Creative Problem-Solving Interviews
Jeremy, Production Engineer
1. How do you generate ideas? (How, when, and where are you inspired? What inspires you? What obstacles do you face in coming up with a new idea and how do you overcome those obstacles?)
The first thing I do if I see a problem is try determining what has been done already. Usually this starts with doing some basic background research. My next step is to mull over the findings from my research, then step away from the problem before going back to it. Often times an idea will come when I have time to think, such as in the car or during uninterrupted periods of work. I am inspired by similar or existing ideas to my own.
When coming up with an idea, I will often struggle to figure out how to find an actionable idea. Working in a small business, we have very limited budget and resources, as well as expedited deadlines. I can often imagine complicated and elaborate solutions to our problems, but often they are not feasible within those constraints. To overcome these obstacles, it takes a lot of trying out ideas and iterations, being willing to fail. This includes prototyping and seeing how the product or solution may work in practice. When I am able to create a physical prototype as a response to a problem, I can overcome the obstacles of generating a good solution. Finally, I find that the actual process of creating something helps spark other new ideas.
2. What process(es) do you use to solve problems? (Describe the steps of your problem-solving process. Explain your journey from inspiration to implementation.)
The first step is to very clearly define the problem involved. It is important to understand who the solution is serving as well as what have previous attempts to solve the problem looked like. Another aspect of my research is to determine the scale of a problem. I need to understand timelines and how urgent the problem might be. If itâs more long-term, I can take time to be strategic with the solution. Also, I will ask what the cost is if no solution is developed at all.
Next, I will take time to do a little more research and determine what has been done before and why it failed. Simultaneously, I am considering ideas and brainstorming potential solutions. In my current role, itâs important to understand the systems and processes that are currently in place. The third step is to come up with a plan of attack. I need to ask myself whether this is a quick fix or requires lots of attention and resource. From the brainstorming step, I will now take time to consider my options and narrow down to the options that make sense. Next, I will start trying them out. A saying I like to remember is: âone physical test is worth 1,000 expert opinions.â Once I see the performance and can visualize the impact, I will determine which solution is the best fit. Finally, once a solution has been chosen, I need to be sure to continuously refine to ensure quality, safety, affordability, ergonomic for our operators.
Greg, Product Marketing
1. How do you generate ideas? (How, when, and where are you inspired? What inspires you? What obstacles do you face in coming up with a new idea and how do you overcome those obstacles?)
Very often in the aviation industry, ideas come based on airplane specifications and capabilities. There is a narrow focus to stay within the industry when setting standards within marketing, so I make a very concentrated effort to educate myself on what other industries are doing. This may be something as simple as Appleâs seamless website design, or a well-crafted SunSki advertisement. My ideas come from generating lots of exposure from these other industries and finding ways to apply those to my job at Boeing. I also follow general design and marketing trends by constantly looking at websites such as AdWeek, Pinterest, and TrendWatching. I believe that life is all about discovery, so in a lot of cases that means getting out of my own habitat and taking time to travel. This also means that I am constantly learning and asking questions. The more knowledge I can collect on a particular matter, the easier it will be to develop an idea.
2. What process(es) do you use to solve problems? (Describe the steps of your problem-solving process. Explain your journey from inspiration to implementation.)
Boeing has a habit of taking a very technical approach to problem-solving and creativity. In many cases here in Marketing, you will see ex-engineers jump to a process or solution that has been done many times before. I try to approach problem-solving differently, first by asking âwhy?â For example, we were asked to create a presentation for a particular product and focus on one certain trait of that airplane. When I asked âwhy,â we found that there wasnât a great need in the first place. Next, I try to avoid looking at what has been done before and think about the problem on a large scale. Next, I take time to research what other industries are doing. This is when I try to understand what types of marketing are effective for similar problems/tasks. Then I will ask myself what supporting data we have to work with and try to draw conclusions from there. Once I have drawn those conclusions, the story begins to mold itself around that. Finally, once the story is told I typically present it to a few colleagues for initial feedback, but I am always seeking feedback from my peers and customers.
Peter, Adjunct Professor
1. How do you generate ideas? (How, when, and where are you inspired? What inspires you? What obstacles do you face in coming up with a new idea and how do you overcome those obstacles?)
It is always important to me that I share with my students the experiences I have had throughout my 30-year career in the industry. In general, I am inspired by experiences and stories from others, but also from my own past experiences. I think this is incredibly important when teaching undergraduate students, because most of them have never worked in a full-time job. In many cases, I have found students struggling in other courses because they cannot see the real-world application of the concepts being taught.
2. What process(es) do you use to solve problems? (Describe the steps of your problem-solving process. Explain your journey from inspiration to implementation.)
Back when I was managing a factory, I would immediately go out to the floor and talk to the mechanics to understand the problems that would arise. There was always a big emphasis we took on making sure our front line was covered and listened to. It was very important that I had developed close relationships with the mechanics, because when something did go wrong, they knew they could trust me to listen and not place blame on them.