Puccio Et Al - Effectiveness of CPS Training

"A Review of the Effectiveness of CPS Training: A Focus on Workplace Issues"
Puccio Et Al
Definition of Creativity: production of novel ideas that are made useful

• CPS one of the few process interventions that has proven value
• Various process models out there
  • Creative Problem Solving
  • Synetics
  • TRIZ
  • 6 Thinking Hats

Key point of paper: explicitly examine one applied creativity model, Creative Problem Solving (CPS), and to summarize the research evidence that demonstrates the positive effects of CPS training.

Osborn Model:

1. Fact-Finding
2. Idea-Finding
3. Solution Finding

CPS is a model designed to make explicit the steps involved in the creative process -- NOT brainstorming.

Through his leadership Osborn established a creativity foundation (i.e., Creative Education Foundation) and an academic program (the International Center for Studies in Creativity at Buffalo State College) in Buffalo, New York, USA.

First, the CPS process is comprised of multiple steps that capture the basic operations associated with the creative act, namely the need to define problems, generate ideas, transform ideas into solutions, and construct action plans. Second, all CPS models show a balance between divergent (i.e., generating a diverse set of alternatives) and convergent thinking (i.e., screening, selecting and evaluating alternatives) in every step of the process. This dynamic balance between divergent and convergent thinking is the hallmark of CPS.

Study of studies approach -- formal CPS training in the Buffalo model shown to be highly effective in the various measures.

Basadur's Attitude Scales (measuring the progress of CPS training)

• Preference for Active Divergence
• Preference for Avoiding Premature Convergence **particularly key
• Valuing New Ideas
• Creative Individual Stereotypes
• Too Busy for New Ideas

Value demonstrated in Japan and South America as well.

Small amount of training (<30 hrs) still resulted in changes lasting longer than 1 year