HMEF5023 V2

EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP

ASSOC. PROF. DR. JAMILAH AHMAD

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 TOPIC 8

CREATIVE PROBLEM
SOLVING
 Learning
Outcomes
 Describe the characteristics of creative
leadership

 Discuss the method to enhance creativity

in the school setting

 Apply the self-help technique to enhance

creative problem solving in schools

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2024
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 CREATIVITY
DEFINATION:
Creativity is generating novel and valuable ideas by
thinking innovatively and connecting concepts
uniquely.

Innovation is implementing those ideas to improve

processes or enhance life.

In essence, creativity invents, while innovation

transforms inventions into practical solutions.

Creativity and innovation drive adaptation and

progress, particularly crucial in educational settings.
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 CREATIVITY
Alexander Graham
Bell's fascination with
speech and sound
transmission was
influenced by his
mother and wife, both
of whom were deaf.

His work with the deaf

community inspired him
to study how sound
waves travel and
explore electronic
methods of transmitting CREATIVITY INNOVATION
speech.
Imagine a Creating the variable resistance
device to send transmitter enabled clear voice
voices over transmission through electrical wires.
long distances.
This invention laid the foundation for
modern phones and transformed how
people connect over long distances.
 Professional Development Workshops: workshops/ training sessions that
focus on innovative teaching methods, integrating technology in education, and
fostering creativity in the classroom.

Action Research: Encouraging teachers to conduct action research projects to

explore and implement innovative practices within their classrooms or schools

Collaborative Learning Communities: Establishing professional learning

communities where teachers can collaborate, share ideas, and learn from each other's
PROGRAMS ON innovative practices.
CREATIVITY AND
INNOVATION
ICT Integration Training: Providing training and support for teachers to effectively
AMONG integrate Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools and resources into
TEACHERS IN their teaching to enhance engagement and creativity
MALAYSIAN
SCHOOLS
STEM Education Initiatives: Providing opportunities for teachers to engage in
STEM-related professional development programs, workshops, and projects to
enhance their knowledge and skills in promoting innovation in science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics education.

Partnerships and Exchanges: Facilitating partnerships with other schools,

educational institutions, and organizations both locally and internationally to exchange
ideas and best practices in fostering creativity and innovation in education.

Recognition and Awards: Recognizing and rewarding teachers who

demonstrate innovative teaching practices and contribute significantly to
fostering creativity among students and colleagues.
 CHARACTERISTICS OF CREATIVE LEADERS
possess intelligence but not excessively so,
avoiding over-analysis that can stifle creativity.
have a natural ability
to generate have a deep understanding
innovative ideas and of their field, know the limits
solutions, often of current knowledge and
seeing connections where innovation is possible
others may miss.

think outside the box,

explore new ideas and
open to take a risk and
approaches that challenge
explore
conventional wisdom.
unconventional
solutions to problems.

ask insightful questions that provoke

thought and inspire new perspectives.

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CHARACTERISTICS OF CREATIVE LEADERSHIP

Visionary Thinking

Openness to Innovation
Continuous Learning
Empowering Others
Ethical Leadership

Adaptability
Collaboration and Diversity

Problem-Solving Skills

Effective Communication

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ORGANISATIONAL METHODS TO ENHANCE CREATIVITY
 1. Creativity comes from
unconscious thinking, which is
a natural part of how our
minds work.
 Do not force the employee,
give time and space
 Eg : Isaac Newton saw an apple fall and
wondered why it fell straight down. This
led him to discover that the same force
pulling the apple to the ground also keeps
planets in their orbits. His insights about
gravity, published in 1687, revolutionized
our understanding of motion and laid the
foundation for modern physics. 10
ORGANISATIONAL METHODS TO ENHANCE CREATIVITY

2. Leadership Support and Role Modelling

 Ensure that organizational leaders actively support and
advocate for creativity.
 Leaders can role model creative behaviors, champion
innovative projects, and provide mentorship to foster a
creative culture throughout the organization.

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ORGANISATIONAL METHODS TO ENHANCE CREATIVITY
3. Establish Clear Goals and Autonomy
 Set clear goals and objectives while allowing
employees to explore different approaches and
solutions to achieve these goals.

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ORGANISATIONAL METHODS TO ENHANCE CREATIVITY

4. Offer Training and Development

 Provide training programs and workshops
focused on creativity, innovation
methodologies (eg: design thinking or
brainstorming techniques) and critical thinking
skills.

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ORGANISATIONAL METHODS TO ENHANCE CREATIVITY

5. Provide Time and Resources for Innovation

 Allocate time and resources for employees to
explore new ideas, conduct experiments, and
engage in creative projects without the
pressure of immediate outcomes.

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ORGANISATIONAL METHODS TO ENHANCE CREATIVITY
6. Support Cross-functional Collaboration
 Facilitate collaboration across different
departments and teams to encourage
interdisciplinary approaches to problem-solving
and innovation.

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ORGANISATIONAL METHODS TO ENHANCE CREATIVITY

7. Encourage Diverse Perspectives

 Foster a culture that values diversity of thought,
backgrounds, and experiences.
 Encourage employees to share different viewpoints
and ideas.

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ORGANISATIONAL METHODS TO ENHANCE CREATIVITY

8. Promote Psychological Safety

 Create an environment where employees feel
safe to take risks, voice their opinions, and
express ideas without fear of criticism/
punishment..

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ORGANISATIONAL METHODS TO ENHANCE CREATIVITY

9. Create Physical and Digital Spaces for Creativity

 Design workspaces that inspire creativity (eg:
collaborative areas, quiet zones for focused work, and
creative lounges).
 Utilize digital platforms that facilitate idea-sharing and
collaboration.

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ORGANISATIONAL METHODS TO ENHANCE CREATIVITY
10. Encourage Continuous Learning and Curiosity
 Promote a culture of lifelong learning by encouraging
employees to explore new interests, attend
conferences, and engage in continuous professional
development.
ORGANISATIONAL METHODS TO ENHANCE CREATIVITY

11. Celebrate and Reward Creativity

 Recognize and reward employees who demonstrate
creativity and innovation (eg: incentives, awards/ public
recognition for innovative ideas and contributions).

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 CREATIVITY IN PROBLEM SOLVING

 Creativity in problem solving involves thinking

innovatively, exploring solutions, reframing
problems, combining ideas, taking risks, and
iterating through cycles of idea generation and
refinement.

 It fosters a mindset that values curiosity,

experimentation, and collaboration to find
effective and unique solutions to challenges.

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 1. Balance Divergent and
Convergent Thinking
CPS emphasizes the importance of
both divergent (generating multiple
ideas) and convergent (evaluating and
selecting ideas) thinking.
4. Use "Yes, And" 2. Ask Problems as
Instead of "No, But” Questions
Encourage a "Yes, and"
mindset fosters
collaboration and idea
CREATIVE PROBLEM Reframe problems
as open-ended
expansion. SOLVING (CPS) questions

This approach builds on

FRAMEWORK encourages
exploration of
ideas rather than shutting multiple perspectives
them down, which is and solutions.
critical for developing and
refining creative
solutions. 3. Defer Judgment
Postpone criticism and judgment during
idea generation prevents early
dismissal of potentially valuable ideas.

The Creative Problem Solving (CPS) framework introduced by Alex Osborn in the mid-20th century
 STEPS TO ENHANCE CREATIVITY IN PROBLEM SOLVING
(Osborn in the mid-20th century )

Define what you want Brainstorm and Formulate

to achieve creatively. explore creative Solutions. Take action, monitor
solutions to
progress, and make
Collect data through address the To move from adjustments as
research and challenges. ideas to necessary.
discussions to solutions.
understand the
Evaluate outcomes,
situation. Evaluate, learn from the
strengthen, and experience, and refine
Clearly define the select solutions your approach for
specific for best “fit.” improvement.
problem/challenge you
need to overcome
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 SELF-HELP TECHNIQUES TO ENHANCE CREATIVITY
IN PROBLEM SOLVING

1. Creating the right environment is key because creativity spreads

(when people feel inspired, supported, and free to share ideas).

Openness: Everyone can speak up without feeling judged.

Diversity: Different backgrounds bring fresh perspectives.
Flexibility: There's room to try new things and solve problems
creatively.
Collaboration: Working together sparks new ideas.
Positive Feedback: Recognizing creativity motivates more
innovation.

Acknowledging everyone's creative potential and fostering a

supportive atmosphere further enhances creativity across the
organization, leading to ongoing progress and innovation

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 SELF-HELP TECHNIQUES TO ENHANCE
CREATIVITY IN PROBLEM SOLVING

2.Expect Creativity
- Innovation correlates with the perception of being expected
to innovate.
- Leaders should share responsibility for innovation to
encourage worker participation.

3.Challenge People
- Challenging workers stimulates creativity, but excessive
challenge can hinder it.
- A balance of security and challenge increases productivity
and innovation.

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 SELF-HELP TECHNIQUES TO ENHANCE
CREATIVITY IN PROBLEM SOLVING

4. Get Some Kind of Peer Review

- Positive peer review fosters high achievement and
motivation.
- Reviews should focus on merit and productivity

5. Get a System of Rewards for Creativity

- Clear, tangible rewards for new ideas encourage
innovation.
- Rewards can be financial or recognition.

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 SELF-HELP TECHNIQUES TO ENHANCE
CREATIVITY IN PROBLEM SOLVING

6.Get People Involved and Immersed in Problems

- Deep immersion in problems often leads to creative
solutions.
- Over-specialization can hinder creativity; broader
knowledge is beneficial.

7.Get Rid of the Disincentives

- Avoid fear of failure/lack of support (major disincentives).
- Organizations should invest in experimentation and
innovation.

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 SELF-HELP TECHNIQUES TO ENHANCE
CREATIVITY IN PROBLEM SOLVING

8.Give People Some Freedom &Time for Reflection

- Mental freedom and reflection time are essential
for creativity.
- Periods of meditation and aloneness help generate
creative ideas.

9.Be Quick to Recognize and Use Error

- Mistakes can lead to new insights and innovative
approaches.

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 SELF-HELP TECHNIQUES TO ENHANCE
CREATIVITY IN PROBLEM SOLVING

10.Be Quick to Recognize and Use Good Ideas:

 Leaders should be open to and act on good ideas
promptly.

11.Make Your Staff Feel Secure:

 Allow employees to:
 Present their work.
 Have independence.
 Reduce supervision.
 Set their own goals.

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 SELF-HELP TECHNIQUES TO ENHANCE
CREATIVITY IN PROBLEM SOLVING

12. Challenge Attitudes Towards Conformity (Rules)

 Strive to find a balance between adhering to rules and
fostering creative solutions.
 Address barriers to creativity such as resistance to change
and rigid rules.

13. Value Mavericks (Independent-minded Individuals)

 Embrace unconventional behavior from creative individuals.
 Recognize that confident and driven employees often
achieve the most.

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 SELF-HELP TECHNIQUES TO ENHANCE
CREATIVITY IN PROBLEM SOLVING

14.Formal Idea Generation:

 Use seminars, conference and brainstorming sessions to
spark creativity.
 Encourage open and unrestricted thinking.

15. Foster Discussion and Disagreement:

 Encourage communication between employees and
leaders.
 Create an environment that values new ideas and
provides positive feedback.

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 SELF-HELP TECHNIQUES TO ENHANCE
CREATIVITY IN PROBLEM SOLVING

16.Optimize Interpersonal Interactions:

 Improve communication and collaboration between different
departments.
 Design spaces and platforms that enhance technical
communication.

17. Assemble the Right Teams:

 Bring together diverse and talented individuals to inspire each
other.
 Form interdisciplinary teams to gain a wide range of perspectives.

 These strategies aim to foster better teamwork, innovation, and

problem-solving by promoting effective communication and
leveraging diverse expertise.

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 SELF-HELP TECHNIQUES TO ENHANCE
CREATIVITY IN PROBLEM SOLVING

18.Provide Autonomy and Avoid Specialization:

 Let teams work independently.
 Avoid limiting roles too narrowly to encourage
broader thinking and creativity.

19. Recognize Age Effects:

 Know that creativity peaks at different ages, with
another peak after 50.
 Assign projects that challenge and stimulate
creativity in both younger and older workers.

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 SELF-HELP TECHNIQUES TO ENHANCE
CREATIVITY IN PROBLEM SOLVING

20.Create New Teams Regularly

 Forming new teams boosts creativity.
 Keep teams challenged with fresh problems to maintain
creative tension.

21.Reorganize for Creativity

 Use a flat organizational structure to reduce excessive
supervision.
 Encourage independent thinking and reduce reliance on
supervisors.

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Summary
 References
Main references
Lussier, R. N., & Achua, C. F. (2016). Leadership: Theory, application, & skill
development. (6th ed.). Cengage Learning, Boston, MA
Northouse, P. G. (2018). Leadership: theory and practice. (8th ed.). Thousand Oaks,
CA: Sage.

Journals
Leadership & Organization Development Journal Academic Leadership Journal of
Leadership & Organizational Studies Leadership Journal International Journal of
Leadership Studies
International Journal of Education Policy and Leadership

Online:
https://inspire.oum.edu.my/