Page 176 - Design for Six Sigma for Service (Six SIGMA Operational Methods)

148 Chapter Seven

What is the ingredient that some people have that makes it possible for
them to break the barriers to visualization, to be able to look at something
and immediately think of new and exciting possibilities for products,
services, methods, or other useful or satisfying subjects? This is a
provocative question that produces many and varied opinions but no clear-cut
formula for producing creative people. It is known that a creative person is
somewhat different. It is also known that a creative person exhibits certain
characteristics. However, given the same characteristics, another person
may not prove to be creative. Many people feel that the seeds for creativity
exist in every person. If this is true, it would be exciting to discover the
means to release these seeds to foster their growth for the benefit of
humankind.

In all probability, at least one of the ingredients of creative people is the
ability to visualize, to detach themselves from reality, and to see beyond
the stated problem, the object, or the material facts. A creative person must
be able to create concepts, broaden and develop them, analyze and examine
them, and out of it all select a new idea, new approach, or new solution to a
requirement or problem.

According to L. Miles:
1. Creative thinking is constrained by the physical shape or concept of
existing products and services.
2. Concentrating on function helps to break down the barriers to visual-
ization and offers outstanding opportunities for creativity.

The conventional approach to product or process improvement is to try to
make the existing product work better, cost less, or meet some other
objective. Creativity is stifled because the existing form constrains thinking.

The function approach is truly different. It breaks the project into requirements
called functions. The process of defining function becomes a method to break
the barriers to visualization to make entirely new solutions possible.

The concept is disarmingly simple. It is easy to understand without learning
complex systems or studying complex technology. However, the ability to
use the system comes only from a thorough understanding of the principles
and the determination and discipline to use them.

Function analysis is basic to the system and starts with a need to understand
the term function and how to define functions that will offer creative oppor-
tunities. Function definition and function analysis provide a major discipline