To enhance creative problem solving, most organizations regularly engage in systematic approaches to develop creative and innovative ideas. We focus here on new developments in brainstorming and other creativity-enhancing methods. Programs of this nature are applied to actual problems, while at the same time they provide an opportunity to improve creative thinking. The leader has a dual role in implementing creative problem-solving techniques: He or she facilitates group interaction and also provides a fair share of creative output.

There are creativity-enhancing, problem-solving techniques that help to systematically collecting fresh ideas, including the use of whiteboards and granting time to explore ideas and brainstorm. Creative problem-solving techniques are more likely to be effective in an organization culture that favors creativity and innovation. And no one method is likely to be consistently better than any other method.

The underlying mechanism is that each creativity-enhancing method helps bring new ideas to the surface.