Situations

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Situations

• Creativity and Innovation
• Jerry Banks

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Situation 1

• A bird flew through an open window and then
  couldnt fly out

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Situation 1, cont.

• The instructor and students tried to scare the
  bird toward the open window, but with no success
• They tried to catch the bird, but couldnt

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Situation 1, cont.

• Fortunately for the terrified bird, the
  instructor suggested that they leave the bird
  alone and think of a better way to get it back
  outside
• The class came up with a clever solution
• Close all the blinds except for the open window,
  and turn out the lights

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Situation 1, concl.

• Guided by the source of light, the bird flew out
  the window
• Bottom line
• When theres no obvious or known solution, and
  youre not willing to accept the situation as is,
  you must create a new solution

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Situation 2

• When Xerox Corporation began manufacturing
  photocopiers, the marketing people were
  disappointed by poor sales

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Situation 2, cont.

• Faced with the capacity to manufacture more
  machines than they were selling, the people at
  Xerox came up with an innovative marketing
  strategy

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Situation 2, cont.

• Instead of selling the machines, they offered to
  place their machines in businesses that were
  willing to pay a few cents for each copy produced
• The marketing innovation was so successful that
  the company came to prefer it over selling their
  machines

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Situation 2, concl.

• Bottom line
• Traditional approaches are not always the most
  effective

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Situation 3

• There was a 10 year old boy that threw temper
  tantrums to get what he wanted
• This happened in a supermarket while accompanying
  his mother on a shopping trip

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Situation 3, cont.

• In a moment of desperation, the mother dropped to
  the floor, began to pound her fists, kick her
  legs and whine over and over
• I wish that you would stop throwing temper
  tantrums!
• The son stood up and said in a hushed tone
• Mom, there are people watching, you are
  embarrassing me!

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Situation 3, concl.

• The mother calmly stood up, brushed off the dust,
  and said in a calm clear voice
• Thats what you look like when youre throwing a
  temper tantrum.
• Bottom line
• Something different than standard methods
  (bribery, threats, ignoring the situation, etc.)
  might work too

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Coco Chanel

• When I no longer create anything, Ill be done
  for

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Only 2 of adults are using their creative
ability.This contrasts with 10 of 7 year olds
and 90of 5 year olds.
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58 of top executives say that being creative is
more important than being smart.28 take the
other view.
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Upon graduation from college, most creative
ability has disappeared.The only way to revive
it is through training in creative thinking and
creative thinking exercises.
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End