ABSTRACT

Using topics of critical and creative thinking, Critical Thinking, Idea Innovation, and Creativity discusses methods of solving complex problems, demonstrates the benefits of using the methods of imaginative thinking, identifies ways to overcome problems and inhibitors such as a lack of confidence, provides guidelines for assessing creative experiences, and encourages the application of the methods to leadership, research, and decision-making. It allows readers to turn their unidimensional technical knowledge into a multi-dimensional knowledge framework that will provide a broader and more realistic framework for the solution of complex problems. Emphasis is placed on the fundamental concepts of critical and creative thinking and idea innovation, and each chapter presents numerous activities to accompany the knowledge-based educational material provided.

Features:

  • Provides educational material on creativity in a format that stresses application. An array of creative thinking tools will enable the reader to develop imaginative ideas.

  • Emphasizes ways that critical thinking, idea innovation, and creativity can enhance a reader’s ability to solve problems related to leadership, the conduct of research, making decisions, and solving complex problems.

  • Focuses on ways to improve the reader’s thinking skills, which will enhance the likelihood of developing novel solutions to complex problems; this skill set includes skills like curiosity, questioning, and skepticism, which are central to efficiently solving complex problems and meeting the requirements of effective leadership.

  • Includes numerous activities in each chapter that will enable readers to apply the methods and develop actual experience in critical and creative thinking; these activities are appropriate for use either by individuals or by small groups.

chapter 1|10 pages

Introduction

chapter 2|21 pages

Processes for Problem-Solving

chapter 4|11 pages

Synectics

Analogical Brainstorming

chapter 5|11 pages

The Delphi Method

chapter 6|8 pages

Checklist Development and Applications

chapter 7|10 pages

Inhibitors of Creativity and Innovation

chapter 8|13 pages

Assessment of Critical Thinking Activities

chapter 9|45 pages

A New Perspective on Critical Thinking

chapter 14|18 pages

Leadership of Critical Problem-Solving

chapter 15|24 pages

Critical Thinking

Applications to Research

chapter 16|14 pages

Critical Decision-Making

chapter 17|11 pages

Introspective Idea Innovation

chapter 18|8 pages

Conclusions