Answer: Biomimicry
Biomimicry applies principles from evolved biological systems to engineering and design challenges, drawing on 3.8 billion years of natural R&D.
When evaluating ideas using the PMI (Plus, Minus, Interesting) tool, what does the 'I' category capture?
Answer: Neutral observations, implications, or provocations worth exploring further
The 'Interesting' column records neither positive nor negative aspects but intriguing implications that could guide further creative exploration.
A CPI innovator 'prototypes to think, not to prove.' This mindset reflects which principle?
Answer: Low-fidelity prototypes surface insights early when changes are cheap
Building rough prototypes early externalizes thinking, enables quick learning, and reduces costly late-stage rework.
Which cognitive bias leads innovators to over-rely on the first piece of information encountered when making decisions?
Answer: Anchoring bias
Anchoring bias causes subsequent judgments to be disproportionately influenced by an initial reference point, constraining creative exploration.
In creative problem solving, 'deferred judgment' is a core principle primarily because:
Answer: Premature evaluation inhibits the free flow of divergent ideas
Deferred judgment during ideation prevents self-censorship and social inhibition, enabling more numerous and diverse idea generation.
A team uses 'rapid iteration cycles' in their innovation process. This approach is most aligned with which problem-solving philosophy?
Answer: Fail fast, learn fast — use feedback loops to refine solutions quickly
Rapid iteration embraces small, frequent experiments that generate real-world feedback, accelerating learning and reducing innovation risk.