Slice and Dice

This is one of the scientific parts of creativity. Pulling things apart and examining the pieces. Reducing thing to simpler forms so we can manipulate this piece or that piece and see what happens. It’s detail-oriented and gives our understanding depth.

There are plenty of strategies to do this. Here’s one from Keith Sawyer. Take your problem or challenge, whatever it is, and turn it into 10 different problems. Not 10 slightly different problems, but 10 distinct problems that slice and dice your original problem and examine different parts of the problem’s components. A quick example:

Original problem: High rate of personnel turnover at work.

10 problems:

This practice of slicing and dicing forces us to look at one issue from multiple angles. Chances are that one or more of these problems is actually better to address than the original problem. They are more specific components that can be experimented with.

We sometimes think of science and art as existing on separate ends of a continuum. Scientists are disciplined and rigid, where artists are free and expressive. There’s no reason we can’t be both. These things complement each other and the creative process needs each of them. This little exercise is an example of that. Breaking down a problem into separate components is a common scientific reductionistic practice. Coming up with 10 different problems embedded in the original problem is artistic. It based on perspective, abstraction, and empathy.

Try it out. Slice and dice your own problem or challenge. You might be surprised by what you find.

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