ABSTRACT
Decision making has various techniques and tools. The techniques can be divided into three categories based on use to improve the creativity and/or to enhance the problem identification and decision making skills of the individual; improve the creativity and/or to enhance the problem identification and decision making ability of groups; and work with problem networks or “messes”. This chapter identifies a comprehensive cross-section of techniques in all three categories, describes how they work, and judges their effectiveness. Most of the techniques have to do with the manipulation of something. Human thought processes tend to fall into habitual patterns. The techniques using word games include Word Manipulation, Lateral Thinking, and Forced Connections. Forced Connections is a technique similar to Lateral Thinking and is used mainly to address technical system problems.
