The articles and papers in these archives were been written between 1996 and
2013, with most of them from the eight year period of 2004-2012. Over the years
of working with, studying and writing about creativity and innovation, I leaned
a great deal about the subject. Not surprisingly, I learned that much of what
I wrote about years ago is no longer valid (in February, 2013, as I write this).
For instance, I used to be a strong proponent of brainstorming. Now, I realise
that it is not a very good way to generate creative ideas (this is part of why
I developed anticonventional thinking or ACT).
Rather than sift through, update and delete old articles, some of which people
still find useful, I have taken the lazy-person's approach. I have archived
all of my writings from the period. Current writings, together with a very few
favourites from older days, are now in the Thoughts section of the web site.
Because these are archived, they may be out of date, wrong and include bad
links. I apologise for that. Of course, a lot of the articles are also valid
and up to date. I don't apologise for that!
When Brainstorming Works
Brainstorming has righly come under a lot of criticism lately. But it does have its uses...
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
The Creative Idea
What is a creative idea, how do they come to us and why do some people have lots of creative ideas while others struggle to have just one creative idea? Find out!
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
Hiring Creative Employees
Business leaders say they want more creative employees. This is not reflected in job advertising. Learn more about how to find and hire creative people.
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
Job Pressure, Priority and Innovation
Employees complain that they do not have time to innovate. This because they fail to prioritise innovation. Learn why in this article.
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
Characteristics of Highly Creative People
Here is my take on the characteristics of highly creative people. I have looked at how creative people think -- based on my understanding of the latest research -- and applied it behaviour.
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
Boring Ideas and Boring Dinner Guests
Brainstorming and other creative thinking approaches require you generate a lot of conventional ideas in order to start finding creative ideas. Jeffrey disagrees.
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
Anticonventional Thinking and Implementation
Anticonventional thinking (ACT) makes implementation easy, in part because it focuses on developing a big idea to achieve a goal.
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
The Two Meanings of Brainstorming
The word brainstorming has two meanings. It is important to know the difference.
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
Best Ideas Are Never Very Creative
A truly creative idea, the kind of idea that has the potential to become a breakthrough innovation is seldom the best solution to the problem or the best path to achieving a goal.
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
Video: A Quick Introduction to ACT
Video: A quick, two minute introdction to anticonventional thinking (ACT)
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
A Simple Anticonventional Thinking (ACT) Exercise
A variation on a traditional creative thinking exercise helps you try out ACT
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
At Last, Make It Happen!
A different approach to creative problem solving, whose main characteristic is supposed to be its emphasis in committing the team to comply with action plan requirements.
by Fernando Cardoso de Sousa
A Mental Investment
State supported mental healthcare should be a priority for every country claiming it wants a creative and innovative population. Jeffrey Explains why.
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
Making sure your IP is protected
You've created an amazing product and you are ready to introduce it to the world. One of the most important considerations for an entrepreneur bringing a new product to market is intellectual property protection.
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
The Anticonventional Thinking (ACT) Method (2.0)
Anticonventional thinking (ACT) is a new approach to achieving goals through creative thinking. Learn more!
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
Creativity, Innovation and Cake
People are confusing the terms
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
Problem-Free, Idea-Free Creative Thinking
Think in an Anticonventional Way: Stop Searching for the “Idea” and the “Problem” as the Backbones of Team Creative Thinking
by Fernando Cardoso de Sousa
Anticonventional Decisions
Whenever you are faced with a decision you are, by definition, facing multiple choices. Jeffrey argues you should opt for the unconventional choices
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
Designing the Perfect Ideas Competition
If you want to run an innovation competition in your company, this is the way to do it.
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
What if you change IWWMI into WASNT?
Traditional creative problem solving (CPS) tells you to formulate problem statements with
by Fernando Cardoso de Sousa
Turn Your Problems Into Goals
Creativity is oftern perceived to be about problem solving. However, I believe that we should make it more about attaining gaols.
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
Let’s Bounce a Few Ideas Off Each Other
The way that highly creative people generate ideas to solve problems or achieve goals is very different to brainstorming rules. But I also reckon the former is a better way.
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
Video: Core Tenets of Anticonventional Thinking No. 1
The first of a series of videos to be made on the core tenets of anticonventional thinking (ACT). This video provides a very quick introduction to ACT and the first core tenet.
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
The Seven Core Tenets of Anticonventional Thinking
Anticonventional thinking is a new approach to creativity that is based on current research. Here are the seven core tenets to anticonventional thinking
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
Changing Jeffrey
Over the years of writing about creativity, I have changed my ideas, assumptions, products and ways of doing business. Why? Because I believe in creativity!
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
Creativity War
In case you haven’t noticed, there is a minor war raging among creativity professionals. On one side we have the creative problem solving enthusiasts – let’s call them the pro-brainstormers – and on the other side we have the anti-brainstormers.
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
You Are the Problem
If you are part of the problem, you have a responsibility to solve the problem
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
Become the Problem Innovation
When you want real insight into problems that you are trying to solve through creativity, try becoming the problem. It's fun and effective!
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
The Creative Pursuit of Laziness
The people who seem the laziest in your office are probably the most creative. Learn from them.
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
The Importance of Vacations
Physical and mental vacations are critical to your well being, productivity and creativity
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
Conceptual Conversations
Sometimes, a simple conversation to thrash out ideas and develop solutions into concepts can be a far more effective approach to creativity and kicking off innovation.
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
People Think Creative Ideas Are Like Vomit!
Here is a surprising fact for you. Most people do not like creative ideas and can even compare them to vomit. Really.
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
Inspiring Creativity in Others
If you want to push others – such as colleagues, team members, children, students, sweethearts or friends – to be more creative, there are a few simple things you can do.
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
Five More Suggestions for Raising Creative Kids
If you are keen on creativity, you are doubtless even keener to raise creative children! Here are five more steps on how to do it!
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
Imagination Is the Root of Innovation
Imagination is the realm of the mind where you see things that do not yet exist in this world, but which one day might. It is an under-appreciated yet critical element of creativity and innovation.
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
Nine Rules of Creative Leadership
The nine principals rules of creative leadership: what every creative leader needs to know!
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
The Value of DIY Parents and Creative Children
Clayton Christensen claims that there seems to be one factor highly creative people have in common: their parents were big on DIY
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
Go On, Let Your Kids Make Mistakes
Help your kids learn better and learn to think creatively by encouraging them to make mistakes!
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
What's Your Value Proposition?
What is your value proposition? How do you create value for the people who give you money, whether they be your customers, your employers or your victims.
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
Download Free eBooklet on Anticonventional Thinking
Download the 20 page eBooklet on anticonventional thinking and learn more about this powerful idea generation and development process.
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
Video: Creativity and Leadership: The 3Cs
The 3Cs is a simple, yet powerful technique that you can use to motivate people on your team to share and develop creative ideas. Learn more by watching this video!
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
Video: Boring Problems
Video: Let's Get Creative: Boring Problems. Jeffrey Baumgartner talks about why boring problem statements in brainstorms lead to boring ideas and explains how you can get better results with provocative probelms/challenge statements
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
Interview with Jeffrey (in Portuguese)
Jeffrey Baumgartner is interviewed on National Portuguese radio on matters relating to creativity, innovation and improving the Algarve region.
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
Innovation vs. Vision
Truly innovative companies do not focus on innovation, rather they focus on relentlessly chasing their strategy
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
Your Future Depends on Creativity
The world is changing your future, and your children's future, depends on your creativity!
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
Jeffrey on Anticonventional Thinking
Jeffrey Baumgartner talks briefly about anti conventional thinking following the 2011 European Conference on Creativity and Innovation in Faro, Portugal
by Baumgartner Jeffrey
Creative Problem Solving (CPS)
Everything you need to know about Creative Problem Solving (CPS)
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
Turning Problems into Innovation Challenges
Whether you are planning a brainstorming session, an ideas campaign in an idea management system or innovation process management system or simply need innovative solutions to business problems, you need to start with an innovation challenge.
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
Free idea evaluator
An easy to use on-line tool that allows you to evaluate an idea using an evaluation matrix.
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
Creative Idea Implementation Plan
Implementing creative ideas can be more challenging than implementing other projects. The creative idea implementation plan is a easy to follow framework specifically designed to help you implement creative ideas effectively and profitably.
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
Evaluating ideas
Learn how to quickly determine whether an idea is likely to work
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
Don't multitask - multithink instead
Multitasking is a highly inefficient way to get things done. Indeed, it often results in delayed completion of several projects. So, instead of multitasking, try multithinking!
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
Creativity - Its Place in Education (PDF document; 120kb)
by Wayne Morris. Creative pupils lead richer lives and, in the longer term, make a valuable contribution to society. Surely then, it is worth the effort to provide children with creative thinking skills in their education.
by Wayne Morris
10 Creative Myths
People have a lot of misconceptions about creativity. This article tells you about typical bad assumptions people make about creativity and innovation.
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
Decision Maker
The Zda Decision maker is a fun shockwave animation that can help you make decisions. Enjoy
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
Doodles creative exercises
Doodles are fun and effective creative thinking exercises. Try out our free doodles or download our Doodles e-book. (Note: this link will take you to a different part of the jpb.com web site.)
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
The Secret to Creativity
The secret to generating powerful creative ideas is not in the idea generation, but in the problem. Learn how to turn your problem into an inspiring creative challenge.
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
Team role-play
Team role-playing is a fun, but effective means of getting your staff to take a more creative approach to typical problems and situations.
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
10 Steps to boost your creativity
Ten quick steps to help you be more creative. This article was first written in 1996 and has remained on of the most popular pages on our web site. It has also been reprinted many times over in books, magazines and elsewhere.
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
