101 Activities For Teaching Creativity And Problem Solving

Combinations 165

101 Activities for Teaching Creativity and Problem Solving.Copyright © 2005 by John Wiley &

Sons, Inc. Reproduced by permission of Pfeiffer, an Imprint of Wiley. http://www.pfeiffer.com

Word Diamond Handout

Suppose you are losing scientists to your competitors. In particular, you want to encour-

age more professional employees to remain in the research and development (R&D)

department. First, select four words or phrases: encourage, employees, remain, and R&D.

Next arrange them in the shape of a diamond, as shown in Figure 6.4.

Figure 6.4. Word Diamond Sample

Finally, use various combinations to suggest ideas:

• Give incentive rewards for employees who achieve special professional recognition
  (from “employees/encourage”).


• Match up younger employees who are more likely to leave with older employees and
  form a buddy program (from “employees/encourage”).


• Establish two career tracks—one managerial and one nonmanagerial—to take into
  account different professional growth needs (from “employees/remain”).


• Develop a “Pride in R&D” public relations campaign to promote team spirit (from
  “R&D/employees”).

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