mp14

=MP14 - Creativity and Decision Support=

1. Introduction
Creativity, creative problem solving, and decision support contribute to project management. Projects are on a path to smaller or larger innovations - on the way to something that is somehow new.

Creativity and creative problem solving are trained in this course using various methods and tools (associations, mind mapping, 635, etc.)

Barriers that stop creativity in organizations are discussed - and approaches to remove these barriers.

Advanced methods like TRIZ are introduced and applied in case studies.

Creative problem solving - especially in the context of advanced methods - is strongly linked to decision support. Often there are many options and we have to take one.

The course is well integrated within the framework of EuroMPM courses. The course is linked to courses on human resources, quality management, risk management, planning and control and others.

The learning out-comes within framework of European Qualification Framework (EQF) are defined and documented for the knowledge, skills and competence levels. The objectives are to enable students to explain concepts of change management. At skills level, they will be able to detect, develop and apply tools and techniques for change management. The students will also develop competence to analyze and develop new.

2. Course Structure
Creativity
 * Concepts of creativity – philosophical, psychological, physiological, logical, cultural and other perspectives
 * Parameters of a creative product and service: it's new, it's nice, it's useful.
 * Basic methods and tools: association, brainstorming, 635, mind mapping, etc.
 * Barriers that stop creativity - where they are, and how to remove them
 * Advanced methods: TRIZ, logic (abduction, etc.), creative problem solving in many aspects
 * the creative problem solving process
 * Stimulating creativity – starting innovation
 * Creativity and innovation in projects – creativity strategies

Decision making
 * Concepts of selection and decision making
 * Training on decision making
 * Advanced concepts of decision making

3. Case studies
There is a cluster of case studies on creativity, creative problem solving, and decision making based upon various methods and tools (mind mapping, associations, 635, TRIZ, etc.). Excel based cases are used for decision support.

4. Parameters
ECTS: 3 Hours of study in total: 90 Weekly hours per semester: 2 Contact hours: 30 Self study hours: 60 Course characteristics: compulsory Course frequency: every year - summer semester Maximal capacity: 15 students Course admittance prerequisites: no special requirements Skills trained in this course: professional, methodological, and personal skills Prerequisite for the completion of the following courses: This course is important for all subsequent courses Assessment of the course: 75% contributions within the course (homework, group work, presentations, case studies) 25% written or oral examination at the end of the course Teaching staff: Prof. Dr. Peter Reusch, (Prof. Dr. José Ramon Otegi)

5. Learning outcomes

 * 5.1 Knowledge**

The students are able to
 * explain core aspects of creativity and parameters of a creative product and service.
 * explain elementary methods and tools supporting creativity, creative problem solving, and decision support.
 * explain barriers against creativity and how to remove them.
 * explain advanced methods supporting creativity and creative problem solving like TRIZ.
 * explain core concepts of decision support.


 * 5.2 Skills**

The students are able to
 * apply elementary methods and tools supporting creativity, creative problem solving, and decision support
 * apply advanced methods supporting creativity and creative problem solving like TRIZ
 * apply core concepts of decision support
 * use Excel models for decision support

in selected cases in the course.


 * 5.3 Competence - attitude**

They are able to
 * apply elementary methods and tools supporting creativity, creative problem solving, and decision support in projects
 * apply advanced methods supporting creativity and creative problem solving like TRIZ in projects
 * apply core concepts of decision support in projects
 * used Excel models for decision support in projects

in a new context.


 * 5.4 On scaling learning outcomes**

The assessment of learning outcomes is based upon the following core perspectives:
 * Analysis - quality of analyses of problem cases
 * Completeness – regarding aspects of alternatives
 * Complexity - regarding problem cases and alternatives.

=6. Teaching and training methods:=


 * Lectures introducing concepts, methods and tools
 * Group work to train concepts and methods, to develop skills and to work on case studies
 * Home work to add individual contributions
 * Presentations to communicate results

=7. Course mapping=

This course is linked to other courses of the study programme in the following way:

MP01 shows the need for innovations in major projects.
 * MP01: Projects: Concept, Types, Cases, Context and Organization**

MP02 and MP14 support each other - stakeholders should be involved in creativity and decision support.
 * MP02: Life cycle Concepts, Maturity Models, Customer Relation Ship, Stakeholder Management**

Standards support creativity - continual improvement is one of the principles of quality standards for example.
 * MP03: Standards and Mainstreams**

Decision support improves project planning.
 * MP04: Project Planning**

Decision support improves project control.
 * MP05: Project Control**

Competences of human resources support creativity.
 * MP06: Human Resource Management, Team Building and Leadership**

Project organization should support creativity.
 * MP07: Project Organization**

Creativity supports quality management - continual improvement and major innovations.
 * MP08: Managing Quality**

Risks must be taken into account in decision support.
 * MP09: Managing Risk**

Economical aspects must be taken into account in decision support.
 * MP10: Project Economics**

Communication supports creativity.
 * MP11: Communications, Negotiation and Conflict**

Social competencies support creativity.
 * MP12: Social Competencies**

Creativity strong supports change management.
 * MP13: Managing Change**

Culture supports creativity and decision making.
 * MP15: Intercultural Communications**

Information and knowledge management support creativity and decision making.
 * MP16: Information and Knowledge Management**

Decision support helps project finance.
 * MP17: Project Finance**

Decision support helps in developing contracts and running procurement.
 * MP18: Legal Aspects in Project Management: Contracts, Procurement, and further Issues**

Decision support is included in program and portfolio management.
 * MP19: Program and Portfolio Management**

Creativity supports innovations in safety, health, and the environment.
 * MP20: Safety, Health and the Environment**

=8. References:=

Most course materials are available in ILIAS and additional web portals - a few books to mention here:


 * 1) Koestler, Arthur: The Act of Creation, Penguin Books, ISBN 0140191912.
 * 2) Isaksen, Scott; e.a.: Understanding and Recognizing Creativity, Northwood 1993.
 * 3) Isaksen, Scott, G.; Dorval, K. Brian; Treffinger, Donald, J.: Creative Approaches to Problem Solving: A Framework for Innovation and Change, Sage Pubn Inc, 3rd. edition 2010, ISBN 1412977739.
 * 4) Proctor, Tony: Creative Problem Solving for Managers: Developing skills for decision making and innovation, Taylor & Francis, 3rd ed. 2009, ISBN 0415551106.
 * 5) Altshuller, Genrich: The Innovation Algorithm, Worcester 2000.
 * 6) Orloff, Michael A.: Inventive Thinking through TRIZ, Springer 2006, ISBN 3540332220.
 * 7) Mann, Darrell: Hands-on Systematic Innovation for Business and Management, Lazarus Press, Bideford 2007, ISBN 1898546738.
 * 8) Higgins, James: 101 Creative Problem Solving Techniques, Winter Park 1994.
 * 9) Gardner, Howard: Changing Minds, Basic Books, 2004
 * 10) Gardner, Howard: Frames of Mind, Basic Books, 1983
 * 11) Gardner, Howard: Creating Minds, Basic Books 1993
 * 12) Gelb, Michael: How to Think like Leonardo da Vinci, London 1998.
 * 13) Drucker, Peter: Harvard Business review on Decision Making, 2001.
 * 14) Eisenführ, Franz; Weber, Martin; Langer, Thomas: Rational Decision Making, Berlin 2010, ISBN 3642028500.
 * 15) Bazerman, Max H.: Judgement in Managerial Decision Making, John Wiley 2006, ISBN 0471684309.
 * 16) Moore, Jeffrey H.; Weatherford, Larry R.: Decision Modelling with Microsoft Excel, Pearson, 6th ed. 2001, ISBN 0131218514.