101 Activities For Teaching Creativity And Problem Solving

Bionic Ideas Handout

Assume you are the manager of a department store. Your assistant has informed you that

the store’s losses due to shoplifting are greater than ever. To help resolve this problem,

you decide to try Bionic Ideas.

You state the problem as “How could we prevent shoplifting in our store?” Next, you

describe the major principle or process as prevention. You then make a list of things in

nature that involve the concept of prevention:

• Most birds build their nests in trees to prevent predators from reaching the nests.


• Some animals change the color of their skin to blend in with their environment and
  prevent attacks from enemies.


• Squirrels put away nuts for the winter to prevent starvation during the cold months.


• Many animal couples take turns guarding their nests to prevent harm to their off-
  spring.


• Camels store large quantities of water in their bodies to prevent thirst and dehydra-
  tion.


• Turtles quickly pull into their shells to prevent predators from biting their heads or
  legs.


• Mother Nature installs a strong sex drive in most animals to prevent extinction of the
  species.


• Many plants turn toward a light source to prevent loss of growth (the so-called pho-
  totropic response).


• Leaves drop off many trees to prevent the trees from having to provide nourishment
  during the winter months.


• Many animals make loud noises to prevent enemies from attacking.

These comparisons might suggest the following ideas:

• Install cameras in ceilings to watch for shoplifters.


• Have security personnel pose as shoppers to blend in and nab any shoplifters.


• Save extra money to make up for stolen merchandise.


• Have employees rotate turns looking for shoplifters.


• Encourage customers to turn in shoplifters by having a lottery among customers who
  report shoplifting. The winner receives an ocean cruise.


• Install a sensor so that all the doors close automatically when the device detects that
  someone is trying to leave the store with stolen merchandise.


• Offer employees rewards to encourage them to help perpetuate profits for the store by
  catching shoplifters.

232 101 Activities for Teaching Creativity and Problem Solving

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

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