CREATIVITY TECHNIQUES IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Creativity techniques can help the project manager to find new ideas and solve problems. But what methods can be used for this and how can ideas be developed into new products? This can be achieved through the creative work of each team member.

Here are several creativity techniques that can help to become creative:

• Brainstorming
  The goal of brainstorming is to develop a concept within the team. There is a “leader” who puts the ideas in writing for all to see, for example on a whiteboard.
  First, all the ideas that the team has are called out to the leader, with the focus on gathering as many ideas as possible without evaluating them. This phase should last 20–60 minutes. Then the ideas are evaluated.
• Mindmapping
  This method is similar to brainstorming, it is the structured form of it. It can be used alone or in a team. The project name is written down in the middle of a board and then chains of associations are linked to it. The linked ideas then form a map that can be used as a basic structure.
• Brainwriting or 6–3–5 technique
  Brainwriting can help with the problem of often wanting to generate only “good” ideas. The 6–3–5 technique consists of giving six participants three sheets each, alternating five times. The problem is written on a board and each sheet is divided into 6 boxes. Each person then writes an idea in one box and then passes the sheet on. In the second field they then try to develop the idea of the previous one and so on. At the end, everyone presents an idea.
  Because the idea can then no longer be traced back to one person, it is easier to freely develop and evaluate ideas.
• Walt Disney method
  This method is a playful way of generating ideas. There are three roles: the dreamer, the realist, and the critic. The dreamer contributes the creative ideas, the realist tries to pay attention to the feasibility of the ideas and the critic highlights the weaknesses and risks. The project manager looks at the process from different perspectives.
  The advantage of this method is that different perspectives are taken into account and can be evaluated.

Final thoughts
Each team can decide which method is appropriate for the project, because different projects require different techniques.

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