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After reading the chapter, you should be aware of the challenge of creative problem solving. Most of your education, work life and society in general puts a great deal of value on the rational problem solving model while creative thinking is thought to be best left to hobbies, leisure activities and the like. As a result like a body muscle that is not used, our “creative muscle” has become weak to the point where some will even think that they are not creative. Everyone has the ability to be a creative problems over. Our mistaken belief about the limits to our creative ability is grounded in what the authors call “conceptual blocks”. The first step in becoming more creative is to be aware of our conceptual blocks and move beyond them. Like going to the gym after many years of inactivity, muscles resist the new demands put on them thus creating discomfort. The process of using your creative muscles after years of inactivity usually involves discomfort as well ..often in the form of frustration. Like the process of overcoming physical pain you need to persist and not let the frustration discourage you. So in preparation for your first assignment you are asked to discuss your conceptual blocks. You are asked in this forum discussion to consider a difficult problem you have encountered in your studies, work or life and identify your conceptual blocks i.e. the patterns you fall into automatically when considering a problem. If you cannot think of a difficult problem of your own, then read the case for assignment #1 “Moving up the Rankings” at the end of the chapter and use that for your contribution to the discussion about conceptual blocks.
Expert Answer
When it comes to problem solving my husband does not suffer from complacency, if anything he engages in over thinking which can cause stalled problem solving. His mind is so active he comes up with an incredible amount of suggestions for any one question. The number of ways he can think of to arrange furniture in a room is staggering. He is constantly thinking and rethinking a small project around the house, like painting. Unfortunately his multitude of ideas keeps him from starting the project or sometimes finishing a project that he had not fully contemplated.
