Effects of Training in Creativity and Creative Problem Finding upon Business People

Abstract

The effects of training in creativity and creative problem finding on American business people were tested and measured in terms of fluency in data- and problem finding, flexibility in problem finding, and quality of the problem statement. The training program was based on the Osborn-Parnes Creative Problem-Solving Model. Sixty-eight business people were randomly assigned to control and experimental groups. The results of the control group, who completed a problem-finding task without training, were compared with those of the experimental group, who completed the task after receiving training. The findings indicate that training affected the experimental group's fluency and flexibility in data- and problem finding and affected the quality of the problem statement.