In the Resources this week you will explore how to activelygenerate ideas, refine those ideas, and address problems andchallenges. For this Shared Practice, you will practice divergentand convergent thinking to solve a challenge facing you.

Select one problem, either in your personal or professionallife, that you currently have ownership of and motivation to solve.Practice divergent thinking by generating a list of possiblesolutions or approaches to your problem. Then, practice convergentthinking and select the solution that you think holds the mostpromise. Be sure to justify your selection. Read "The Paradox ofSamsung’s Rise" and consider how Samsung integrated the cultures ofemployees from all over the globe in order to stimulate creativityand innovation. Consider the influences of culture on this type ofthinking and creativity in general.

With these thoughts in mind

• A brief description of the problem along with your list ofsolutions, the solution you selected, and the justification foryour selection.
• Next, describe the experience of using divergent thinking andconvergent thinking. If you had not approached the problem usingdivergent and convergent practices in a systematic way, would youhave arrived at the same solution? Explain why or why not.
• Finally, explain any aspects of culture that could eitherinhibit or support this creative process.