The first step of problem solving is to define the problem. Although this may sound trivial, in many cases it is not. Many people and organisations rush in to tackle a problem by finding a solution, without previously knowing that the problem really is. So, to achieve a solution, one first has to fully understand the problem.
Once the problems have been clearly defined, the most important factor in solving it is creativity. Creativity is required in order to create a ask the right questions about the problem and find the correct and appropriate answers to them, creativity is necessary in order to provide “out of the box” ideas and suggestions and creativity is what defines the process of finding a new way in doing things.
Brainstorming is a very popular way to solve a problem and it is a characteristically creative method. It involves the rapid exchange of ideas, any ideas, about the solution to a specific problem. What it does actually is to help people to come up with “out of the box” unconventional ideas and solutions, which in the majority of times are the combination of various ideas that are “thrown” during the start of the brainstorming session.
Also, creativity is what helps us to overcome the, very natural and common negative initial reaction to a problem; the anger and despair that a problem can cause, and actually make something good out of a bad situation but putting our minds and talents to work in order to find a solution that may just not be the solution to one problem but many.
A good example of a very creative solution to a common problem that later became a lifesaving method in medicine is the use of ultrasounds. When the first metallic ships and buildings started to appear, a problem manifested in the form of cracks in the metals that had the potential to result in catastrophic failure. The solution that was improvised in order to detect such material failures was the use of ultrasounds. Soon enough ultrasounds were used in humans to image their anatomy and monitor their health. Ultrasounds are nowadays used in every hospital, having a variety of applications such as in obstetrics, oncology and dermatology.
Problem solving requires the generation, the production of something new; a new idea, a new device, a new product or new services. This is what creativity is.