ABSTRACT
This chapter considers the basic principles of team creativity, as the essential differentiating feature of dream teams. It introduces the mapping, perspectives, and ideas in action (MPIA) system of studying and influencing team creativity. The chapter focuses on a theory of human information processing influenced by mental blinkers which is described as mind-sets. Creative problem-solving techniques help people to become more aware of their mind-sets and give them tools to help challenge them. There is evidence to show that there are two patterns of problem-solving behaviour, which have become known as left-brain and right-brain thinking. Conventional education tends to emphasize the value of left-brain thinking, especially in professional occupations such as engineering, accounting and computer programming. Several valuable ideas have emerged in the work when team members have been challenged to 'try some reversed thinking'. One of the most interesting approaches for breaking the assumptions involves the deliberate practice of metaphoric thinking.
