Creative Thinking is the High-Test Fuel for Innovation

This InnoQuest session exposed us to handful of creativity tools and exercises that were applied to our own various business problem statements.   The premise is that creativity is the foundation for innovation, and it is a skill that can be sharpened through practice.  Dan Coleman, Excelsior Learning, guided the group through a series of tools that support both divergent and convergent thinking – the cornerstones of creative thinking processes.   These exercises were enhanced with a heartrate-raising bicycle ride through a portion of the Towpath Trail in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

What participants are saying:

“Fantastic learning experience and great interaction during a time of social distancing.  Powerful!

Upon completing of the program the group …

• Prioritized the best problems/opportunities to work on.
• Generated novel ideas to solve the problems/opportunities and selected the best novel ideas to be feasible.
• Cobbled together an actionable concept and strengthened the concept.
• Outlined high level rapid action plans.    
• Strengthened collaboration and relationships between group members.
• Experimented with an integrated creative thinking and action-learning method.

About the InnoQuest Innovation Management Program:

A collaborative forum offered bi-monthly to leaders and innovation practitioners of mid- to large-sized companies in Northeast Ohio. Participants gain best practices in managing and guiding the innovation process, new working relations with peer companies & leading practitioners and actionable steps to improve a company’s innovation practices. Program content has included: Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing), Lean Start-Up Principles, Design Thinking and Creativity in Leadership. Each session is held at a location of interest throughout the region; past locations have included; Sherwin Williams, The Technology House, NASA Glenn Research Center, Baldwin Wallace Center for Innovation and Growth, Parker Hannifin’s New Innovation Center and the Cleveland Institute of Art.

To participate in the InnoQuest Innovation Management program contact:
Chris Keller (Chris@edgef.org; 216-346-6300) or Grant Marquit (Grant@edgef.org; 216-215-5058)