YOUR BUSINESS: Ashok Nalamalapu

Follow a process to find creative solutions to problems

Copyright © 2003 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.

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About the Author Ashok Nalamalapu is president of iCST, a computer consulting and services company in South Portland. He can be reached at ashok@i-cst.com, www.i-cst.com or by calling 772-6898 To top of story

We come across many challenges in our organizations. By following a process, we can find creative solutions within a group of people, in a short period of time.

In a creative session, have the following people participate: the client who owns the problem or situation, a facilitator who coordinates the session, a few others who are directly or indirectly impacted by the problem, experts in that field and someone from a totally different field. A high school student would be great as well. You see, as we grow, most of us lose creativity that we had in childhood. Have fewer than eight people participate.

Planning is key. First, the facilitator meets the client to gather information on the problem, concerns, what is done so far, why the problem is important to the client and the desired outcome of the session. With the help of a facilitator, the client comes up with a definition of the problem.

The facilitator manages the process, encourages people to think and asks them to share ideas. The facilitator does not contribute to the content of the session. The facilitator plays the role of timekeeper and scribe. The client directs and contributes.

At the beginning of a creative session, the facilitator encourages the group to share some information that fosters trust and a friendly atmosphere.

The facilitator shares the process with the client before the session, and with others at the beginning of the session. The facilitator asks the client to share the problem and some background on it. The facilitator also asks the client whether there is an idea in his or her mind already.

The facilitator gives an opportunity for others to ask questions, and they do not have to understand a lot of the background in order to generate ideas.

The facilitator paraphrases the problem and then opens up the floor for everyone to generate ideas. No one judges the ideas at this time. The facilitator asks the participants to keep explaining more, while jotting down the ideas on a flip chart. This will avoid any silence that may bring the energy level of the group down. Paraphrasing avoids misunderstanding.

If any participant brings up points which are not relevant to the session and are important, they are noted separately and discussed later. This will help keep the creative flow on the current topic.

When idea generation starts slowing down, the facilitator asks the audience to forget about focusing on the problem at hand. The facilitator then takes the participants for an excursion. An example of an excursion is asking the group to share the things they liked about an advertisement that they had seen on TV within the last month. Then the facilitator asks the participants to connect those points to the problem and generate more ideas.

Meanwhile, the facilitator checks with the client to see whether the ideas are helping. The facilitator asks the group to combine some ideas, if needed. The facilitator asks the client to pick a few (say three) ideas from the chart to explore further. The group discusses those ideas further.

The facilitator asks the client to pick any one idea that is new, appealing and intriguing that needs to be explored. The facilitator asks the group for ways and means of implementing that idea. The facilitator asks the client to refine the idea, if needed. This is the emerging idea. Then the facilitator asks the client why that idea was chosen and what its advantages are. The facilitator asks the group to add other advantages of the idea.

Then the facilitator asks the client to share concerns about the idea. The group will also add its concerns. The client chooses the biggest concern from the list. The facilitator asks the group to generate ideas to solve this concern. The facilitator checks with the client to see whether those ideas solve the client's concerns.

The facilitator asks the client to phrase the refined idea, which is the possible solution. The facilitator asks the client to come up with the tasks to be done, who will do them and by when. All assignments for each task are done before going to the next task. The facilitator rechecks with the client. At the end of the session, evaluate the session - what went well and what could be improved. The facilitator thanks everyone for participating.

Thus by involving people from different backgrounds and following a process, we can find creative solutions for complex problems.

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