Question

Discuss synectics in your own words. Provide an example of a situation when you would use synectics.

Answer 1

Synectics is a methodology used to find solutions by comparing and inducing creativity. It is basically a method to find new solutions to problems. Giving the strange a new perspective to make it familiar and using the perspective again to make familiar strange. It is a metaphorical process which helps in building a better understanding of the problem to come out with a solution.

Synectics includes direct analogies and personal analogies. Direct analogies means directly comparing 2 things where variables of both are compared while personal analogies means placing yourself in a different shoes.

Example :

When diseases like Swine flu, H1N1 viruses came out in notice , they were strange. To make it familiar, they were compared with different viruses (direct analogy) to compare and induce creativity to find solutions. Here in this situation, both H1N1 would be compared with known viruses and variables will be used to compare and find new solutions.

In situations like above which can be called "disastrous" problems arises that require different perspective and in those situations I'd use synectics.