Week 58 (25.5.08)

Learn (from website www.creatingminds.org/principles/div_conv.htm)

In creative work, there are two modes of thinking that we use that are very different but are both very useful for different parts of the process.

Divergence

Divergence is the process of thinking broadly, of expanding one's mind, of going places where one does not normally go. It is very important in creativity as the process whereby ideas are generated.

Convergence

When you have created a big pile of ideas, the creative activity does not stop there. The next stage, which can be very difficult, seeks to thin down the idea set into a very small set of ideas (maybe one) that will be taken forward for further development.

Judgement and Selection

This approach requires skills of selection, evaluation and judgement to whittle down the list to the most useful ideas.
It is important to keep a balance, and the divergent thinkers have an important task to challenge the ejection of any ideas that may have serioud potential.

Unlearn

I have learnt before the brainstorming process in a group, which is very similar to divergence. However, convergence technique is a new learning which i realized it can be group into criterias selection to solve problems and be creative in providing solutions.

Relearn

From the above learning on divergence and convergence thinking, I had guided my team in one of the brainstorming session on how to improve the current E-card process flow. We achieved a few new creative ideas to provide solutions to our customers.