Question 1

Mini-Case:  The Minivan Story. In the May 30, 1994, edition of Fortune magazine, the story of the minivan was told. In the earlier years of the passenger vans, only hippies seemed to appreciate the attributes of the van. However, in the 1970s, all three U.S. automakers began to study ways to modernize and broaden the appeal of their vans. Listening to customers helped Chrysler avoid two crucial design errors: (1) it rejected the long, wedge-shaped nose design and (2) it rejected the design that placed the engine under a hump in the floor (blocking passage from front to back seats). Also, while Chrysler continued to push for front-wheel drive, both Ford and GM handed responsibility of the minivan to the truck divisions, which continued to focus on rear-wheel drive. GM's problems were compounded by the fact that in 1985 station wagons were a significant part of its sales. In the 1990s, both GM and Ford developed front-wheel drive minivans and neither were housed in the truck division. Learning from their mistakes, both GM and Ford devised a new-product development process.
-There are six things one can do to help create more conceptual flexibility.Briefly explain each one.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Mini-Case:  The Minivan Story. In the...

Question 2

If you defer judgment,expand current alternatives,and combine unrelated attributes during creative problem solving,what are you doing?

Accepted Answer

A)  Improving the problem definition 
B)  Elaborating on the problem definition 
C)  Generating more alternatives

Question 3

Explain some difficulties that can occur with each step in the rational problem-solving model.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain some difficulties that can occur with...

Question 4

In studying for a test,Harry always highlights passages in his textbooks and reviews the highlighted sections.Recently,in his Management class,Harry did not receive a good grade on his first exam.Sally suggested that Harry try studying a different way by writing down the highlighted passages on paper.Harry refused,saying,"It has always worked before,why change?" Which conceptual block is Harry experiencing?

Accepted Answer

A)  Constancy 
B)  Artificial constraint 
C)  Compression 
D)  Complacency

Question 5

When it comes to generating innovative ideas in teams,where have many of the most creative ideas come from?

Accepted Answer

A)  Employees 
B)  Managers 
C)  Professors 
D)  Customers

Question 6

Identify and explain the key steps of the analytical problem-solving model.Then provide a problem-solving example that follows each key step.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Identify and explain the key steps of...

Question 7

The principle of compression is a key technique to unlocking an individual's creative potential.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

When an individual becomes consistent in how he/she approaches problems,he/she is practicing which conceptual block?

Accepted Answer

A)  Commitment 
B)  Compression 
C)  Constancy 
D)  Complacency

Question 9

What stage of creative problem solving occurs when an insight is recognized and a creative solution is articulated?

Accepted Answer

A)  Preparation stage 
B)  Illumination stage 
C)  Incubation stage 
D)  Verification stage

Question 10

How does subdivision improve problem solving?

Accepted Answer

A)  Decreases the number of alternatives generated by a group 
B)  Increases the level of participation of brainstorming participants 
C)  Increases the speed with which alternatives can be generated and selected 
D)  Increases the speed of decision making

Question 11

Which is best when generating alternatives?

Accepted Answer

A)  Evaluate the alternatives as they are proposed; this saves time. 
B)  Focus on the short term; bad decisions in the short term means there is no long term to worry about. 
C)  Evaluate the alternatives after all alternatives have been proposed. 
D)  Separate alternatives from one another.

Question 12

Which of the following activities is consistent with the synectics technique?

Accepted Answer

A)  Reversing the definition of the problem 
B)  Dividing up the problem into smaller parts 
C)  Comparing the problem to something that seems completely unrelated 
D)  Changing the connecting words that you use to talk about relationships within the problem

Question 13

Your boss states,"Conceptual blocks are easy to overcome.Also,everyone develops some conceptual blocks over time and we need some to cope with everyday life." Should you agree or disagree?

Accepted Answer

A)  Agree 
B)  Agree partially; only some conceptual blocks are easy to overcome 
C)  Disagree

Question 14

Conceptual blocks are mental obstacles that constrain the way problems are defined and that limit the number of alternative solutions thought to be relevant.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

If your boss encourages your team to ask questions and obtain and search for data,she is trying to overcome which conceptual block?

Accepted Answer

A)  Bias against thinking 
B)  Noninquisitiveness 
C)  Separating figure from ground 
D)  Compression

Question 16

The problem is that sales are low.The sales manager accepted responsibility and said it was his fault that sales were low.Thus,he proposed offering rebates next month to stimulate sales.Rebates have never been offered in the company before,and the impact rebates may have on sales in the future is unknown.Other alternatives have been offered.Should this rebate idea be implemented as-is?

Accepted Answer

A)  Yes 
B)  No, it hasn't been determined whose problem this is. 
C)  No, the idea has only come from one person. 
D)  No, long-term consequences have not been considered.

Question 17

Susan states,"Well,I think this solution will work for now." Susan violated an important guideline for effectively evaluating alternative solutions to problems.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

Sometimes people fail to act creatively because they define their current problems simply as variations on their past problems.When people restrict their decision making in this way,they are falling prey to which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  Perceptual stereotyping 
B)  Subdivision 
C)  Janusian thinking 
D)  Morphological synthesis

Question 19

Particularistic cultures have more of a tendency toward creative solution finding.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

You are asked to list all the possible uses for a Ping-Pong ball.After making the list,by using the technique of subdivision,you should be able to determine many more alternative uses for the Ping-Pong ball.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 3: Solving Problems Analytically and Creatively

If you defer judgment,expand current alternatives,and combine unrelated attributes during creative problem solving,what are you doing?

Explain some difficulties that can occur with each step in the rational problem-solving model.

When it comes to generating innovative ideas in teams,where have many of the most creative ideas come from?

Identify and explain the key steps of the analytical problem-solving model.Then provide a problem-solving example that follows each key step.

The principle of compression is a key technique to unlocking an individual's creative potential.

When an individual becomes consistent in how he/she approaches problems,he/she is practicing which conceptual block?

What stage of creative problem solving occurs when an insight is recognized and a creative solution is articulated?

How does subdivision improve problem solving?

Which is best when generating alternatives?

Which of the following activities is consistent with the synectics technique?

Your boss states,"Conceptual blocks are easy to overcome.Also,everyone develops some conceptual blocks over time and we need some to cope with everyday life." Should you agree or disagree?

Conceptual blocks are mental obstacles that constrain the way problems are defined and that limit the number of alternative solutions thought to be relevant.

If your boss encourages your team to ask questions and obtain and search for data,she is trying to overcome which conceptual block?

Susan states,"Well,I think this solution will work for now." Susan violated an important guideline for effectively evaluating alternative solutions to problems.

Sometimes people fail to act creatively because they define their current problems simply as variations on their past problems.When people restrict their decision making in this way,they are falling prey to which of the following?

Particularistic cultures have more of a tendency toward creative solution finding.

You are asked to list all the possible uses for a Ping-Pong ball.After making the list,by using the technique of subdivision,you should be able to determine many more alternative uses for the Ping-Pong ball.