---
title: "Creative problem solving and brainstorming"
subject: "Machine Design I"
chapter: 4
key: "semester_6/machine_design_i:creative-problem-solving-brainstorming"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_6/machine_design_i/creative-problem-solving-brainstorming
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Creative problem solving and brainstorming

Machine Design I · Chapter 4: Problem Solving and Decision Making

- Asked in: year not given, 6 marks
- Video: [Design Techniques | Brainstorming | Synectics | ENGINEERING STUDY MATERIALS](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lT2U9qgUelA) — Engineering Study Materials
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_6/machine_design_i/creative-problem-solving-brainstorming
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_6/machine_design_i/chapter-4

## Question

Explain the problem solving process and the stages of creative problem solving. Describe brainstorming, giving its rules and the way a session is conducted.

## Short answer

Problem solving steps: define problem, gather facts, generate solutions, evaluate, implement, review. Creative problem solving adds stages of preparation, incubation, illumination, verification. Brainstorming is a group method to generate many ideas without criticism, welcoming wild ideas, aiming for quantity, and combining ideas.

## Answer

#### Problem solving process

Problem solving is a systematic way of moving from a given situation to a desired one. The usual steps are:

1. Identify and define the problem (what is wrong, what is wanted).
2. Collect facts and analyse the causes.
3. Generate possible solutions.
4. Evaluate the solutions against criteria and constraints.
5. Select and implement the best solution.
6. Review the result and feed back any lessons.

#### Creative problem solving

Creative problem solving is used when the usual methods fail and a new idea is needed. The stages are:

| Stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| Preparation | Study the problem and gather information |
| Incubation | The problem is left aside while the mind works on it unconsciously |
| Illumination | A new idea suddenly appears (the "aha" moment) |
| Verification | The idea is tested, refined and developed |

Techniques that help are brainstorming, analogy, inversion (asking how to make the problem worse), checklists, morphological charts and questioning assumptions. Creativity is helped by a relaxed atmosphere and delay of judgement. **Invention** is the result when the idea is new, useful and can be made to work.

#### Brainstorming

Brainstorming is a group method to produce many ideas quickly.

**Rules:**

- No criticism or evaluation during idea generation.
- Welcome unusual and wild ideas.
- Aim for quantity; more ideas give more good ideas.
- Combine and improve the ideas of others ("hitch-hiking").

**Conduct of a session:** a group of 5 to 12 people with a leader and a recorder; the problem is stated clearly; the session lasts 20 to 40 minutes; all ideas are written visibly. Afterwards the ideas are grouped, evaluated and the best are developed further.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. What is the correct order of stages in creative problem solving?
   A. Illumination, preparation, verification, incubation
   B. Preparation, verification, incubation, illumination
   C. Incubation, preparation, illumination, verification
   D. Preparation, incubation, illumination, verification
   Answer: D. Study, rest, sudden idea, then testing. (Key point: Creative stages)

2. What happens in the illumination stage?
   A. A new idea suddenly appears (the 'aha' moment)
   B. The idea is tested and refined
   C. The problem is left aside
   D. Information is gathered
   Answer: A. Testing is verification; leaving aside is incubation. (Key point: Illumination)

3. Which is a rule of brainstorming?
   A. Evaluate each idea immediately
   B. No criticism or evaluation while ideas are being generated
   C. Reject wild ideas
   D. Aim for a few perfect ideas
   Answer: B. Delay of judgement encourages many ideas. (Key point: Brainstorming rule)

4. How is a brainstorming session conducted?
   A. One expert working silently for hours
   B. 50 people with no recorder
   C. 5 to 12 people with a leader and recorder, 20 to 40 minutes, all ideas written visibly, evaluated afterwards
   D. Ideas are discarded unrecorded
   Answer: C. Ideas are grouped and evaluated after generation. (Key point: Session conduct)

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