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by Dr Vijai Mariaraj
One of the specific aspects of creative thinking is the DO IT
technique method outlined by Robert W
Olsen in his book ‘The Art
of Creative Thinking’. It is an efficient method for defining
problems and finding effective and creative solutions. This method
helps you to draw the best out of the creativity techniques.
DO IT is essentially an acronym for D – Define Problem; O –
Opening your mind and applying creative techniques; I –
Identifying best possible solutions; T – Transforming them into
concrete actions.
D - To define the problem accurately, you will have look at the
problem in its entirety. You have to get at the root of the problem
so you know that you are dealing with the causative factors, and not
with the symptoms. If the problem is large or big, you could break
them into smaller and meaningful components so the problem assumes
greater clarity and widest dimension. Include the constraints
contained in each aspect of the problem so you cover the problems in
their fullest range. Summarizing the problem will help in getting at
the crux of the problem clearly.
O – Once the problems areas are identified, you could begin
finding solutions by looking at them from all angles. Brainstorming
is invariably an effective method for coming out with solutions.
Ideally, you could use group brainstorming, where effective thinkers
and implementers could be included to present their solutions to the
problem. It is important that even the most ridiculous and the weird
are given full expression and accepted without any criticism or
questioning. It is often found that the most abnormal and wildest of
ideas generally lead to most creative solutions. So suppressing them
or negating them will deny scope from creative inputs.
I – Identifying the best solutions for the problem or problems
on hand involves the next step. Often the best solution may turn out
to be costly or may have limitations, not immediately apparent to
you. You have to go the whole length and explore the solutions to
weigh how far they could be effective. You could see whether the
solutions fall within the overall goals of the organization or your
own. This will determine the extent to which you can go for giving
shape to the solutions looking from the future perspective.
T – This is the final stage of transforming the creative
solution into a reality. It involves not just the creation of
product or services, but also about taking care of the marketing and
business aspects of the creative plan. This is one area where more
creative thinkers falter because they fail to ensure its commercial
and economic viability. It is crucial an Action Plan is set for
transformation of the creative solution that includes business and
marketing plans. You have to sincerely try all avenues unmindful of
hurdles or rejections that you may encounter to actualize them. As
always perseverance pays.
The common and conventional method for using the DO IT technique
is the usual linear method of listing. If you were instead, to use
Mind Maps, you will realize you have an excellent tool on hand. Mind
Mapping allows you to record all the problems and solutions easily
and concisely, and renders the whole exercise meaningful and simple.
When a complete Mind Map is formed using the DO IT technique, you
gain a full picture, which provides the necessary association and
links between different elements of your creative process and
solution. These are completely absent in the regular listing type
method.
By using Mind Maps you can register all the brainstorming ideas
quickly as they arise and analyze how they can be connected to
alleviating the problems. Because the big picture of the entire
creative process is mapped on, it becomes easy to assess the impact
and gauge its full impact to come out with the most creative
solutions. Association and concepts are crucial elements to
creativity and Mind Maps provide the greatest scope that is not
available in any other method; hence the superiority of the Mind
Mapping method. They make for simple and yet highly powerful
technique. As in everything else, you have to try Mind Mapping
technique to understand its significance and dynamism. Time you used
Mind Mapping to see for yourself.
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