Divergent
Tools
Quick
Reference
 




Why?
What’s
Stopping
You?

 ITF
–
FTQ
 Divergent
Thinking
Guidelines

 Why:
helps
identify
the
root
of
the
problem,
or
figure
out
the
entire
problem
space
  Defer
judgment


 How:
begin
with
a
goal,
wish
or
challenge,
and
ask:
"why
do
you
want
this?"
To
the
  Strive
for
quantity


response,
ask
again.
When
you
feel
you
have
arrived
at
the
root
of
the
problem,
ask,
  Seek
wild
and
unusual


"What's
stopping
you?"
Repeat
the
process
to
its
logical
end.
  Build
on
other
ideas


 Tips:
try
not
to
go
so
far
as
to
reach
“to
live
a
happy
and
fulfilling
life”
 


Word
Dance
 FTQ
 Statement
Starters


 Why:
when
stuck,
helps
to
think
of
the
problem
statement
in
new
ways
 Imagine
the
Future

 How:
in
the
problem
statement,
circle
the
verb,
then
generate
other
verbs
that
might
  It
would
be
great
if…
(IWBGI)

replace
it.
Then,
circle
the
object
or
outcome
words,
and
generate
possible
substitutes.
  I
wish…
(IW)


Mix
and
match
the
responses.
Choose
the
statement
that
best
expresses
the
problem.
 Find
the
Questions

 Tips:
unusual
and
off‐course
are
OK
when
generating
substitutes

 How
to…
(H2)

Idea
Box
(mix‐and‐match)
 GI
–
CS
–
PFA
  How
might…
(HM)


 Why:
generate
new
and
original
combinations
  In
what
ways
might…
(IWWM)

 How:
from
the
challenge
statement,
select
the
essential
characteristics
of
the
problem,
  What
might
be
all
the…
(WMBAT)

and
list
those
on
paper
as
column
headings.
For
each
column,
list
a
variety
of
options.
 Plan
for
Action

Then,
mix
and
match,
choosing
one
from
each
column.
What
ideas
does
that

 What
I
see
myself
(us)
doing
is…


combination
give
you?
Repeat
with
different
combinations.

 


Brainwriting

 ITF
–
FTQ
–
GI
–
CS
–
PFA
 Tools
by
CPS
Stage


 Why:
quiet
brainstorming;
use
with
quiet
groups,
and
where
some
people
dominate

Imagine
the
Future

 How:
one
form
per
person,
extras
in
a
pile.
Write
three
ideas
in
the
first
row,
put
form

on
the
pile,
take
another.
Read
the
ideas,
write
three
more
in
the
next
row,
building
on
  Brainstorming

the
existing
ideas
or
adding
new
ones.
Continue
until
all
the
boxes
are
full.
  Brainwriting

 Tips:
use
brainwriting
form
with
3x3
boxes,
and
pre‐populate
with
2x2
Post‐its
  Why?
What’s
Stopping
You?

 Excursions

Brainstorming
/
Stick
‘em
Up
Brainstorming
 ITF
–
FTQ
–
GI
–
CS
–
PFA

Find
the
Questions

 Why:
classic
tool
for
generating
lots
of
ideas

 How:
ideas
are
said
out
loud
and
recorded;
Stick
‘em
Up:
write
it,
say
it,
hand
it
up
  Brainstorming

 Tips:
use
3x5
Post‐its;
one
idea
per
Post‐It;
stick
on
flip
chart
sheets;
number
the
  Brainwriting

sheets;
enhance
thinking
with
SCAMPER,
forced
or
visual
connections,
excursions
  Why?
What’s
Stopping
You?

 Word
Dance

SCAMPER

 GI
–
CS

Generate
Ideas
(low
to
high
novelty)

 Why:
spur
thinking
in
specific
ways,
to
enhance
brainstorming
or
brainwriting

 How:
facilitator
asks
questions
from
SCAMPER
(Substitute,
Combine,
Adapt,
Modify,
  Idea
Box

Put
to
other
uses,
Eliminate,
Rearrange)
sheet.
E.g.,
What
can
you
substitute
for
it?
  Brainwriting

What
can
be
combined
with
it?
What
can
you
subtract?
What
can
you
add?
  Brainstorming

Forced
Connections

 GI
–
CS
–
PFA
  SCAMPER

 Forced
Connections

 Why:
enhances
brainstorming
and
brainwriting,
especially
when
stuck

 Visual
Connections

 How:
facilitator
holds
up
or
points
to
an
object
unrelated
to
the
problem,
and
asks:

 Excursions

"When
you
look
at
this
(object),
what
ideas
do
you
get
for
solving
this
problem?"

Craft
Solutions

Visual
Connections

 GI
–
CS
–
PFA

 Why:
enhances
brainstorming,
helps
participants
relax
and
incubate
  Use
convergent
tools
to
select
from
ideas

 Use
“Generate
Ideas”
tools
to
craft
and

 How:
show
an
image,
ask
participants
to
write
3‐5
words
suggested
by
it.
Repeat
with

strengthen
solutions

two
more
images.
Then,
ask
participants
to
make
a
direct
connection
from
the
words

they
have
written
to
the
problem
at
hand.
 Explore
Acceptance

 Tips:
use
visual
connections
worksheet
  Bainstorming
(identify
assisters,
resisters)

Excursions

 ITF
–
GI
–
CS
–
PFA
  “Generate
Ideas”
tools
to
find
ways
to
use

assisters
and
overcome
resisters

 Why:
takes
people
outside
the
context
of
the
problem
to
look
elsewhere
for

inspiration
 Plan
for
Action

 How:
many
variations.
For
example:
participants
close
their
eyes
while
the
facilitator
  Brainstorming
(to
identify
action
steps)

talks
them
through
a
journey
to
a
specific
place,
or
one
of
their
own
imagining.
When

they
open
their
eyes,
they
record
ideas
that
were
inspired
by
the
excursion.


Creative
Problem
Solving
(CPS):
Divergent
Tools
Quick
Reference

OmniSkills,
LLC
▪
omniskills.com/cps
or
creativeproblemsolving.com