Osborn Checklist

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Osborn Checklist

• Paul Morris
• CIS144
• Problem Solving Methodologies

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Method Summary

• Start the flow of ideas by using the techniques
  of Vertical Thinking.
• In vertical thinking you build on the ideas
  already generated by free association.  For
  example, choose one of the ideas and ask some of
  the questions from Osborn's check list.  For
  example, how could I make it bigger or smaller?
  How could I rearrange the idea or substitute for
  part of the idea.  A complete checklist is shown
  on next slide.

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The Checklist

• Substitute?.....Who else, where else or what
  else? Other ingredient, material, or approach?
• Combine?....Combine parts, units, ideas? Blend?
  Compromise? Combine from different categories?
• Adapt?....How can this (product, idea, plan,
  etc.) be used as is? What are other uses it could
  be adapted to?
• Modify?....Change the meaning, material, color,
  shape, odor, etc.?
• Put to another use?....Add new ingredient? Make
  longer, stronger, thicker, higher, etc.?
• Eliminate?....Split up? Take something out? Make
  lighter, lower, shorter, etc.?
• Rearrange?....Interchange parts? Other patterns,
  layouts? Transpose cause and effect? Change
  positives to negatives? Reverse roles? Turn it
  backwards or upside down? Sort?

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Try It Out
Imagine that you have been given the task of
designing safe playground equipment entirely out
of old cars. How would you approach this problem
creatively?
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Checklist Creative Analysis
Substitute Use the car's seats in swings
Combine Use the side panels or roof to make a huge canopy or fort
Adapt Take the hood off and use it as a toboggan in winter
Modify Remove the engines and side panels and make go-carts
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Checklist Creative Analysis
Put to another use Over inflate the inner tubes from the tires and use them to create a "romper room"/jumping pit.
Eliminate Crush the cars into cubes and allow the kids to climb on the blocks
Rearrange Turn the car upside down and use it as a teeter-totter
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Another Perspective

• Think about walking around on your knees how
  would this change your perspective--that is,
  imagine the playground from a child's height.
• What was your favorite playground toy? How could
  this be mimicked with used auto parts?
• Example from a child's viewpoint, the intact
  car would be an exciting change to pretend to be
  a "grown-up." Just take off the doors and remove
  other equipment (electrical, etc.) and let the
  kids pretend to drive. Just leave the car as it
  is!

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Random Stimulation
Random Stimulation is a technique which is
especially useful if we are stuck or in a rut. 
It is a way of generating totally different ideas
than previously considered and can "jump start"
the idea generation process and get it out of
whatever current rut it may be in. Random
Stimulation makes use of a random piece of
information (perhaps a word culled from the
dictionary or a book, or a random finger
placement on one of the words in the newspaper.)
This word is used to act as a trigger or switch
to change the patterns of thought when a mental
roadblock occurs.  The random word can be used to
generate other words that can stimulate the flow
of ideas. Example Our finger fell on the word
"document" in a newspaper.