About this session
Many workplace problems are solved too quickly. Teams begin discussing solutions before agreeing what is actually wrong, reuse approaches that worked previously, or select the first idea that sounds feasible.
Other teams generate plenty of ideas but struggle to decide which ones deserve investment or how to move them into action.
Innovation requires both creative and analytical thinking.
Participants learn to move deliberately between divergent thinking — widening the range of possible explanations and solutions — and convergent thinking, where evidence, criteria, constraints and judgment are used to narrow the field.
The session covers the full problem-solving journey: defining the challenge, separating symptoms from deeper causes, challenging assumptions, reframing the problem, generating alternatives, evaluating ideas, converting uncertainty into experiments, and planning implementation.
The aim is not novelty for its own sake. It is better solutions to problems that matter.
What your people take away
- Define workplace challenges clearly before jumping into solutions
- Challenge assumptions and reframe problems to reveal new possibilities
- Generate a broader range of useful ideas rather than stopping at the first plausible answer
- Evaluate ideas using explicit criteria, evidence, constraints and trade-offs
- Test uncertain assumptions through proportionate experiments and prototypes
- Move promising solutions into implementation, learning and continuous improvement
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- What each length covers, 30 minutes to full day
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What each length covers
30 minutes
30 Minutes — Key Points: Frame the Right ProblemA focused 30-minute session on three key points from Frame the Right Problem: start with the challenge, not the solution, separate symptoms from underlying conditions and surface the assumptions.
- Start with the challenge, not the solution
- Separate symptoms from underlying conditions
- Surface the assumptions
Covers 3 of 4 points in Frame the Right Problem.
60 minutes
Solve Workplace Problems More CreativelyA focused introduction to creative problem-solving. Participants learn to frame a challenge, challenge assumptions, generate broader possibilities and use a simple process for selecting and testing a stronger solution.
- Problem vs. solution
- Symptoms and underlying causes
- Assumption challenge
- Problem reframing
- Divergent and convergent thinking
- Creative Problem-Solving Quick Canvas
- Live Q&A
Covers 1 of 4 parts: Frame the Right Problem.
90 minutes
Move From Challenge to Testable SolutionThe extended session develops the complete creative problem-solving process from problem framing and idea generation through evaluation, assumptions and experimentation. Participants apply the approach to a realistic workplace challenge.
- Challenge framing
- Underlying conditions
- Assumption mapping
- Problem reframing
- Structured ideation
- Solution criteria
- Trade-offs
- Experiment design
- Innovation Action Plan
- Live Q&A
Covers 2 of 4 parts: Frame the Right Problem and Generate More & Better Possibilities.
3 hours
Covers 3 of 4 parts: Frame the Right Problem, Generate More & Better Possibilities and Choose & Test Ideas Intelligently.
Full day
Innovation & Creative Problem-Solving LabA hands-on full-day workshop covering all four modules. Participants take a real or realistic workplace challenge from problem definition through reframing, divergent ideation, idea selection, assumption testing, experiment design and implementation planning.
- Module 1 — Frame the Right Problem
- Module 2 — Generate More & Better Possibilities
- Module 3 — Choose & Test Ideas Intelligently
- Module 4 — Turn Innovation Into Implementation & Learning
- Challenge Definition Lab
- Symptom vs. Cause Mapping
- Assumption Challenge
- Problem Reframing Sprint
- Divergent Ideation
- Solution Criteria Builder
- Idea Evaluation & Trade-Off Analysis
- Critical Assumption Mapping
- Experiment Design
- Implementation & Learning Plan
- Live Q&A
Covers all 4 parts.
Also available as a 4-week or 8-week program, for change that lasts. Ask us about it.
What’s covered
Frame the Right Problem
Every length- Start with the challenge, not the solutionTeams often arrive with solutions disguised as problems: 'We need a new system', 'We need more training', or 'We need an app'.
- Separate symptoms from underlying conditionsThe most visible problem may be the final consequence of several earlier conditions.
- Surface the assumptionsProblem-solving is constrained by beliefs about what customers want, what is possible, what cannot change, how much something must cost, who owns the issue or how work has always been done.
- Reframe the problemThe way a challenge is framed determines the kinds of solutions people generate. 'How do we reduce complaints?' creates different thinking from 'How might we prevent customers needing to complain in the first place?'
Generate More & Better Possibilities
90 minutes and longer- Diverge before you convergeEvaluation introduced too early can suppress ideas before they have had enough time to develop.
- Move beyond the first obvious ideasThe first ideas generated are often familiar variations of approaches the team already knows.
- Use constraints creativelyConstraints can reduce creativity when accepted unquestioningly, but clear constraints can also focus it.
- Build on ideas before rejecting themAn initial concept may contain a valuable principle even when the first version is impractical.
Choose & Test Ideas Intelligently
3 hours and longer- Define what a good solution must achieveWithout explicit criteria, teams can select ideas based on enthusiasm, familiarity, hierarchy or presentation quality.
- Compare trade-offsFew solutions dominate every criterion.
- Find the assumption that needs testingAn idea may depend on beliefs about behavior, demand, capability, cost, technology, timing or implementation that have not yet been demonstrated.
- Design the smallest useful testTesting does not always require building the full solution.
Turn Innovation Into Implementation & Learning
Full day only- Move from idea to operating realityA strong concept still needs ownership, resources, decisions, stakeholder support, workflow changes and practical execution.
- Bring people into the changeSolutions can fail even when technically sound because the people who need to use, support or approve them were brought in too late.
- Measure the outcome, not just the launchCompleting implementation does not demonstrate that the original problem improved.
- Build a learning loopInnovation rarely moves cleanly from idea to perfect solution.
Tools and materials
- Challenge Definition Canvas
- Assumption Map
- Problem Reframing Canvas
- Divergent Thinking Toolkit
- Idea Portfolio Board
- Solution Criteria Builder
- Concept Evaluation Matrix
- Critical Assumption Map
- Experiment Design Canvas
- Creative Problem-Solving Playbook
How booking works
- Book online. Create a free Workbliss profile, then pay with session credits, by card or by invoice.
- Pick a date. Choose a date at least 14 days ahead, or book now and set the date later.
- Choose your expert. Within 3 working days, we send you profiles of the experts available for your date.
- We deliver it. Your expert is briefed on your people and goals, then runs the session live online or at your site.
Questions about Innovation & Creative Problem-Solving
How long is Innovation & Creative Problem-Solving?
Innovation & Creative Problem-Solving runs as 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 90 minutes, 3 hours or full day. You choose the length when you book. A 30-minute session covers three key points from Frame the Right Problem: start with the challenge, not the solution, separate symptoms from underlying conditions and surface the assumptions. A 60-minute session covers Frame the Right Problem in full, with a live Q&A. A 90-minute session adds Generate More & Better Possibilities. A 3-hour session adds Choose & Test Ideas Intelligently. A full-day session adds Turn Innovation Into Implementation & Learning. It is also available as a 4-week or 8-week program.
Can Innovation & Creative Problem-Solving be delivered online or in person?
Yes, both. It runs live online, so every office can join at the same time, or in person at your site, in any country.
How do we book Innovation & Creative Problem-Solving?
Create a free Workbliss profile with your work email, then open Innovation & Creative Problem-Solving to see the price for each length and book it. You can pay with session credits, by card or by invoice, and choose a date at least 14 days ahead, or set it later.
Who leads the session?
A vetted Workbliss expert, briefed on your people, culture and goals before the session. After you book, we send you profiles of the experts available for your date within 3 working days, so you can choose who leads it.
Can it be tailored to our company?
Yes. Every session is shaped around your goals, your people and the benefits you already offer, and delivered by experts in your people’s languages.