ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES

Analytical techniques are used to boost and increase group creativity but can be also used by single individuals to the same purpose. They help to identify any parallels and combinations among different classes of items or properties.
In particular, Gian Carlo Cocco (1987) defines them as follows:

“These techniques try to combine the qualities of imagination with those of scientific analysis.
In particular, analytical techniques (also called inventory techniques or index of attributes, item index or leading idea, index of lists or checking lists, catalogue index) lead a single researcher or a workgroup to examine far-reaching but predetermined questions and help to develop innovative answers for a better synthesis...
A particular approach of these techniques is to look for any possible pattern or attribute of an item or a product. Afterwards, make a list of all these attributes to examine any possible interconnection. For example, given a screw-driver as a leading item, you will notice the following attributes: round-shaped, wooden stick, manual functioning, etc. You can improve its functions by examining each attribute (e.g. its round shank could be hexagon-shaped, thus allowing to use a spanner for a better torsion and so on)”. (Cocco, 1987)

Also Osborn (1992) took the screw-driver as an example to explain this technique when he wrote his book “L’arte della creativity”:

“For example, we could list the attributes of a common wooden stick screw-driver as follows:
(1) round-shaped; (2) steel shank; (3) wooden stick secured by a small nail; (4) wedge-shaped end to fit the screw top; (5) manual functioning; (6) torsion function.
To improve the screw-driver functions, we examine each attribute on its own. For instance, the round shank could become hexagon-shaped to fit a spanner for a better torsion; the wooden stick could be made of plastic, etc. We could work out a great deal of adjustements to each attribute.” (Osborn, 1992)

CLASS	C
PHASE	Idea Generation
DESCRIPTION	Analytical techniques are used to boost and increase group creativity but can be also used by single individuals to the same purpose. They help to identify any parallels and combinations among different classes of items or properties. In particular, Gian Carlo Cocco (1987) defines them as follows: “These techniques try to combine the qualities of imagination with those of scientific analysis. In particular, analytical techniques (also called inventory techniques or index of attributes, item index or leading idea, index of lists or checking lists, catalogue index) lead a single researcher or a workgroup to examine far-reaching but predetermined questions and help to develop innovative answers for a better synthesis... A particular approach of these techniques is to look for any possible pattern or attribute of an item or a product. Afterwards, make a list of all these attributes to examine any possible interconnection. For example, given a screw-driver as a leading item, you will notice the following attributes: round-shaped, wooden stick, manual functioning, etc. You can improve its functions by examining each attribute (e.g. its round shank could be hexagon-shaped, thus allowing to use a spanner for a better torsion and so on)”. (Cocco, 1987) Also Osborn (1992) took the screw-driver as an example to explain this technique when he wrote his book “L’arte della creativity”: “For example, we could list the attributes of a common wooden stick screw-driver as follows: (1) round-shaped; (2) steel shank; (3) wooden stick secured by a small nail; (4) wedge-shaped end to fit the screw top; (5) manual functioning; (6) torsion function. To improve the screw-driver functions, we examine each attribute on its own. For instance, the round shank could become hexagon-shaped to fit a spanner for a better torsion; the wooden stick could be made of plastic, etc. We could work out a great deal of adjustements to each attribute.” (Osborn, 1992)
CORRELATE TECHNIQUES	MORPHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS CREATIVITY TEMPLATE
REFERENCES	Cocco G.C., Creatività ricerca e innovazione. Individui e imprese di fronte alle sfide della società post-industriale, Milano, Franco Angeli, 1987. Osborn A.F., L'arte della creativity, Milano, Franco Angeli, 1992, ed. orig. del 1953.