Part A: Perturbing thoughts

Step 1: Take the last 2 numbers in your student number. If they are the not the same number then go to

Step 2. If they are the same number add 1 to the last number (e.g. ‘77’  ‘78’). In the case of ‘99’ it will go to‘90’.

Step 2: Select the two words from the following list which correspond to your two numbers from Task 1.

For example, if your student number is 20150537. The two numbers would be ‘3’ and ‘7’ and the two words ‘kite’ and ‘sock.

Step 3: Using your two words in any order, adding and subtracting from the words in any way (though still being recognisably* your two words) do the following tasks:

Task 1:

In less than 15 words describe symptoms of the (fictitious) disease named according to your two words.

Task 2:

In less than 15 words write the headline for the news story involving your two words. 

Task 3:

In 2-3 sentences describe the business (e.g. what it sells) named with your two words

Task 4:

Choose one of the descriptions from Task 1 -3 and elaborate more on it (<300 words). For example, if Task 2 is chosen, you might write the short news article to go with the headline. If Task 3, who are the main competitors or customers, business history etc

Part B: Innovation all around us

Choose a product found in a kitchen (e.g. knife, stove etc …).

1. What are the 4 key ideas that needed to come together for the category of product to arise and when did they occur? Justify why you believe these are the key innovations. Consider if the product would still have arisen if these innovation hadn’t occurred.

2. What are the recent innovations that have occurred in the product category, specifically in the last 10 years? Again, justify why you believe these are the key innovations.for well-reasoned arguments)

3. Predict 2 key innovations to this product that could occur over the next 10 years? Why?

4. In the distant future, e.g. 50 to 100 years, will the product still exist if not what has replaced it? If so, what crazy futuristic features could it have? (3 marks for great futuristic ideas, not restricted by today’s technology)

Part C: Creativity and Innovation in organisations

Wicked problems are problems that are complex, hard to define, generally do not have an easy solution, have lots of vested interests and perhaps all options for solutions are in some way bad or a poor compromise (see https://www.wickedproblems.com). Examples are (but not limited to) climate change, gun control, sugar overconsumption, water scarcity, political conflict, aging or growing population. Choose an organisation (e.g. private, government, non-profit) that you believe are trying to make a difference to a wicked problem (e.g. one discussed in your workshop) through creative and innovative methods. 

1. What activities of the company do you consider to be creative and innovative, that is, why did you choose it?

2. Briefly, what is it about the organisation’s structure (e.g. size, age, market segment, beginnings (history) contributes to its creativity? Again justify why you think so

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