Creative writing in business: paper

Guidelines & Tips for Paper 2 Please see the syllabus for details regarding criteria and evaluation of course papers.

Part 1: Problem or Opportunity Identification This section focuses on identifying and specifying a problem or opportunity that you are facing.

This section should not contain any solutions to the problem/opportunity you identify. Those will be explored in Part 2.

The more specific you can be about the problem stat ement in Part 1, the more effective you will be in applying creativity tools to generate ideas and solutions in Part 2. You can conclude Section 1 with a specific and concisely worded problem st atement that begins with a phrase such as, “In what ways might I…” or others used in the example below.

For example, in the Coolburst (article) situation a more helpful and specific problem might be, "In what ways can we improve distribution efforts?" or "How could Coolburst develop a greater array of flavors?" or "Where should we sell our product beyond schools and stadiums?" These are all more effective problem statements than simply asking, "How can we improve Coolburst?" Part 2: The Creativity Application 1) Discuss why you chose the specific creativity tools/methods you about to apply to the problem or opportunity you discussed in Part I. Why are they appropriate to your work? 2) Use at least two creativity tools in your paper. Consider us ing tools that differ significantly from one another. You have a wide repertoire of tools in your "kit". Some of these include mind- mapping, WIBNI, Why/Why Else, Pattern-break ing thinking tools (such as Random Word, Assumption Reversal, Attribute Listing, Creat ive Connections, etc.), SCAMPER, and ArtWork. If you are using methods from outside sources, be sure to cite sources, including websites. 3) Explore these in depth. Remember, it is your demonstration of the process (how well you use the tools, how in-depth you go, etc.) that will be evaluated. You must actually use the tools and methods and show your work. Do the “deep di ve!” Try to reach ideas and solutions beyond the obvious ones you would get without the use of creativity applications. 4) You may include the actual use of these tools ei ther in the text of your paper or in an appendix, as appropriate. In other words, don't just state that you did a mind map - provide the map. 5) In the concluding section of your paper, set some milestones: what will you implement first?

What do you expect to happen 3-6 months from now? Use one of the idea evaluation methods presented in class (ALUO, PMI, or the Idea Grid ) to select the most appropriate solutions. 6) Finally, probe and try to reach al ternatives that really will matter to you. You want to discover something that will make a difference and actually solve the problem or embrace the opportunity you are working on for this project. Dig deep and tap into your creativity!