convergent and divergent thinking problem solving

• Group Brainstorming Strategies
• Group Creativity
• How to Make Virtual Brainstorming Fun and Effective
• Ideation Techniques
• Improving Brainstorming
• Marketing Brainstorming
• Rapid Brainstorming
• Reverse Brainstorming Challenges
• Reverse vs. Traditional Brainstorming
• What Comes After Brainstorming
• Flowchart Guide
• Spider Diagram Guide
• 5 Whys Template
• Assumption Grid Template
• Brainstorming Templates
• Brainwriting Template
• Innovation Techniques
• 50 Business Diagrams
• Business Model Canvas
• Change Control Process
• Change Management Process
• Macro Environmental Analysis
• NOISE Analysis
• Profit & Loss Templates
• Scenario Planning
• What are Tree Diagrams
• Winning Brand Strategy
• Work Management Systems
• Balanced Scorecard
• Developing Action Plans
• Guide to setting OKRS
• How to Write a Memo
• Improve Productivity & Efficiency
• Mastering Task Analysis
• Mastering Task Batching
• Monthly Budget Templates
• Program Planning
• Top Down Vs. Bottom Up
• Weekly Schedule Templates
• Kaizen Principles
• Opportunity Mapping
• Strategic-Goals
• Strategy Mapping
• T Chart Guide
• Business Continuity Plan
• Developing Your MVP
• Incident Management
• Needs Assessment Process
• Product Development From Ideation to Launch
• Value-Proposition-Canvas
• Visualizing Competitive Landscape
• Communication Plan
• Graphic Organizer Creator
• Fault Tree Software
• Bowman's Strategy Clock Template
• Decision Matrix Template
• Communities of Practice
• Goal Setting for 2024
• Meeting Templates
• Meetings Participation
• Microsoft Teams Brainstorming
• Retrospective Guide
• Skip Level Meetings
• Visual Documentation Guide
• Weekly Meetings
• Affinity Diagrams
• Business Plan Presentation
• Post-Mortem Meetings
• Team Building Activities
• WBS Templates
• Online Whiteboard Tool
• Communications Plan Template
• Idea Board Online
• Meeting Minutes Template
• Genograms in Social Work Practice
• Conceptual Framework
• How to Conduct a Genogram Interview
• How to Make a Genogram
• Genogram Questions
• Genograms in Client Counseling
• Understanding Ecomaps
• Visual Research Data Analysis Methods
• House of Quality Template
• Customer Problem Statement Template
• Competitive Analysis Template
• Creating Operations Manual
• Knowledge Base
• Folder Structure Diagram
• Online Checklist Maker
• Lean Canvas Template
• Instructional Design Examples
• Genogram Maker
• Work From Home Guide
• Strategic Planning
• Employee Engagement Action Plan
• Huddle Board
• One-on-One Meeting Template
• Story Map Graphic Organizers
• Introduction to Your Workspace
• Managing Workspaces and Folders
• Adding Text
• Collaborative Content Management
• Creating and Editing Tables
• Adding Notes
• Introduction to Diagramming
• Using Shapes
• Using Freehand Tool
• Adding Images to the Canvas
• Accessing the Contextual Toolbar
• Using Connectors
• Working with Tables
• Working with Templates
• Working with Frames
• Using Notes
• Access Controls
• Exporting a Workspace
• Real-Time Collaboration
• Notifications
• Meet Creately VIZ
• Unleashing the Power of Collaborative Brainstorming
• Uncovering the potential of Retros for all teams
• Collaborative Apps in Microsoft Teams
• Hiring a Great Fit for Your Team
• Project Management Made Easy
• Cross-Corporate Information Radiators
• Creately 4.0 - Product Walkthrough
• What's New

Divergent vs Convergent Thinking: What's the Difference?

Divergent and convergent thinking are key components of problem-solving and decision-making, often used across different fields. They represent two different ways of approaching challenges: one focuses on generating many ideas, while the other narrows them down to find the best solution.

In this article, we’ll break down divergent vs convergent thinking styles, explore their practical applications, and show how they can help make better decisions and solve complex problems effectively.

Divergence vs Convergence: Definitions

How to apply divergent and convergent thinking, the pros and cons of convergent vs. divergent thinking, tips to get the most out of divergent & convergent thinking, when to use divergent vs convergent thinking, convergent vs. divergent thinking in project management, why you need both types of thinking.

Divergence and convergence are two opposing cognitive processes that play distinct roles in problem-solving and decision-making.

Divergent thinking is a creative process that helps generate a wide range of ideas or possibilities. It involves thinking broadly, exploring different angles, and coming up with multiple solutions to a problem. The main goal of divergent thinking is to promote creativity by allowing a free flow of thoughts without judgment or evaluation. In short, it’s about “thinking outside the box” and considering unconventional options.

Convergence

Convergent thinking, on the other hand, is a focused and analytical process aimed at selecting the best solution or idea from a set of options. It involves carefully evaluating, comparing, and narrowing down choices to identify the most effective and practical solution to a problem. Convergent thinking is about making decisions and finding the most suitable answer based on specific criteria, often guided by logic, data, and established principles.

This comparison chart gives a quick overview of the differences between divergent and convergent thinking.

Remember that divergent and convergent thinking aren’t separate stages, but often work together iteratively. You may need to switch between these thinking styles multiple times to fine-tune and improve your ideas. Additionally, involving a mix of people with different skills and thinking styles and expertise can also help increase the quality of both your divergent and convergent thinking processes.

Applying Divergent Thinking

Define the problem : Start by clearly outlining the problem or challenge you’re facing. Understand its scope and boundaries.

Brainstorm freely : Hold a brainstorming session where you and your team generate as many ideas as possible. During this phase:

• Do not criticize or judge ideas.
• Welcome unconventional and even seemingly impractical ideas.
• Build upon the ideas of others to spark creativity.

Mind mapping : Use mind maps or visual diagrams to explore connections between ideas and concepts. This can help you see the bigger picture and identify potential solutions.

• Ready to use
• Fully customizable template
• Get Started in seconds

• Role play and scenario building : Imagine yourself in different scenarios related to the problem. Role-playing and scenario building can help you consider various perspectives and possibilities.

Analogies and metaphors : Draw analogies or use metaphors to relate the problem to unrelated concepts. This can help generate fresh insights and creative solutions.

Idea capture : Document all generated ideas systematically, either on paper or digitally. Organize them for easy reference during the convergent thinking phase. Use the following brainstorming board to quickly record and organize ideas.

Applying Convergent Thinking

Evaluate ideas : Review the list of generated ideas from the divergent thinking phase. Consider factors like feasibility, practicality, and alignment with your goals and constraints.

Set criteria : Define specific criteria or parameters for evaluating ideas. This could include cost-effectiveness, time constraints, and the potential for implementation.

Rank and prioritize : Rank the ideas based on their alignment with the established criteria. Prioritize the top ideas that best meet your objectives.

Select the best option : Choose the single best solution or idea from the prioritized list. This decision should be well-reasoned and backed by data and analysis.

Plan implementation : Develop a detailed action plan for implementing the chosen solution. Outline the steps, resources, and timeline required for execution.

Test and iterate : Implement the chosen solution and monitor its progress. If necessary, be open to making adjustments and iterations based on feedback and results.

Reflect and learn : After implementing the solution, reflect on the process. What worked well? What could be improved? Use these insights for future problem-solving.

Convergent Thinking Pros and Cons

Divergent thinking pros and cons.

To maximize the effectiveness of divergent and convergent thinking, consider the following tips:

Clear problem definition : Start with a well-defined problem or challenge. Having a clear understanding of what you’re trying to solve or achieve is essential for effective thinking.

Time management : Set time limits for each phase of thinking. Divergent thinking sessions should encourage rapid idea generation, while convergent thinking should focus on efficient decision-making.

Diverse teams : Encourage diversity within your team. A variety of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives can lead to more comprehensive and innovative solutions.

Document everything : Keep detailed records of all ideas and decisions made during the process. This documentation can serve as a valuable reference and help maintain continuity.

Flexibility : Be willing to adapt and adjust your thinking approach as needed. Sometimes, the process may require going back and forth between divergent and convergent thinking to refine ideas and decisions.

Visual collaboration : Use visual aids, such as whiteboards, mind maps, and diagrams, to carry out idea generation and decision-making. Visual tools can boost communication and understanding within the team. With a visual collaboration platform like Creately , you can effortlessly conduct brainstorming sessions using readily-made templates for mind maps, concept maps, idea boards and more. You can also use its infinite canvas and integrated notes capabilities to capture and organize information in one place.

Iterative approach : Know that problem-solving often involves iterating between divergent and convergent thinking. It’s a dynamic process, and fine tuning ideas is needed for success.

Knowing when to use divergent thinking vs convergent thinking is key to effective problem-solving and decision-making.

Divergent Thinking

Convergent Thinking

In real projects, you often switch between these two thinking styles. Divergent thinking starts things off with idea generation and exploration during planning. As the project moves forward, convergent thinking takes over to make precise decisions and execute efficiently. A good balance between these thinking styles helps project managers guide their projects effectively while allowing room for innovation when needed.

Project managers use convergent thinking to analyze data, evaluate options, and select the most suitable solutions for the project. It’s particularly helpful when you have clearly defined problems or need to allocate resources efficiently. Convergent thinking makes sure that your project stays on course and meets its objectives with precision.

Divergent thinking, on the other hand, is the thinking style you turn to when you’re dealing with complex, open-ended challenges or seeking fresh, imaginative ideas. Project managers use divergent thinking for brainstorming and idea generation without constraints. This approach is useful in exploring various possibilities, finding unique solutions, and injecting creativity into the project.

It’s important to have both divergent and convergent thinking because they play different but complementary roles in problem-solving, decision-making, and creativity. Divergent thinking, for example, helps generate a wide array of ideas and solutions as it helps break away from conventional thinking allowing you to think outside of the box.

On the other hand, convergent thinking comes into play when you need to evaluate, select, and refine ideas or solutions. It helps you make informed decisions based on defined criteria, making sure that the most promising options are chosen for further development.

Having both thinking styles in your toolkit helps comprehensive problem-solving. Divergent thinking deepens your understanding of complex problems by taking into account multiple perspectives and angles, and convergent thinking helps you narrow down options to actionable choices.

In essence, divergent and convergent thinking represent two complementary approaches to problem-solving, with divergent thinking fostering creativity and idea generation, and convergent thinking facilitating decision-making and solution selection. Both thinking styles have their unique strengths and are valuable in various contexts.

Join over thousands of organizations that use Creately to brainstorm, plan, analyze, and execute their projects successfully.

More Related Articles

Amanda Athuraliya is the communication specialist/content writer at Creately, online diagramming and collaboration tool. She is an avid reader, a budding writer and a passionate researcher who loves to write about all kinds of topics.

Convergent vs Divergent Thinking (Definitions + Examples)

Picture this. You’re at work and your team has a big problem to solve. Everyone sits down together in a room and starts to brainstorm. One person comes up with a solution, but it’s immediately shot down by another coworker. The next person comes up with a solution, and that’s immediately shot down, too. It doesn’t take long for the whole team to feel very frustrated and exhausted. You’ll never come up with a solution if everything is immediately torn apart!

How can you make this situation more productive? The first step is to learn about different types of thinking. By understanding the difference between convergent and divergent thinking, you can more effectively plan out your brainstorming session and come to the best solution without frustration.

Definition of Convergent and Divergent Thinking

Convergent and divergent thinking are relatively new terms in the world of psychology. They were first introduced to the world in 1956 by an American psychologist named J.P. Guilford. These two cognitive approaches, when used appropriately, can be used to solve just about any problem that you face.

Divergent Thinking

Let’s start by talking about divergent thinking. When you think about “brainstorming,” you are thinking about divergent thinking. This type of thinking requires you to expand your mind and find innovative solutions. The possibilities are endless. Divergent thinking allows you to see products in materials in new and different ways.

Mind maps are the best way to put the results of divergent thinking on paper. Mind maps contain ideas that branch off from each other in different directions. There doesn’t have to be a lot of logic used when you are in “divergent thinking” mode. Remember, you are expanding what is possible, not limiting it.

Convergent Thinking

Now, let’s go back to the first example. There was divergent thinking happening - each person was coming up with an “out of the box” idea. But they were quickly getting shot down. The person that was critiquing their argument was in “convergent thinking” mode.

Convergent thinking isn’t bad or unproductive. It’s necessary! This process is more analytical and “realistic.” It uses logic to narrow down ideas. This part of the thinking process requires looking for fallacies and potential problems. By narrowing down ideas that would not possibly work, you can find one or two ideas that will work without a hitch.

Examples of Convergent and Divergent Thinking

Let’s say you’re planning an event, and trying to figure out where to have the event. By putting on your “divergent thinking cap,” you start to brainstorm. How fun would it be to have the event at Disney World? Or at the new hotel that is opening down the street? What about a big outdoor party with tents? All of these venues could attract potential guests and make the event really stand out!

Wow, these are a lot of great ideas!

But let’s approach this same problem with our “convergent thinking cap.” Disney World? Way out of budget, and most of the guests won’t want to travel that far. The new hotel down the street? That’s closer to the budget and guests can easily travel there. A big outdoor party? This is an option too, but only if the cost for lights, heating, and the tents actually did fit in the budget. Would you need a permit to hold the party outside? Would you have to worry about noise complaints?

As you can see, both of these processes are necessary to come to a solution. You can’t just set your heart on Disney World without considering practical factors, like budget or location. But when you do come up with an “out of the box” solution that does fit into your constraints, you’ve got a great solution on your hands.

How to Effectively Use Convergent and Divergent Thinking

Convergent and divergent thinking require two different parts of the brain. While convergent thinking relies more on logic, divergent thinking relies more on creativity. Switching back and forth between the two may not seem like multitasking, but it is a form of multitasking. And multitasking is not as effective as you may think.

In the meeting mentioned at the beginning of this article, your team was constantly switching back and forth between convergent and divergent thinking. Their brain had to switch back and forth, too. No wonder the group became worn out so fast!

Harvard instructors like Anne Manning suggest another approach to convergent and divergent thinking. Rather than doing them in the same meeting, try “batching” your divergent and convergent thinking tasks. Take an hour of the meeting for your team simply to brainstorm ideas. No critiques, no logic, no convergent thinking. Just keep expanding the ideas of where you should hold the event, for a solid block of time.

Give your team a break. This break could be an overnight break - many people have their best creative ideas when they are sleeping, showering, or thinking about other things. Tell your team to write down any more creative ideas that they might have, and bring them to you before the next meeting.

Then, hold a meeting that is focused solely on convergent thinking. Think about the budget. Location. The number of people that you expect to attend the event. You’ll be able to cross some ideas off of your list pretty quickly. That’s okay. Crossing off items on your list quickly means that you’re coming to a solution quickly.

And voila! You’ve found your solution. Now it’s time to focus on other elements of the event. Using inspiration from your previous brainstorms, you can truly make your event the greatest it can be, or solve any problem efficiently. You may decide to make the event Disney-themed, for example, to have a fun event without shelling out the costs of actually going to Florida.

The next time you’re faced with a problem, try this batching technique. You might find yourself coming up with a great solution without frustrations!

Narrowing Down The Ideas

Don't have two days to come up with an idea? Split your team into two groups and let the debate begin! Well, sort of.

Here's how this brainstorming session works. Give two teams a set amount of time (maybe 30-60 minutes) to brainstorm all ideas without any sort of dissent or questioning. Write them all down on the left side of a piece of paper. At the end of the time period, switch the sheets of paper between the two teams. (You may find overlap. That's good!) Set another time period for the groups to engage in divergent thinking. Instruct them to eliminate most of the ideas, leaving a handful for the first group to choose from. At the end of the second time period, switch the papers back to the original groups.

If both groups still have not come to a consensus about the idea for moving forward, instruct each group to choose  one  of their remaining ideas to bring to the table. Once that is chosen, both groups will present that idea and the decision will be put to a vote amongst both groups.

Choose Your Best Team Members for Each Job

If you have a strong team that respects each other's processes, you may want to split your team up by their strengths and allow some to focus on convergent thinking or divergent thinking. Some team members naturally lean toward one or the other. Allowing people to show off their strengths can get your team the best answer in a process that everyone enjoys.

How do you know which team members are more skilled at convergent vs. divergent thinking? There are a few ways to find out.

Have an Open Dialogue

Give your team members the opportunity to choose which type of thinking they would like to engage in (if they have to pick.) Get to know their preferred forms of brainstorming. You may find that your team naturally prefers one type of thinking over the other. You may also find that they like to brainstorm in different ways! Keep an open mind.

Give it a Few Trial Runs

If everyone is shrugging their shoulders, go through a few trial runs. Split the teams randomly or bring everyone together to brainstorm ideas. Clearly split your time between convergent vs. divergent thinking. You will find that some team members have a hard time with convergent thinking, or others fail to speak up once the convergent thinking is over! As you notice these patterns, you will get a better sense of which "group" prefers one style over the other.

Go by Myers Briggs

Does your team all know their Myers Briggs type? Use this to indicate which members are likely more inclined to participate in convergent vs. divergent thinking. Team members best suited for convergent thinking include:

These aren't the only team members who should participate in convergent thinking, but it gives you a good idea of who you might want in the room during this brainstorming portion.

The best divergent thinkers include:

This isn't set in stone. Trust your team members. If they prefer one style over the other, give them the chance to shine!

Other Ideas for Brainstorming

Knowing the differences between convergent vs. divergent thinking can help you brainstorm. However, this approach may not be the best process for every team. Below are some other ways to brainstorm new ideas and find solutions to your most pressing problems.

Storyboarding

Get your team together and treat your problem like a conflict in a book.  Create a "storyboard" that explains what led to the problem and the conflict at hand. (Post-its and erasable markers are great tools for this type of brainstorming!) This method gives your team a new way to look at your problem.

SCAMPER offers a great set of prompts for a conversation about solutions. This is a great form of brainstorming for teams that are generally not convergent thinkers.

SCAMPER stands for:

• Substitute :  What would happen to the project if we swapped X for Y?
• Combine :  What would happen to the project if we combined X and Y?
• Adapt :  What changes would need to be made to adapt this project to a different context?
• Modify :  What could we modify to create more value on this project?
• Put to another use :  What other uses or applications might this project have?
• Eliminate :  What could we remove from the project to simplify it?
• Reverse :  How could we reorganize this project to make it more effective?

Six Thinking Hats

In 1985, psychologist Edward de Bono wrote "Six Thinking Hats" about a problem-solving exercise that involved roleplay. He described six different "hats" a person could wear as they brainstormed new ideas:

• Logic : Facts
• Optimism : Value and benefits.
• Devil’s Advocate : Difficulties and dangers
• Emotion : Feelings and intuitions
• Creativity : Possibilities and new ideas
• Management : Manager of other "hats"

What would happen if you chose six people on your team to wear these "hats?" Would they think about a solution in a new way? Would they come up with great, new ideas? There is only one way to find out!

There are so many great ways to brainstorm new ideas. Try out a few different methods, be aware of convergent vs. divergent thinking, and enjoy solving your team's biggest problems!

Related posts:

• Functional Fixedness (Definition + Examples)
• Social Loafing (Definition + Examples)
• Lewin’s Change Theory (Definition + Examples)
• Kurt Lewin Biography - Contributions To Psychology
• Social Groups in Psychology

Reference this article:

About The Author

Free Personality Test

Free Memory Test

Free IQ Test

PracticalPie.com is a participant in the Amazon Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Follow Us On:

Youtube Facebook Instagram X/Twitter

Psychology Resources

Developmental

Personality

Relationships

Psychologists

Serial Killers

Psychology Tests

Personality Quiz

Memory Test

Depression test

Type A/B Personality Test

© PracticalPsychology. All rights reserved

Privacy Policy | Terms of Use

• Product overview
• All features
• App integrations

CAPABILITIES

• project icon Project management
• Project views
• Custom fields
• Status updates
• goal icon Goals and reporting
• Reporting dashboards
• workflow icon Workflows and automation
• portfolio icon Resource management
• Time tracking
• my-task icon Admin and security
• Admin console
• asana-intelligence icon Asana Intelligence
• list icon Personal
• premium icon Starter
• briefcase icon Advanced
• Goal management
• Organizational planning
• Campaign management
• Creative production
• Marketing strategic planning
• Request tracking
• Resource planning
• Project intake
• View all uses arrow-right icon
• Project plans
• Team goals & objectives
• Team continuity
• Meeting agenda
• View all templates arrow-right icon
• Work management resources Discover best practices, watch webinars, get insights
• What's new Learn about the latest and greatest from Asana
• Customer stories See how the world's best organizations drive work innovation with Asana
• Help Center Get lots of tips, tricks, and advice to get the most from Asana
• Asana Academy Sign up for interactive courses and webinars to learn Asana
• Developers Learn more about building apps on the Asana platform
• Community programs Connect with and learn from Asana customers around the world
• Events Find out about upcoming events near you
• Partners Learn more about our partner programs
• Support Need help? Contact the Asana support team
• Asana for nonprofits Get more information on our nonprofit discount program, and apply.

Featured Reads

• Leadership |
• Convergent vs. divergent thinking: Find ...

Convergent vs. divergent thinking: Finding the right balance for creative problem solving

Convergent thinking focuses on finding one well-defined solution to a problem. Divergent thinking is the opposite of convergent thinking and involves more creativity. In this piece, we’ll explain the differences between convergent and divergent thinking in the problem-solving process. We’ll also discuss the importance of using both types of thinking to improve your decision making.

Have you ever taken a personality test like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator? If so, you’ve likely answered a bunch of questions for an algorithm to tell you how you interact with the world around you. One thing this test will tell you is if you make decisions more objectively (thinkers) or decisions more subjectively (feelers).

Anatomy of Work Special Report: How to spot—and overcome—the most crucial enterprise challenges

Learn how enterprises can improve processes and productivity, no matter how complex your organization is. With fewer redundancies, leaders and their teams can hit goals faster.

What is the difference between convergent and divergent thinking?

J. P. Guilford, a psychologist, created the terms convergent and divergent thinking in 1956. Convergent thinking focuses on reaching one well-defined solution to a problem. This type of thinking is best suited for tasks that involve logic as opposed to creativity, such as answering multiple-choice tests or solving a problem where you know there are no other possible solutions.  

Divergent thinking is the opposite of convergent thinking and involves more creativity. With this type of thinking, you can generate ideas and develop multiple solutions to a problem. While divergent thinking often involves brainstorming for many possible answers to a question, the goal is the same as convergent thinking—to arrive at the best solution. 

In practice, here’s what these different types of thinking might look like:

Convergent thinking: If the copy machine breaks at work, a convergent thinker would call a technician right away to fix the copy machine.

Divergent thinking: If the copy machine breaks at work, a divergent thinker would try to determine the cause of the copy machine’s malfunction and assess various ways to fix the problem. One option may be to call a technician, while other options may include looking up a DIY video on YouTube or sending a company-wide email to see if any team members have experience with fixing copy machines. They would then determine which solution is most suitable.

Convergent thinking in project management

You may use convergent thinking in project management without being aware of it. Because convergent thinking embraces structure and clear solutions, it’s natural for project managers to lean toward this approach. The benefits of convergent thinking include:

A quicker way to arrive at a solution

Leaves no room for ambiguity

Encourages organization and linear processes

There’s nothing wrong with using convergent thinking to align teams, create workflows, and plan projects. There are many instances in project management when you must reach solutions quickly. However, if you completely avoid divergent thinking, you’ll have trouble developing innovative solutions to problems.

The benefits of divergent thinking

It can be difficult as a busy project manager to slow down and think divergently. Projects have deadlines and it’s important to make decisions quickly. You may think that if you don’t come up with a solution right away, you’ll disappoint your clients or customers. 

However, working too quickly can also cause you to make decisions within your comfort zone instead of taking risks. Divergent thinking can benefit you as a project manager because you’ll adopt a learning mindset. Divergent thinking can also help you:

Identify new opportunities

Find creative ways to solve problems 

Assess ideas from multiple perspectives

Understand and learn from others

Fast results and predictability may work some of the time, but this way of thinking won’t help you stand out from competitors. You’ll need divergent thinking to impress clients or customers and set yourself apart from others.

Use convergent and divergent thinking for creative problem solving

You can use a mix of convergent and divergent thinking to solve problems in your processes or projects. Without using both types of thinking, you’ll have a harder time getting from point A to point B. 

1. Discover: Divergent thinking

The first stage of creative problem solving is discovery, and in this stage, you’ll need to use divergent thinking. When you have a problem at work, the first step is to discover the cause of the problem by considering all of the possibilities. 

For example, you may have had multiple projects run over budget. This begs the question: Why does this keep happening? If you used convergent thinking to answer this question, you might jump straight to a conclusion about why these budget overruns are happening. But when you use divergent thinking, you consider all possible causes of the problem. 

Possible causes of budget overruns may include:

Lack of communication between team members

Improper allocation of resources

Poor project planning

Projects taking longer than expected 

Now that you have all the possible causes of your problem, you can move on to the next stage of creative problem solving, which is to define your cause.  

2. Define: Convergent thinking

Use convergent thinking when narrowing down the potential causes of your problem. While it’s possible that more than one cause led to your budget overruns, convergent thinking requires a focused approach to solving your problem, so you’ll need to choose the cause you think is most problematic.

Lack of communication may have contributed to your budget overruns, but if poor project planning played a bigger role in your budget woes, then it’s the cause you should go with. When you create a solution to your project planning procedure, it can result in better budgeting. Most causes are also inter-linked. So better planning will improve workplace communication even if it wasn't the primary goal.

3. Deduce: Divergent thinking

In stage three, you’ll switch back to divergent thinking as you work to find a solution for your problem. If the cause of your budget overruns is poor project planning, then possible solutions may include:

Use a project plan template 

Better communication with stakeholders

More thorough research of project requirements

Implement cost control methods

You must consider all possible solutions to your problem before you can land on the best solution. 

4. Determine: Convergent thinking

The last stage of problem solving is when you’ll use convergent thinking once again to determine which solution will most effectively eliminate your problem. While all the solutions you came up with in stage three may solve your problem to some degree, you should begin with one action item to address. In some instances, you may focus on more than one action item, but only do so if these items are related.

For example, after discussing the possible solutions with your team, you decide that adding cost control methods to your cost management plan should prevent budget overruns and may even help you save money.

How to be a more divergent thinker

Becoming a more divergent thinker will help you exercise both sides of your brain and ensure you see problems from every angle. The following strategies can stimulate divergent thinking:

1. Think about your thinking process

Sometimes the best strategy is the simplest one. When you’re mindful about thinking divergently, it becomes easier to do. Try putting notes up in your office or adding steps in your processes that encourage divergent thinking.

Steps that encourage divergent thinking may include:

Require at least a one-hour break before sending emails regarding big decisions 

Before making a big decision, put yourself in the shoes of other team members and consider their perspectives

Don’t make big decisions without vetting your decision with at least two people

By taking active steps to think about your thinking, you may realize that divergent thinking comes more naturally. 

2. Try brainstorming and mind mapping

Brainstorming and mind mapping are two strategies that inspire divergent thinking because they help you think outside the box and generate new ideas. Mind mapping is a form of brainstorming in which you diagram tasks, words, concepts, or items that link to a central concept. This diagram helps you visualize your thoughts and generate ideas without worrying about structure. 

You can also brainstorm in other ways. Other divergent thinking brainstorming techniques include:

Starbursting: Starbursting is a visual brainstorming technique where you put an idea on the middle of a whiteboard and draw a six-point star around it. Each point will represent the questions: who, what, when, where, why, and how?

SWOT analysis: SWOT analysis can be used for strategic planning and brainstorming. You can use it to vet the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of an idea.

Lightning decision jam: Known as LDJ for short, this brainstorming technique begins with writing down positives about a topic or what’s working regarding the topic, then writing down negatives and identifying what needs to be addressed most urgently.

Try group brainstorming sessions to get fresh ideas and solutions. If you perform these sessions regularly, you may find them enjoyable and crucial for creative problem solving.

3. Free yourself from time constraints

Everyone has deadlines they must meet. But if you’re making an important decision or trying to solve a crucial problem, try to get rid of those strict time constraints so you don’t feel pressured to skip straight to a convergent thinking approach. 

Some techniques you can use to relieve pressure caused by deadlines include:

Request a meeting agenda in advance so you have time to prepare.

Use timeboxing to come up with multiple ideas in 5-10 minute intervals.

Set personal deadlines before official deadlines to give yourself some wiggle room.

It’s understandable to feel rushed to find the correct answer in a high-pressure work environment, but you won’t know that your answer is the correct one without taking the time to consider all possible solutions.

4. Use work management software

Work management is an approach to organizing projects, processes, and routine tasks in order to provide clarity to your team so they can hit their goals faster. Work management software, like Asana, can benefit both types of thinking. 

If you’re having trouble with divergent thinking in particular, there are certain features of the software you may find most useful. Work management software can stimulate divergent thinking by allowing you to:

Collaborate with others on projects

Share ideas and feedback quickly

Make changes at the click of a button

Keeping your projects online is also important because your team can work together regardless of whether they work remotely or in the office. 

5. Get curious and take risks

Sometimes team members settle into convergent thinking habits because they’re afraid of taking risks. While it’s important to prevent project risks when possible, you shouldn’t be afraid to steer away from traditional processes and think outside of the box.

The best project managers can switch between convergent and divergent thinking depending on whether a situation requires a quick and structured solution or an open mind. Not every situation requires subjectivity, but you’ll often need to use a mix of convergent and divergent thinking to be a successful leader.

Develop creative ideas with convergent and divergent thinking

We all have a natural cognitive approach to creative problem solving, and there’s nothing wrong with sticking to your guns. But if you want to inspire idea generation and solve problems in the best way possible, then you must use both convergent and divergent thinking. 

Related resources

How to find alignment on AI

Grant management: A nonprofit’s guide

Fix these common onboarding challenges to boost productivity

How Asana uses work management to optimize resource planning

Convergent vs. Divergent Thinking: How to Use Both to Think Smarter

by Kathleen Matyas, Senior Strategist

Nov. 17, 2022 / Frameworks & methodologies , Learning-experience design , Strategy

When you’re solving a problem, do you tend to approach it with logical reasoning? Or do you prefer to generate tons of creative ideas and see what sticks? Although most of us naturally favor one style of thinking over the other, you need both to innovate the best possible solutions.

Convergent and divergent thinking—terms coined by American psychologist J.P. Guilford in 1956—describe two complementary cognitive methods for analyzing a problem and choosing the optimal solution. For learning professionals, understanding convergent vs divergent thinking and how to use both can help you generate innovative ideas and deliver more-effective learning experiences.

Let’s take a look at convergent thinking vs divergent thinking and how to strike the right balance between the two.

Convergent vs divergent thinking: what’s the difference?

Convergent and divergent thinking are opposite forces and call for very different mindsets. While it’s impossible—and contradictory—to engage in both kinds of thinking at the same time, using both types of thinking throughout the problem-solving process will enhance the overall outcome.

The two modes of thinking work together: divergent thinking without convergent thinking isn’t actionable, and convergent thinking without divergent thinking is limiting. Let’s take a closer look at the differences between divergent thinking vs convergent thinking.

• Are You Skipping the Validation Step? Why Piloting Your Learning Matters

What is divergent thinking?

Divergent thinking calls for generating as much information and as many ideas and solutions as possible. Think quantity over quality—this kind of thinking is all about gathering information, coming up with ideas, and creativity. It’s a free-flowing form of thinking where no idea is off limits and the goal is to generate multiple paths forward.

Divergent thinking can be applied to both problem-finding and problem-solving. For example, we apply divergent thinking at the beginning of the learning-design process to accurately diagnose the learner problem and avoid assumptions—it’s part of our Learning Environment Analysis framework . We gather as much information as possible about the learner audience and context: we conduct field observations, interview learners, and review the pre-existing learning materials.

The information gathered during this divergent-research phase informs the next step in the process in which we think convergently to identify the problem and create a problem statement (we’ll talk more about that later on). Once we have our problem statement, it’s time to problem-solve. During this phase, we return once again to divergent thinking in order to brainstorm as many solutions as possible. Those ideas then inform the final stage, where we think convergently to land on the best possible solution.

Divergent thinking is a creative process, but that doesn’t mean you should forgo a structured, thoughtful session for your brainstorming. When we host brainstorms, we put plenty of thought into the prompts, divergent activities, and the structure of the session in order to brainstorm better solutions .

How to conduct a Learning Environment Analysis

In this guide, you’ll find an in-depth overview of a Learning Environment Analysis, a powerful framework for accurately understanding adult learners’ previous knowledge, current challenges, and needs so that you can design the right learning solution. Plus, get worksheets and templates for each stage of the process.

What is convergent thinking?

Divergent and convergent thinking are on opposite sides of the same coin. Where divergent thinking is about discovering, convergent thinking is about defining . You’ve gathered plenty of information and ideas, now it’s time to focus on systematically synthesizing, organizing, and categorizing it all to arrive at a well-defined solution.

The goal of convergent thinking is to take a structured approach to arrive at a clear solution. During this stage, you’ll analyze the inputs from the divergent-thinking phase to determine an outcome or actionable next step—it’s a decision-making moment defined by logical thinking, analyzing, and evaluating.

How to use both divergent and convergent thinking

By now, you’re probably starting to understand convergent vs divergent thinking and how these two methods complement one another. But what’s the best way to apply convergent vs divergent thinking?

We believe that using the Double Diamond framework —a combination of divergent and convergent thinking exercises—helps balance our focus on the content (where people tend to naturally focus) with the wants, needs, and challenges of the learners themselves.

You can delve deeper into exactly how we apply the Double Diamond framework , but what’s most important to know here is how to alternate between the two phases of thinking to help fuel better learning experiences. Since divergent and convergent thinking call for very different mindsets, it’s critical that each step remains distinct and separate.

Here’s our approach to convergent vs divergent thinking, at a glance:

Discover – Divergent We start with an exploratory research phase to better understand learners and eliminate assumptions from our work. Objective tools such as field research and learner interviews help curb pre-judging and solutioning during this phase.

Define – Convergent Next, we take the information generated during the divergent phase and analyze it to reach an actionable next step. Tools like mind mapping and decision trees help us identify patterns and common themes that we can hone to form a clear problem statement.

Develop – Divergent Shifting from problem-finding to problem-solving, we hold a strategic brainstorm to explore all possible solutions for the identified problem. Our philosophy is that quantity drives quality. We adopt a “Yes, and … “ mentality and don’t allow any judging of ideas at this stage. One of the easiest ways to snuff out innovation and creativity is to start judging information or ideas as they emerge.

Deliver – Convergent It’s decision time—we use convergent thinking to bring the entire process together. We evaluate the potential solutions we brainstormed, test and pilot our top choices, and then determine the best solution for the problem.

Strategic learning-experiences perform better

Whether you’re a creative thinker or naturally analytical, it’s important to learn how to apply both kinds of thinking throughout the learning-design process. Without using divergent and convergent thinking, you risk misdiagnosing the learner problem, overlooking possible solutions, and delivering a learning experience that falls short.

We believe that when learning is intentionally designed, amazing things can happen. With just a few simple yet strategic steps, you can easily apply convergent and divergent thinking to illuminate learners’ needs, spark innovative ideas, and converge around a solution that works best.

Brainstorming is too important to be left to chance.

Watch this on-demand webinar for strategies for brainstorming better learning solutions.

Training the next generation of crypto traders

We’re developing a first-of-its-kind learning experience that gives OKX’s new traders the confidence to succeed.

Our experiential, consumer-grade crypto learning academy is designed to deliver a comprehensive introduction to crypto trading for OKX’s 20 million users.

VetBloom A blockchain-based credentialing platform for veterinary specialties

Acist medical systems lifelike 3d product training to guide service techs on the job, best western hotels & resorts helping transform brand culture with fresh, energizing ilt.

• The Simplest Way to Avoid the Research Fail of the Yellow Walkman
• 5 Sets of Tried-and-True Resources for Instructional Designers

• Learn center
• Strategy & planning

Divergent vs. convergent thinking: how to find the right balance

Georgina Guthrie

January 19, 2022

If you’ve been paying attention, you’ll know that in recent years researchers have delved into the science behind personality types and how they work together. One of the most popular models is Myers-Briggs , which assigns people one of 16 personality types based on their preferences for introversion or extroversion, sensing or intuition, thinking or feeling, and judging or perceiving.

According to this model, two types have quite different approaches to solving problems: divergent vs. convergent thinkers. But do you know what these distinct thinking styles mean? Do they only make sense for people who have taken Myers-Briggs, or do they apply to everyone? And how do they relate to you and your style of working?

Divergent thinking vs. convergent thinking: what’s the difference?

Convergent thinking is the process of finding concrete and familiar solutions to problems. Divergent thinking is the creative process of generating original ideas and new possibilities.

It’s fairly easy to differentiate between the two. When given a straightforward problem, a convergent thinker would search for one effective solution. A divergent thinker, on the other hand, might come up with multiple solutions or simply say, ‘I don’t know.’ And although this may seem like an oversimplification of how we think, extensive testing has uncovered these same patterns repeatedly.

Take a look at the picture below. Based on what you see, would you say the man is happy or sad?

If you believe the man is probably happy because he’s smiling, that’s an example of convergent thinking. You looked at whatever information was available and came up with one logical, straightforward solution.

If you looked at this picture and thought, ‘It depends,’ that’s an example of divergent thinking. The man could be happy, or he could be smiling because people expect you to smile when taking a picture. The man is wearing professional clothing, so he might be projecting a positive attitude because he’s taking a business photo. There’s not enough information to know whether the man is happy. A divergent thinker is more likely to acknowledge the possibility that there are multiple answers or none at all.

Divergent vs. convergent thinking: which is best?

Both modes of thinking are equally valuable, and there are advantages and disadvantages to both. People who think divergently add color to an organization and encourage creative solutions by looking at things differently. In contrast, convergent thinkers tend to look at the details methodically and consider appropriate action. When it comes to solving problems, the trick is to find a balance.

Convergent thinking increases performance speed . It helps to narrow problems down into smaller, more manageable chunks. Efficiency is especially important when you’re under pressure and deadlines are involved; it can prevent decision overload.

Divergent thinking increases flexibility in how you approach problems . Looking at a problem from many angles gets your mind working in full gear. It helps you consider all possible options (even if they seem completely unlikely). Divergence also encourages flexibility and out-of-the-box thinking. And because the thought process is less limited, it produces stronger creative concepts than convergent thinking would on its own.

Why you need both types of thinking

When you consider more scenarios and perspectives, you’re more likely to develop innovative concepts with greater differentiation. And in the business world, strong concepts can withstand common pitfalls that normally weaken an idea before development begins.

Divergence is important when we need to adapt and find new paths, but it slows down the process of finding a solution. One style isn’t better than the other, but each is better suited to certain situations. So ideally, when faced with a problem, you’d harness both at different times — divergent thinking for creativity and convergent thinking for efficiency.

To summarize:

• Divergence and convergence are essentially flexible and focused types of thinking.
• Flexible thinking (divergence) is better suited for creative problem-solving, while focused thinking (convergence) is better suited for executing plans.
• Divergent and convergent thinking should ideally both be used, but at different times.

The downsides of divergent thinking

Divergent thinking has a major drawback: it can lead to a lack of organization. While our brains are hardwired to make connections between ideas and explore multiple possibilities within the same thought process, this creative thinking requires a little more organization to be effective.

Many people who try solving a problem through divergent thinking find themselves overwhelmed by all the options on the table. They end up splitting their focus in too many directions, which leads them to fail when it comes to finding an answer.

Fortunately, convergent thinking can help us take what we learn from divergent thinking and turn loose ideas into structured, feasible plans. Convergent thinking is also called “critical” or “rational” thinking because we use facts and logic to decide what’s correct and incorrect.

When do you use each?

Different types of projects call for different forms of creative problem-solving skills. So, in most cases, you won’t use either thought process exclusively. Rather, it’s usually necessary to combine both convergent and divergent thinking at different points in the creative process.

Convergent thinking involves narrowing down options until you find a single answer. For instance, when brainstorming new projects, it’s good to start with many ideas and consider different possibilities. Convergent thinking would help you apply criteria and sort through ideas to find the most workable solutions.

To find balance in your creative problem-solving efforts, start with divergent thinking before you move into convergent thinking. Working in this order gives you a better sense of what’s possible and keeps the creative juices flowing before you impose focus and structure.

Bringing divergent and convergent thinking together

While they each have their pros and cons, sometimes, one style will work better than the other, depending on you’re particular project. However, if you can leverage both types of thinking at once, your opportunities for creative problem-solving will only grow exponentially.

Here’s how:

• First, start with divergent thinking. Look at all of your potential choices and brainstorm as many ideas as possible . Try to look at the problem or concept from multiple angles. For instance, if you’re brainstorming product or feature ideas, try to adopt the perspectives of different target users.
• Then, switch to convergent thinking. Think about the pros and cons of each option, analyzing them in-depth. Try to develop a consistent method of comparing your options. This will help you decide which ideas have better potential than others.

Once you’ve done this for all possible choices, you’ll have a clear winner! You could also start with your best idea and examine it thoroughly to see where it leads you. If it’s not the perfect solution, continue along until you get there or are left with no other options.

How to be a more divergent thinker

Divergent thinking is a valuable skill, and it’s worthwhile to foster this mentality amongst your team. Here’s how to channel your inner creative genius.

1. Change the way you look at things

There’s a little trick you can use to get into divergent thinking, and it starts with the environment around you. By removing things that could influence your interpretation of an object, you’ll be able to see it in a new light.

Try this for yourself. Think of something simple like a chair. By taking away all the details and focusing only on the object out of context, you will engage your mind in divergent thinking mode. With nothing else to trigger thoughts or memories other than pure perception, your brain will immediately search for possibilities about how this chair looks, works, and what else it could do.

For example, when you look at that chair in your mind’s eye, think about how it could be used. It can be used in an office as a seat in front of the desk or between tables during a dinner party. But that’s not all! You can use it in unconventional ways, like hanging it on the wall and using it to display favorite books, photos, paintings, and even potted plants. You can also use two chairs to create an instant bench or coffee table. The possibilities are endless!

When you employ divergent thinking, you can explore more outcomes and look at a familiar concept with fresh eyes. That’s why artists, designers, and architects — pretty much everyone who has to solve a problem creatively — favor divergent thinking.

2. Give brainstorming a try

Give brainstorming a try to flex your creative muscles and generate a larger list of potential solutions.

Convergent thinking represents a deliberate attempt to find the single best solution within clearly defined boundaries. Scientists, bookkeepers, and mathematicians often favor this type of thinking. In many fields, it’s necessary to follow structured systems and logical conclusions that can be recreated and theoretically proven.

But what if the problem is more nuanced, or there are many solutions?

Resist the habit of defining the boundaries as “right” or “wrong.” Instead, approach a problem with a “what if” mentality and play out multiple scenarios in your mind. Then, you can turn continuous brainstorming into a process for driving innovation.

Divergent thinking rewards quantity over quality, generating dozens of ideas that may differ from each other. The best solution may not be obvious right away, but with enough divergent thinking, you’ll have more options to choose from. And that’s when convergent thinking comes in: the filtering process.

When you balance divergent vs. convergent thinking, you remove the limits on your creativity while using discernment to make meaningful progress. People who are imaginative and innovative typically use these two types of thinking symbiotically. They follow one mode of thinking as far as possible and naturally switch to the other to regulate their progress.

3. Give yourself more time

Speed can be very helpful in divergent thinking, but if ideas are thrown out at the speed of light, they may lack depth and variety. So, where possible, give yourself time.

If you’re working within a deadline, there are some techniques to help you use your time more efficiently.

• Timeboxing : give yourself a window to focus on the task, and try not to exceed the limit. If you exceed the limit, keep it to 10 minutes or less.
• Take breaks : get up and stretch every so often. That way, your thoughts can flow more easily. If you’re stuck, walk away for a bit and come back with fresh eyes. Remember, a break may eat into your time, but not taking one could burn you out and hamper creativity. Plus, your brain tends to be more creative while relaxed, so a quick nap might be better for the cause than sitting at a desk.
• Give yourself space : work in an environment with nothing to distract you — no TV, music, or people talking nearby (unless necessary). It might be helpful to use white noise apps .

4. Take risks and be curious

Risks don’t always pay off, but they always teach us something. So, don’t hold back on trying new things, even if it seems like they won’t work out. You never know until you try!

On the other hand, don’t leave everything to chance. Decide beforehand what’s worth exploring based on whether it’s relevant to the problem. Also, consider the likelihood that the solution will work. If there are 10 options and only eight have a good chance of working, prioritize how you tackle them.

Top tip : Be curious! Look for opportunities around you every day, and get into the habit of brainstorming. You never know what opportunity might be right around the corner. If you’re an ‘idea person,’ don’t get stuck in a rut by dismissing others and only considering your ideas. If you can step back and assess other suggestions with genuine curiosity, you’ll come away with better insights.

5. Use collaboration tools

Collaboration tools such as project management software , chat apps, and diagramming tools won’t magically make you a divergent thinker. However, they will make it much easier to communicate and collaborate with other people online. Not all brainstorming sessions happen in person.

Reaching out to others for help and feedback will also be more convenient. Share work and save time by letting the software do the heavy lifting regarding organization and time management.

Become more of a divergent thinker with these handy tips

When you don’t know what to do, make something up.

There are no right or wrong answers, so don’t be afraid to go for it. You might end up with an idea that’s way better than the one you originally planned to pursue. And if nothing else, you’re now getting some experience taking action instead of just planning all day.

Spend time asking questions

The world is full of facts, but great ideas come from asking good questions — not memorizing facts and regurgitating them back at people. So, instead of spending too much time absorbing information on a topic, stop and take a moment to think deeply. Ask questions that open up the conversation, and don’t be afraid to explore the unknown.

Connect everything you know

The more connections you can draw between different facts or ideas, the better your chance of coming up with something creative. Just because one idea is true and logical, it doesn’t mean there aren’t other perspectives that are just as accurate and valid.

And if two ideas are related, what other conclusions can you draw about them? Can you think of any less obvious associations? Try taking what appears to be an unrelated concept and thinking about how it could relate to your original idea. (A spider diagram or mind map can help here).

If deep thinking isn’t working, try fooling around for a bit! Find a mindless game or puzzle online and enjoy flexing your brain on an unrelated task. Or, gather your colleagues for some team-building games . This is a great way to mentally disconnect from your work and focus on having fun. Do this for 10 minutes, and then go back to the drawing board.

Let yourself daydream

Everyone has ideas that come up while sitting around doing nothing. Yet, not everyone recognizes them as valuable creative-thinking material. The trick here is to train yourself to recognize these fleeting thoughts before they slip away. When you think of something special, immediately write it down. You might be surprised at how often you’ll strike gold this way!

Take breaks

Sometimes, the best thing you can do to solve a problem is to get away from it altogether. If frustration levels are high, permit yourself to think about something else. Then, when you’re ready, you can come back with a new perspective or solution. But even if you don’t, the mental break will help relieve stress so you can return fresh and re-energized.

Talk about it

Finally, if nothing seems to be working after all your other attempts at creativity, then it’s time to call in reinforcements. Recruit another team member — preferably someone whose creative style differs from yours — and discuss the problems together.

This is an excellent way to find additional solutions you may have missed entirely! It doesn’t have to be a big meeting. A DM via your team chat app may be all you need to spark inspiration and get your creative juices flowing.

8 steps to stopping analysis paralysis in its tracks

Mind map your way to a successful year

Subscribe to our newsletter.

Learn with Nulab to bring your best ideas to life

• Camp Invention (K-6th)
• Camp Invention Connect (K-6th)
• Refer a Friend Rewards Program
• Club Invention (1st-6th)
• Leaders-in-Training (7th-9th)
• Leadership Intern Program (High School & College Students)
• About the Educators
• FAQs for Parents
• Parent Resource Center
• Our Programs
• Find a Program
• Professional Development
• Resources for Educators
• FAQs for Educators
• Program Team Resource Center
• Plan Your Visit
• Inductee Search
• Nominate an Inventor
• Newest Inductees
• Induction Ceremony
• Our Inductees
• Apply for the Collegiate Inventors Competition
• CIC Judging
• Meet the Finalists
• Past CIC Winners
• FAQs for Collegiate Inventors
• Collegiate Inventors Competition
• Register for 2024 Camp
• Learning Resources
• Sponsor and Donate

Why Creative Problem Solving Requires Both Convergent and Divergent Thinking

When it comes to developing creative ideas, often we are given platitudes, like “turn the problem upside down” and “think outside the box,” that sound nice but aren’t exactly helpful. Fortunately, by using the proven method of Creative Problem Solving (CPS), anyone can innovate.

What is Creative Problem Solving?

According to influential CPS educator Ruth Noller, CPS is best understood as a combination of its three parts :

Creative — specifies elements of newness, innovation and novelty

Problem — refers to any situation that presents a challenge, offers an opportunity or represents a troubling concern

Solving —  means devising ways to answer, to meet or to satisfy a situation by changing self or situation While there exist many different methods of implementing CPS, a majority promote two distinct methods of thought: convergent and divergent thinking. While you might have come across these terms before, read below for a refresher!

Convergent and Divergent Thinking

Convergent thinking embraces logic to identify and analyze the best solution from an existing list of answers. It’s important to note that this method leaves no room for uncertainty — answers are either right or wrong. Because of this, the more knowledge someone has of a subject, the more accurately they are able to answer clearly defined questions. In contrast, divergent thinking involves solving a problem using methods that deviate from commonly used or existing strategies. In this case, an individual creates many different answers using the information available to them. Often, solutions produced by this type of thinking are unique and surprising.

The Best of Both Worlds

When it comes to solving the types of problems that regularly arise in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields, it is sometimes assumed that convergent thinking should be avoided. On the surface, this makes sense, as complex problems often require novel solutions. Is there anything wrong with solely embracing divergent thinking strategies? Simply put, the answer is yes. Using divergent thinking on its own might produce unique solutions, but in extreme cases, these might not be grounded in reality. For example, let’s say you want to create a vehicle that runs using clean energy. Without using convergent thinking to first understand the problem, a great deal of time could be wasted trying solutions that have no chance of working. Powering a vehicle using cotton candy or mustard will do nothing, beyond making a mess. Instead, using convergent thinking to first identify a promising area to explore (biodiesel, hydrogen, electricity, etc.), will prevent a lot of frustration and loss of time. While this is of course an extreme example, it shows the importance of combining both divergent and convergent methods of thinking to solve complicated problems. See if you can encourage the children in your own life to embrace both modes of thinking, to help them invent the future!

Visit Our Blog

In all our education programs , we embrace the importance of CPS and view it as a key component of the Innovation Mindset   — a growth mindset infused with lessons from world-changing inventors. To stay up to date with the latest trends in STEM education, we invite you to check out our blog !

Related Articles

3 non-technical skills children need to excel – now and in the future, acknowledging inductee contributions on armed forces day, bring 3 nostalgic memories to life this summer.

• Expert Advice
• Health Equity
• Mental & Behavioral Health
• Preventive Health
• Celebrate Caring
• Company Culture
• Events/Sponsorships
• Volunteerism
• Member Resources
• Employee Well-being
• Innovations in Health Care
• News from BCBSA
• Back to ibx.com

IBX Insights

Divergent thinking and convergent thinking: two paths to problem solving.

About Lori Radford

Working more than a decade alongside executives at the C-suite level, Lori managed client-centric needs, facilitated all aspects of internal and external communications, aligned business objectives with comprehensive knowledge to achieve maximum operational impact, created ideas and turned them into working solutions despite resource constraints associated with a support role. Advancing through a series of four promotions has led Lori to her current role as an innovation consultant where she is currently responsible for project management and facilitation, instructing groups on design thinking methods and practices to enhance understanding and practical application through workshops, innovation sessions, and conducting and synthesizing design research.

Need Health Insurance?

Eligible for Medicare?

Most Popular Posts

An LGBTQIA+ Supplier Success Story

Divergence and convergence is a problem-solving method that emphasizes empathy, experimentation, and iteration. It is a human-centered design approach that focuses on understanding people's needs, behaviors, and motivations to design creative solutions that meet those needs effectively.

This problem-solving process cycles between expansive and focused thinking to better understand problems people face and develop a solution. Coined by psychologist J.P. Guilford in the 1950s, these cycles of thinking provide the structure for this iterative design thinking process .

In this article we’ll define divergence and convergence, provide examples, walk through each stage, suggest free templates you can use to try it out, and provide tips to help you get the most out of the creative process.

Divergence vs convergence

Divergence and convergence are like the inhale and exhale of the design thinking process. Divergence creates space and possibilities, while convergence brings focus and direction. Designers move back and forth between these two processes throughout the design thinking process, building on the insights and ideas generated during each cycle to refine and improve the solution.

Note: Divergent and convergent phases are non-linear, meaning that when facilitating this process, you may move back and forth as you discover new insights during convergence.

What is divergence?

Divergence is the process of exploring and generating a wide range of ideas and possibilities without any judgment or criticism. Divergent thinking allows designers to expand the possibilities and consider different perspectives, angles, and dimensions of the problem.

What is convergence?

Convergent thinking refers to the process of selecting, evaluating, and refining the most promising ideas from the divergent phase. It involves narrowing down and refining possibilities by selecting the best ideas and combining them to create a coherent and effective solution.

Benefits of divergent and convergent thinking

• Increased creativity and innovation
• Better decision-making
• Human-centered design
• Enhanced problem-solving
• Improved collaboration

How to apply divergent and convergent thinking

Let’s walk through an example of using convergent and divergent methods in action using the double-diamond framework mentioned in our guide on co-design .

1. Diverge to ideate

Generate a wide range of ideas without judgment or criticism in a brainstorming session or other quick ideation exercise. Use this discovery period to identify the problem and encourage team members to come up with many possible solutions.

Conducting a Brainstorm template

Use this template to hit the ground running with big ideas that will move your design process forward.

Set the stage before you collaborate with some thought-provoking questions that your team can ideate for. The group can vote to select which captures the problem at hand, or the facilitator can assign a question to each participant.

Set aside some time for the group to brainstorm on their own, then bring everyone together to build upon and clarify the ideas. From there you can vote to decide which idea your team should focus their efforts on and move to the next step.

2. Converge to evaluate the ideas

Evaluate the ideas based on feasibility, viability, and desirability using decision matrices, prioritization grids, or other evaluation tools. The goal in this convergent phase is to clearly define the problem , then understand and map any assumptions behind the ideas , and clarify the requirements for an effective solution. 

Evaluate the ideas the team has so far with the Critique template .

How to run a critique

• Present the ideas and context from the brainstorming session
• Invite feedback across three categories: what went well, what didn’t go well, and what could be improved
• Gather the feedback, organize it by theme, and create actionable next steps within the same workspace

3. Diverge again to develop and prototype

Based on the requirements, begin finding solutions that meet requirements and address end-user pain points and concerns . Improve upon the selected ideas using prototyping and user testing, gathering feedback from stakeholders to ensure that the final solution meets their needs and preferences.

Get started with this step by using the Rough and Ready Prototyping template .

• Outline learnings, key scenarios, tasks, and materials required for the prototype
• Plan out the prototype storyboard — what is the experience or journey?
• Sketch it out: How will we create the prototype?
• Create a lo-fi prototype to demonstrate its viability

Related: A guide to prototyping: the 4th stage of design thinking

4. Converge again to further refine

The final divergent step involves refining the solution, testing it for viability, and getting the buy-in and resources to implement it. This doesn't necessarily have to be the final step in this process, but we find it helps to end the session with a final convergence step.

Try the Think-Aloud Testing template to walk through what the final iteration of the solution looks like.

5. Implement

Implement the selected ideas and monitor their effectiveness, iterating the process as needed to continue improving the customer experience.

Tips to get the most out of divergent & convergent exercises

• Use a variety of ideation techniques

Experiment with different ideation techniques such as brainstorming, mind mapping, or a round robin to encourage creative thinking and generate a wide range of ideas.

Related: Brainstorming techniques for new, creative ideas

Don't get too invested in any single idea

One of the common challenges of design thinking is when team members or designers choose a favorite idea and get too invested in its success. There's nothing wrong with being passionate about a possible solution, however it's important to remember that addressing the end user or individual's problem comes first. Even if the final solution isn't flashy, if it properly addresses the core issue, it's the right call.

• Avoid premature judgment

Avoid prematurely judging or dismissing ideas during the divergent phase, and instead focus on generating as many ideas as possible during ideation sessions.

We recommend establishing some ground rules during the ideation phase to ensure that participants understand the etiquette expected during the session.

• Test early and often

Test and validate ideas early and often using prototypes, mockups, and user feedback to ensure that the final solution meets end user needs and preferences. This is helpful not only for validating your initial problem statement , but frequent testing also ensures that assumptions, solutions, and biases are uncovered and evaluated.

Related: 4 examples of human-centered design to inspire your teams

Get stakeholders involved

Including stakeholders or end users in the convergence and divergence cycles can help provide better insight into the user experience, get a different point of view in the design process, and ultimately create a better human-centered solution.

Incorporating multiple stakeholders throughout the process of designing a solution is referred to as co-design .

• Use a visual tool to make collaboration easier

Use a visual tool to capture and generate ideas, run interactive feedback sessions, and create prototypes and diagrams all in one place. 

Online whiteboards are a good option, but make sure your platform of choice comes with facilitation features that allow for voting, anonymous inputs, and a timer to lead structured, productive sessions.

The bottom line: problem-solving isn’t “one size fits all”

In summary, the interplay between divergence and convergence allows us to explore a wide range of possibilities and ideas, evaluate them, and refine them until we arrive at an effective, human-centered solution. This process is non-linear and should place stakeholders and users at the very heart of the creative process.

To get the most from the divergent/convergent process, be sure to take these tips into account:

• Be open and adaptable

Mural equips teams with the platform and skills they need to explore bold ideas and collaborate with confidence. Get started today with a Free Forever account , and invite unlimited members so your team can collaborate better, innovate faster, and drive more impactful projects.

About the authors

Bryan Kitch

Tagged Topics

Related blog posts

A Complete Guide to Empathy Mapping [+ Templates]

What is Co-design? A Primer on Participatory Design

How to Write Problem Statements You’ll Actually Use

Related blog posts.

A guide to the Agile development lifecycle

Team collaboration software: A buyer’s guide

How to plan and organize a workshop

• Business Essentials
• Leadership & Management
• Credential of Leadership, Impact, and Management in Business (CLIMB)
• Entrepreneurship & Innovation
• Digital Transformation
• Finance & Accounting
• Business in Society
• For Organizations
• Support Portal
• Media Coverage
• Founding Donors
• Leadership Team

• Harvard Business School →
• HBS Online →
• Business Insights →

Business Insights

Harvard Business School Online's Business Insights Blog provides the career insights you need to achieve your goals and gain confidence in your business skills.

• Career Development
• Communication
• Decision-Making
• Earning Your MBA
• Negotiation
• News & Events
• Productivity
• Staff Spotlight
• Student Profiles
• Work-Life Balance
• AI Essentials for Business
• Alternative Investments
• Business Analytics
• Business Strategy
• Business and Climate Change
• Design Thinking and Innovation
• Digital Marketing Strategy
• Disruptive Strategy
• Economics for Managers
• Entrepreneurship Essentials
• Financial Accounting
• Global Business
• Launching Tech Ventures
• Leadership Principles
• Leadership, Ethics, and Corporate Accountability
• Leading Change and Organizational Renewal
• Leading with Finance
• Management Essentials
• Negotiation Mastery
• Organizational Leadership
• Power and Influence for Positive Impact
• Strategy Execution
• Sustainable Business Strategy
• Sustainable Investing
• Winning with Digital Platforms

What Is Creative Problem-Solving & Why Is It Important?

• 01 Feb 2022

One of the biggest hindrances to innovation is complacency—it can be more comfortable to do what you know than venture into the unknown. Business leaders can overcome this barrier by mobilizing creative team members and providing space to innovate.

There are several tools you can use to encourage creativity in the workplace. Creative problem-solving is one of them, which facilitates the development of innovative solutions to difficult problems.

Here’s an overview of creative problem-solving and why it’s important in business.

Access your free e-book today.

What Is Creative Problem-Solving?

Research is necessary when solving a problem. But there are situations where a problem’s specific cause is difficult to pinpoint. This can occur when there’s not enough time to narrow down the problem’s source or there are differing opinions about its root cause.

In such cases, you can use creative problem-solving , which allows you to explore potential solutions regardless of whether a problem has been defined.

Creative problem-solving is less structured than other innovation processes and encourages exploring open-ended solutions. It also focuses on developing new perspectives and fostering creativity in the workplace . Its benefits include:

• Finding creative solutions to complex problems : User research can insufficiently illustrate a situation’s complexity. While other innovation processes rely on this information, creative problem-solving can yield solutions without it.
• Adapting to change : Business is constantly changing, and business leaders need to adapt. Creative problem-solving helps overcome unforeseen challenges and find solutions to unconventional problems.
• Fueling innovation and growth : In addition to solutions, creative problem-solving can spark innovative ideas that drive company growth. These ideas can lead to new product lines, services, or a modified operations structure that improves efficiency.

Creative problem-solving is traditionally based on the following key principles :

1. Balance Divergent and Convergent Thinking

Creative problem-solving uses two primary tools to find solutions: divergence and convergence. Divergence generates ideas in response to a problem, while convergence narrows them down to a shortlist. It balances these two practices and turns ideas into concrete solutions.

2. Reframe Problems as Questions

By framing problems as questions, you shift from focusing on obstacles to solutions. This provides the freedom to brainstorm potential ideas.

3. Defer Judgment of Ideas

When brainstorming, it can be natural to reject or accept ideas right away. Yet, immediate judgments interfere with the idea generation process. Even ideas that seem implausible can turn into outstanding innovations upon further exploration and development.

4. Focus on "Yes, And" Instead of "No, But"

Using negative words like "no" discourages creative thinking. Instead, use positive language to build and maintain an environment that fosters the development of creative and innovative ideas.

Creative Problem-Solving and Design Thinking

Whereas creative problem-solving facilitates developing innovative ideas through a less structured workflow, design thinking takes a far more organized approach.

Design thinking is a human-centered, solutions-based process that fosters the ideation and development of solutions. In the online course Design Thinking and Innovation , Harvard Business School Dean Srikant Datar leverages a four-phase framework to explain design thinking.

The four stages are:

• Clarify: The clarification stage allows you to empathize with the user and identify problems. Observations and insights are informed by thorough research. Findings are then reframed as problem statements or questions.
• Ideate: Ideation is the process of coming up with innovative ideas. The divergence of ideas involved with creative problem-solving is a major focus.
• Develop: In the development stage, ideas evolve into experiments and tests. Ideas converge and are explored through prototyping and open critique.
• Implement: Implementation involves continuing to test and experiment to refine the solution and encourage its adoption.

Creative problem-solving primarily operates in the ideate phase of design thinking but can be applied to others. This is because design thinking is an iterative process that moves between the stages as ideas are generated and pursued. This is normal and encouraged, as innovation requires exploring multiple ideas.

Creative Problem-Solving Tools

While there are many useful tools in the creative problem-solving process, here are three you should know:

Creating a Problem Story

One way to innovate is by creating a story about a problem to understand how it affects users and what solutions best fit their needs. Here are the steps you need to take to use this tool properly.

1. Identify a UDP

Create a problem story to identify the undesired phenomena (UDP). For example, consider a company that produces printers that overheat. In this case, the UDP is "our printers overheat."

2. Move Forward in Time

To move forward in time, ask: “Why is this a problem?” For example, minor damage could be one result of the machines overheating. In more extreme cases, printers may catch fire. Don't be afraid to create multiple problem stories if you think of more than one UDP.

3. Move Backward in Time

To move backward in time, ask: “What caused this UDP?” If you can't identify the root problem, think about what typically causes the UDP to occur. For the overheating printers, overuse could be a cause.

Following the three-step framework above helps illustrate a clear problem story:

• The printer is overused.
• The printer overheats.
• The printer breaks down.

You can extend the problem story in either direction if you think of additional cause-and-effect relationships.

4. Break the Chains

By this point, you’ll have multiple UDP storylines. Take two that are similar and focus on breaking the chains connecting them. This can be accomplished through inversion or neutralization.

• Inversion: Inversion changes the relationship between two UDPs so the cause is the same but the effect is the opposite. For example, if the UDP is "the more X happens, the more likely Y is to happen," inversion changes the equation to "the more X happens, the less likely Y is to happen." Using the printer example, inversion would consider: "What if the more a printer is used, the less likely it’s going to overheat?" Innovation requires an open mind. Just because a solution initially seems unlikely doesn't mean it can't be pursued further or spark additional ideas.
• Neutralization: Neutralization completely eliminates the cause-and-effect relationship between X and Y. This changes the above equation to "the more or less X happens has no effect on Y." In the case of the printers, neutralization would rephrase the relationship to "the more or less a printer is used has no effect on whether it overheats."

Even if creating a problem story doesn't provide a solution, it can offer useful context to users’ problems and additional ideas to be explored. Given that divergence is one of the fundamental practices of creative problem-solving, it’s a good idea to incorporate it into each tool you use.

Brainstorming

Brainstorming is a tool that can be highly effective when guided by the iterative qualities of the design thinking process. It involves openly discussing and debating ideas and topics in a group setting. This facilitates idea generation and exploration as different team members consider the same concept from multiple perspectives.

Hosting brainstorming sessions can result in problems, such as groupthink or social loafing. To combat this, leverage a three-step brainstorming method involving divergence and convergence :

• Have each group member come up with as many ideas as possible and write them down to ensure the brainstorming session is productive.
• Continue the divergence of ideas by collectively sharing and exploring each idea as a group. The goal is to create a setting where new ideas are inspired by open discussion.
• Begin the convergence of ideas by narrowing them down to a few explorable options. There’s no "right number of ideas." Don't be afraid to consider exploring all of them, as long as you have the resources to do so.

Alternate Worlds

The alternate worlds tool is an empathetic approach to creative problem-solving. It encourages you to consider how someone in another world would approach your situation.

For example, if you’re concerned that the printers you produce overheat and catch fire, consider how a different industry would approach the problem. How would an automotive expert solve it? How would a firefighter?

Be creative as you consider and research alternate worlds. The purpose is not to nail down a solution right away but to continue the ideation process through diverging and exploring ideas.

Continue Developing Your Skills

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, marketer, or business leader, learning the ropes of design thinking can be an effective way to build your skills and foster creativity and innovation in any setting.

If you're ready to develop your design thinking and creative problem-solving skills, explore Design Thinking and Innovation , one of our online entrepreneurship and innovation courses. If you aren't sure which course is the right fit, download our free course flowchart to determine which best aligns with your goals.

About the Author

Convergent Vs Divergent Thinking

Convergent  and Divergent thinking are like two sides of a coin. They are completely in contrast with each other yet extremely important in our daily lives. It’s not a must for one to always be in conjunction with another but they tend to function best when used in conjunction.

Differences Between Convergent and Divergent Thinking

Similarities between convergent and divergent thinking.

In theory, convergent and divergent thinking are two completely different aspects of thinking. However, they hold more in common than one might realize. Although they are completely different in terms of the basic meaning of the terms and how they work, the major purpose is the same. Both these thinking processes are implemented in order to explore creativity and find solutions to different problems.

These processes tend to work best when applied in conjunction . Divergent thinking takes place in a free-flowing, spontaneous manner and creates varieties of possible resolutions to another problem. If convergent thinking is applied then after, the very best answer can be picked out from the multiple solutions resulted due to divergent thinking. In this manner, they are correlated.

What are other people reading?

Convergent Thinking

Divergent Thinking

© Teo Yu Siang and Interaction Design Foundation, CC BY-NC-SA 3.0

How to Use Convergent Thinking to Find Novel and Useful Ideas

Some techniques to help you focus creatively are:

Externalization – You sketch ideas to make all the tacit knowledge and underlying assumptions about your project visible and then identify that knowledge (including its limits) to help understand the problem domain.

Three-Way Comparisons – You compare three similar products to see how each differs from the other two.

More Specific and More General – You place some temporary constraints on your project to get a more specific overview to help you generate ideas, and you stand back to get a more abstract overview.

Embrace Opposites – You find overlaps between different categories or opposites to spot new design opportunities.

Multiple Classifications – You compare aspects of items using a matrix to widen your inspiration, spot market gaps, analyze trends and rules and examine related qualities.

Teasing Apart, Piecing Together (TAPT) – You break down an experience into its elements, reconstruct it with a better understanding of what’s involved and re-imagine it in a new context.

Learn More about Convergent Thinking

Take our Creativity course featuring convergent thinking and many templates.

This SEEK blog nicely shows how convergent thinking fits into ideation .

Read about convergent thinking at work in Prism Studio’s ideation process .

Answer a Short Quiz to Earn a Gift

What is the main purpose of convergent thinking in the design process?

• To evaluate ideas based on desirability, viability and feasibility
• To finalize the marketing strategy for a product
• To generate as many ideas as possible

How does convergent thinking differ from divergent thinking?

• Convergent thinking excludes any form of creativity.
• Convergent thinking generates many ideas and initial prototypes without judgment.
• Convergent thinking involves narrowing down ideas to the best ones.

Which technique is a common strategy in convergent thinking to refine ideas?

• Brainstorm without constraints
• Maintain a single perspective throughout the ideation process
• Use a three-way comparison to evaluate similar products

What is a typical challenge in convergent thinking?

• Designers primarily use it in the early stages of the design process.
• It may overlook unique ideas that do not initially seem viable.
• It only focuses on technological feasibility.

What is a key benefit of convergent thinking in design?

• It allows for unrestricted creative expression.
• It helps pinpoint solutions that are both novel and applicable.
• It preserves all ideas for future consideration.

Better luck next time!

Do you want to improve your UX / UI Design skills? Join us now

Congratulations! You did amazing

You earned your gift with a perfect score! Let us send it to you.

Check Your Inbox

We’ve emailed your gift to [email protected] .

Literature on Convergent Thinking

Here’s the entire UX literature on Convergent Thinking by the Interaction Design Foundation, collated in one place:

Learn more about Convergent Thinking

Take a deep dive into Convergent Thinking with our course Creativity: Methods to Design Better Products and Services .

The overall goal of this course is to help you design better products, services and experiences by helping you and your team develop innovative and useful solutions. You’ll learn a human-focused, creative design process.

We’re going to show you what creativity is as well as a wealth of ideation methods ―both for generating new ideas and for developing your ideas further. You’ll learn skills and step-by-step methods you can use throughout the entire creative process. We’ll supply you with lots of templates and guides so by the end of the course you’ll have lots of hands-on methods you can use for your and your team’s ideation sessions. You’re also going to learn how to plan and time-manage a creative process effectively.

Most of us need to be creative in our work regardless of if we design user interfaces, write content for a website, work out appropriate workflows for an organization or program new algorithms for system backend. However, we all get those times when the creative step, which we so desperately need, simply does not come. That can seem scary—but trust us when we say that anyone can learn how to be creative­ on demand . This course will teach you ways to break the impasse of the empty page. We'll teach you methods which will help you find novel and useful solutions to a particular problem, be it in interaction design, graphics, code or something completely different. It’s not a magic creativity machine, but when you learn to put yourself in this creative mental state, new and exciting things will happen.

In the “Build Your Portfolio: Ideation Project” , you’ll find a series of practical exercises which together form a complete ideation project so you can get your hands dirty right away. If you want to complete these optional exercises, you will get hands-on experience with the methods you learn and in the process you’ll create a case study for your portfolio which you can show your future employer or freelance customers.

Your instructor is Alan Dix . He’s a creativity expert, professor and co-author of the most popular and impactful textbook in the field of Human-Computer Interaction. Alan has worked with creativity for the last 30+ years, and he’ll teach you his favorite techniques as well as show you how to make room for creativity in your everyday work and life.

You earn a verifiable and industry-trusted Course Certificate once you’ve completed the course. You can highlight it on your resume , your LinkedIn profile or your website .

All open-source articles on Convergent Thinking

Design thinking, essential problem solving 101- it’s more than scientific.

• 7 years ago

Understand the Elements and Thinking Modes that Create Fruitful Ideation Sessions

• 3 years ago

Convergence – How to Be Creative Through Analytical Thinking

• 4 years ago

Open Access—Link to us!

We believe in Open Access and the  democratization of knowledge . Unfortunately, world-class educational materials such as this page are normally hidden behind paywalls or in expensive textbooks.

If you want this to change , cite this page , link to us, or join us to help us democratize design knowledge !

Privacy Settings

Our digital services use necessary tracking technologies, including third-party cookies, for security, functionality, and to uphold user rights. Optional cookies offer enhanced features, and analytics.

Experience the full potential of our site that remembers your preferences and supports secure sign-in.

Governs the storage of data necessary for maintaining website security, user authentication, and fraud prevention mechanisms.

Enhanced Functionality

Saves your settings and preferences, like your location, for a more personalized experience.

Referral Program

We use cookies to enable our referral program, giving you and your friends discounts.

Error Reporting

We share user ID with Bugsnag and NewRelic to help us track errors and fix issues.

Optimize your experience by allowing us to monitor site usage. You’ll enjoy a smoother, more personalized journey without compromising your privacy.

Analytics Storage

Collects anonymous data on how you navigate and interact, helping us make informed improvements.

Differentiates real visitors from automated bots, ensuring accurate usage data and improving your website experience.

Lets us tailor your digital ads to match your interests, making them more relevant and useful to you.

Advertising Storage

Stores information for better-targeted advertising, enhancing your online ad experience.

Personalization Storage

Permits storing data to personalize content and ads across Google services based on user behavior, enhancing overall user experience.

Advertising Personalization

Allows for content and ad personalization across Google services based on user behavior. This consent enhances user experiences.

Enables personalizing ads based on user data and interactions, allowing for more relevant advertising experiences across Google services.

Receive more relevant advertisements by sharing your interests and behavior with our trusted advertising partners.

Enables better ad targeting and measurement on Meta platforms, making ads you see more relevant.

Allows for improved ad effectiveness and measurement through Meta’s Conversions API, ensuring privacy-compliant data sharing.

LinkedIn Insights

Tracks conversions, retargeting, and web analytics for LinkedIn ad campaigns, enhancing ad relevance and performance.

LinkedIn CAPI

Enhances LinkedIn advertising through server-side event tracking, offering more accurate measurement and personalization.

Google Ads Tag

Tracks ad performance and user engagement, helping deliver ads that are most useful to you.

Share Knowledge, Get Respect!

or copy link

Cite according to academic standards

Simply copy and paste the text below into your bibliographic reference list, onto your blog, or anywhere else. You can also just hyperlink to this page.

New to UX Design? We’re Giving You a Free ebook!

Download our free ebook The Basics of User Experience Design to learn about core concepts of UX design.

In 9 chapters, we’ll cover: conducting user interviews, design thinking, interaction design, mobile UX design, usability, UX research, and many more!

CogniFit Blog: Brain Health News

Brain Training, Mental Health, and Wellness

Convergent Thinking: The Key to Problem-Solving

Imagine sitting in class and shading in a circle on a multiple-choice test. You would not think that simple action has a lot to do with creativity. However (when combined with divergent thinking) the focus of today’s topic is an integral component of problem-solving. The process that goes into answering standard questions opens up a world of possibilities known as convergent thinking.

What is Convergent Thinking?

While studying human creativity, psychologist Joy Paul Guilford first created the term as the opposite of divergent thinking.

When presented with a problem, it allows someone to arrive at a solution by analyzing the information available to them and later applying established rules and reasoning. It relies heavily on logic. Its purpose is to decrease the chance of ambiguity—seeking to bridge the gap between multiple interpretations.

Ideally, it leads to one correct answer or method to solve a problem. Examples are IQ tests , standardized tests, math quizzes, and spelling tests.

Convergent VS. Divergent Thinking

Being linear and systematic, convergent thinking is straightforward. It filters ideas into a single solution.

The process focuses on the questions, “why?” and “what’s best?”

Contrarily, divergent thinking is web-like – creating connections between ideas. Divergent thinking generates multiple ideas that are original, open to more than one solution, and unconcerned with the risks or limitations.

While different in concept, convergent and divergent thinking go hand-in-hand. Typically, we use divergent thinking to generate multiple ideas followed by convergent thinking to analyze and narrow down those ideas.  

Convergent Thinking and Brain Activity

Brain activity in convergent thinkers is unique.

An electroencephalogram (EEG) can measure such activity. Electrodes on the scalp measure a person’s brain waves. It causes a distinct increase in Theta bands, which is a type of brain wave linked to learning , memory, and intuition.

Studies of patients with hippocampal damage suggest that the ability to apply convergent thinking is associated with the hippocampus , the part of the brain responsible for memory (Warren et al., 2016).

Neurotransmitter systems are also involved in carrying out signals to the brain. Convergent thinking function is greater when lower levels of dopamine (the chemical for arousal, thinking, and planning) are present in the nervous system .

Convergent Thinking and Personality

Thinking processes affect personality. This is known as the Big Five method (or the 5 basic dimensions) …

• Openness – Curious, imaginative, sensitive to inner feelings
• Conscientiousness – Efficient, organized, and diligently hardworking
• Extraversion – Enjoys interacting with the world, talkative, energetic
• Agreeableness – Considerate and kind to others, optimistic about human nature
• Neuroticism – Sensitive and nervous, likely to be moody, anxious, or depressed, easily angered

After assessing brain activity studies , researchers conclude that divergent thinking (with its emphasis on creativity) is specifically linked to the traits of openness and extraversion. However, core personality traits didn’t have an effect. That being said, cognition does affect mood. Convergent thinkers tend to display more negative moods than their divergent thinking counterparts.

Executive Function Skills For Convergent Thinking

Executive functions are cognitive skills that assist in goal formation and achievement. There are three main areas: working memory , cognitive flexibility, and inhibitory control. Like this type of thinking, we practice executive function skills in daily life. These skills have a predominant role in creativity.

Executive function skills include but are not limited to:

Attention and Initiation

“Attention” is an executive function that helps us stay focused on the task at hand. It’s especially important for it because narrowing down one best solution requires focus . Additionally, attention helps sustain initiation—the executive function responsible for beginning a task and finishing it to completion.

Inhibition is an executive function that utilizes attention and reasoning to control impulsive, automatic responses.

To put it simply, inhibition is part of self-control . A lack of inhibition prevents the ability to discard partial or incorrect solutions. When a person does not have inhibition, it also impacts their attention. They cannot remain focused enough to stay on task. Thus, poor inhibitory control is a disadvantage for convergent thinking.

Although divergent thinking is unconcerned with limitations, the ‘best’ solution determined by convergent thinking tasks cannot be deterred by extensive limitations.

Shifting is the executive function that allows us to adjust to these situations as they change or as limitations arise. In it, focus must shift to narrow down the ideas that were generated during divergent thinking.

Regulating Emotions

Depending on the task, the thinking process can be stressful. Studies conclude that both convergent and divergent thinking tasks induce mood swings (Chermahini et al., 2011). Regulating emotions is the ability to deal with feelings , which is essential in times of stress.

With its focus on filtering ideas, convergent thinking demands the managing of emotions. One has to acknowledge what they are feeling and address those feelings to overcome barriers to the most suitable solution.

Convergent thinking is structured. The executive function, organizing, provides that much-needed structure. Organizing entails planning and prioritizing – each of which is relevant to convergent thinking. It is the point in the thinking process when ideas come to life. One has to identify key priorities to achieve their goals.  

IQ Tests and Convergent Thinking

Intelligence is a major component of cognition and thinking. IQ, which stands for intelligence quotient, measures convergent thinking. Questions on standard IQ tests are a prime example of this type of thinking. They measure logic, reasoning, basic knowledge, and thought flow. Intelligence does not depend on creativity, but they do have a relationship.

Indicative of intelligence, higher IQ scores provide a starting point to carry out. Problem-solving increases in difficulty if intelligence is low. However, intelligence does not guarantee creativity. Arriving at a correct textbook answer to a problem does not guarantee the capacity to generate original ideas before delving into the convergent thinking process.

How To Explore Creativity with Convergent Thinking

Most might think that divergent thinking and creativity are closely linked, but that is incorrect. According to the Geneplore model, creativity is a cycle consisting of the generation stage and the exploration stage. Divergent thinking is the generation of ideas and convergent thinking explores ideas to put them in motion.

These general guidelines are beneficial to enhancing creativity with convergent thinking:

Be Original

Do not dismiss novelty ideas. While divergent thinking is the stage in which original ideas are generated, convergent thinking involves actually working with ideas. Creative ideas may initially seem impossible due to limitations but just think deeper. They may be able to be revised or modified. Step out of the ‘norm’ to courageously approach new ideas others do not understand.

Ask Questions

Questions beginning with “what,” who,” “when,” or “where” are typically convergent thinking questions. Convergent questions are less complex, easy to formulate, and strategic in nature. Asking questions creates goals to strive towards. The questions structure the thinking process. They also determine which information should be discarded.

Practice Objectivity

Convergent thinking is an objective experience. After establishing clear goals, those goals become the basis for the thought process. Objectiveness is focal for the organization and planning. Guide all questions around the objectives. This makes sure that we can find a solution without distraction.

Although we all appreciate situations of instant gratification, arriving at the single best solution to a problem is not instantaneous. Be deliberate when practicing convergent thinking. Hasty decisions prematurely eliminate ideas that could have potentially been successful. If overwhelmed, take a break from the process and return later with a fresh perspective.   

Convergent Thinking In Education

As mentioned before, convergent thinking is part of our daily lives. One place we often see it is in educational settings. In an educational setting, convergent thinking needs to come from different sources. Teachers are wise to deliver rigid, well-defined information for convergent thinking —not unfocused, open-ended ideas subjected to change. Students can then combine the materials and concepts to get to the right answer.

Examples of convergent thinking in school are study materials like flashcards, rote memorization, and drill learning. Class discussions between students and the teacher also contribute to convergent learning, as it is an opportunity to filter out incorrect ideas.

Techniques of convergent thinking in the classroom are:

Problem-solving processes originate with many ideas generated during divergent thinking. In contrast, those ideas must be organized into groups for convergent thinking. Some of the ideas are likely to be similar. By combining like-ideas, grouping makes the data easier to find the most accurate solution to the problem. Then, we can merge ideas into a single comprehensive solution.

Students benefit from outlining because it offers structure. Too many facts and information can leave people disorganized. Outlining helps things say in our minds . Outlining techniques make sure that we can get gathered research easier from our working memory . This is similar to grouping, except with more structure. Examples of outlining include s tep-by-step lists, web maps, or reframing questions with multiple choice answers.

Both outlining and grouping are vital to the technique known as filtering. Outlining and grouping present the information in an organized manner to filter or weed out ideas that offer no solution to the problem at hand. Students cannot ‘choose the best answer’ on their exam without methodically eliminating the incorrect answers first.

As with anything, practice makes perfect. Convergent thinking does not come effortlessly. It requires repetition to refine the process.

Akbari Chermahini, S., & Hommel, B. (2012). Creative mood swings: divergent and convergent thinking affect mood in opposite ways. Psychological research, 76(5), 634–640. doi:10.1007/s00426-011-0358-z

Warren, D. E., Kurczek, J., and Duff, M. C. 2016. What relates newspaper, definite, and clothing? An article describing deficits in convergent problem solving and creativity following hippocampal damage. Hippocampus 26(7):835–40. doi:10.1002/hipo.22591

• Category: Brain Health
• Tag: cognition , convergent thinking , thinking

• Overcoming Anxiety At Work: Steps to Promote Wellness Towards Successful Career

Pin It on Pinterest

Share this post with your friends!

Convergent Thinking Explained: Definition and Examples

Discover the essence of convergent thinking, including how it compares to divergent thought and its pivotal role in decision-making and problem-solving.

Managers often find themselves walking the tightrope of fostering creativity while ensuring continuous productivity.

Amid the broad spectrum of problem-solving approaches, convergent thinking emerges as a focused way of completing tasks. Teams can use it to streamline their decision-making and drive tasks to a fruitful completion.

In this article, we explain what convergent thinking is, some examples of this approach, and when to use convergent vs. divergent thinking in the workplace.

What is convergent thinking?

Convergent thinking focuses on coming up with a single, correct solution to a problem or answer to a question. It involves evaluating various possibilities and applying established rules and logical reasoning to converge on a single correct answer or the best possible solution.

Convergent thinking transforms abstract brainstorming into tangible results, cutting through the  haze of indecision  that often surrounds dynamic team environments.

What does convergent thinking involve?

Let’s look at some of the key elements of convergent thinking to fully understand how it works.

Key characteristics of convergent thinking include the following:

Logical analysis:  Convergent thinking heavily relies on structured reasoning, where each step follows logically from the last. This logical analysis ensures that conclusions are grounded in a solid foundation.

Critical evaluation:  This characteristic involves rigorously scrutinizing ideas or solutions, sifting out flaws and weaknesses to retain only the most viable options.

Systematic approach:  Convergent thinkers organize their thought processes in a methodical manner. They progress through problems in a sequential order, ensuring no stone is left unturned.

Precision and accuracy:  Convergent thinking emphasizes pinpoint accuracy. The goal is to derive solutions that are both exact and free from errors.

Fact-based decision-making:  Rather than relying on intuition or guesswork, convergent thinkers prioritize factual information and empirical evidence when making decisions.

Solution-oriented:  The primary focus of convergent thinking is to find definitive solutions to problems. It’s not about exploring every possible route but identifying the most direct path to a resolution.

Speed and efficiency:  With its clear focus on the end goal, convergent thinking encourages swift decision-making. This ensures that problems are addressed efficiently, without unnecessary detours.

Linear thinking:  Convergent thinkers often process information and derive solutions in a step-by-step manner, ensuring both clarity and consistency.

Convergent thinking vs. divergent thinking

Convergent and divergent thinking represent two distinct approaches to problem-solving and creativity.

While convergent thinking narrows down multiple inputs into a single, optimal solution, divergent thinking involves exploring multiple possible solutions.

‎Let’s take a closer look at these two types of thinking and how they compare.

Convergent thinking:  Aims to find a single, correct solution to problems.

Divergent thinking:  Aims to generate multiple, varied solutions or ideas to problems.

Convergent thinking:  Follows a logical, step-by-step process to arrive at a solution.

Divergent thinking:  Encourages a spontaneous, free-flowing approach to generate ideas.

Goal orientation

Convergent thinking:  Solution-oriented, with a focus on arriving at the most accurate or efficient solution.

Divergent thinking:  Idea-oriented, with a focus on exploring many possible solutions or new perspectives.

Convergent thinking:  Involves critical evaluation and analysis to select the best possible solution.

Divergent thinking:  Suspends judgment to allow for a wide range of ideas to surface.

Convergent thinking:  Less emphasis on creativity and more on logical and analytical thinking.

Divergent thinking:  Encourages creativity, imagination, and original thought.

Structured vs. free-form

Convergent thinking:  More structured and systematic in its approach.

Divergent thinking:  More free-form and less structured in its approach.

Convergent thinking:  Often utilized in the latter stages of problem-solving to finalize a solution.

Divergent thinking:  Usually employed in the early stages of problem-solving to generate ideas.

Convergent thinking:  Leads to a single, well-defined solution.

Divergent thinking:  Leads to a variety of potential solutions or new insights.

Typical uses

Convergent thinking:  Often employed in settings that require precise answers or decisions, such as in mathematics, science, or  business strategy development .

Divergent thinking:  Often used in settings that promote creativity, innovation, and ideation, such as advertising, the artistic field, or the initial phases of project planning.

Imagine brainstorming ways to promote a new product. A team might use divergent thinking to come up with a myriad of ideas, such as online ads, flash mobs, influencer partnerships, or webinars. After listing all of them, the team would use convergent thinking to analyze each option and decide that, based on their target audience and budget, online ads are the most  effective strategy .

The convergent thinking process explained

The process of convergent thinking involves a series of structured steps. Here’s a simplified outline of how this methodical process usually unfolds:

‎1. Identify the problem

This is the stage where you pinpoint and clearly define the issue or challenge you’re facing. Recognizing the problem is the foundation for everything that follows. It ensures that you know exactly what needs to be addressed, avoiding assumptions and misunderstandings.

2. Gather information

Actively seek out relevant data, facts, and insights related to the problem. This could involve researching, consulting experts, or even conducting surveys. Having a well-rounded understanding of the problem equips you to tackle it effectively.

3. Generate possible solutions

Brainstorm and come up with as many potential solutions as you can. It’s all about casting a wide net and considering all possibilities. This creative process ensures that you’re not limiting yourself — and it might even lead to innovative solutions you hadn’t initially considered.

4. Evaluate and compare solutions

Weigh all the potential solutions’ pros and cons. Assessing each idea helps you determine which ones are feasible, which are most effective, and which might present new problems. This is crucial for making an informed decision.

5. Choose the best solution

Select the solution that seems to best address the problem at hand. This doesn’t necessarily mean picking the easiest or quickest one — instead, it might mean the one that will be the most effective in the long run.

6. Implement the solution

With your chosen solution in hand, it’s time to put it into action. This involves planning, gathering resources if needed, and executing your  plan of action . Monitoring and adjusting the solution as necessary is also part of this step, as it helps ensure that the solution is indeed addressing the problem and bringing about the desired results.

Examples of convergent thinking

Let’s look at some examples of when to use convergent thinking in different scenarios.

Troubleshooting technical issues

Imagine you’re an  IT technician , and a user reports that their computer won’t start. Instead of immediately diving in, you begin by asking questions to isolate the problem. You consider if it’s a hardware or software issue based on the symptoms described. If the computer doesn’t power on, perhaps it’s a faulty power supply. If it starts but doesn’t boot to the operating system, maybe it’s a corrupted hard drive.

‎Methodically eliminating the possible causes helps you arrive at the most probable source of the problem. At that point, you can take action to fix it.

Choosing a business strategy

A business may have  several strategies  to choose from, such as expanding its product line, entering a new market, or increasing its online presence. Convergent thinking would involve assessing each strategy’s potential return on investment, the risks involved, any relevant market research data, and the strategy’s alignment with the  company’s long-term vision .

Through careful analysis and comparison of these strategies against the company’s objectives and current market conditions, the business can converge on one primary strategy to pursue.

Budget planning

Financial controllers in organizations use convergent thinking when planning budgets. They start with vast amounts of data, including past expenses, future projections, and revenue forecasts. They must then consolidate this data into a coherent budget that aligns with the company’s goals. Decisions have to be made on where to  allocate resources .

For instance, if marketing brings in the most revenue, it might get a larger chunk of the budget than the other departments. The final budget is a singular plan that has distilled numerous data points and considerations into a focused financial roadmap.

Product quality control

Quality control in manufacturing involves testing products to ensure they meet specific standards. If a batch of products fails a particular test, convergent thinking is used to determine the cause. Was it a raw material issue? A fault in the machinery? An error in the manufacturing process?

Quality control teams can pinpoint the exact issue by systematically testing each hypothesis and narrowing down the potential causes, ultimately ensuring that the products meet the necessary standards.

Decision-making under specific criteria

Imagine a college admissions officer who must select students for a limited number of slots in a prestigious program. For instance, they might have hundreds of applications but can only accept 50 students.

The officer would start with a broad pool of potential candidates and then begin to narrow down the list based on specific criteria, such as GPA, extracurricular activities, letters of recommendation, and personal essays. With each criterion, the list gets shorter. Convergent thinking is at play here, refining the wide array of options to determine the best group of individuals for the program.

In each of these examples, the process involves sifting through multiple pieces of information or potential solutions and systematically narrowing the focus until the best solution is found or decision is made. This process is the essence of convergent thinking. It’s a methodical, logical approach that, while perhaps not as free-form or creative as divergent thinking, is crucial in situations where a singular, effective solution or decision is required.

Benefits of convergent thinking

The following benefits show why convergent thinking is often the preferred approach in situations that require precise solutions, especially in technical, legal, and financial contexts:

• ‎ Efficiency:  Convergent thinking promotes efficiency, as it directs the focus toward finding the most effective solution in a systematic manner — and often in a shorter amount of time.
• Accuracy:  This thinking style emphasizes accuracy and precision, aiming to provide the correct or best possible answer to a given problem.
• Clarity:  By narrowing down options and focusing on logical analysis, convergent thinking fosters clarity and a clear direction in problem-solving.
• Practicality:  Convergent thinking prioritizes practical solutions by emphasizing logical reasoning. This ensures that the outcome is both functional and feasible.
• Measurability:  The outcomes of convergent thinking are usually measurable and quantifiable, making it easier to evaluate its success or effectiveness.
• Consistency:  A structured approach leads to more consistent decision-making and problem-solving.
• Objective analysis:  Convergent thinking encourages objective analysis based on facts, data, and logic rather than subjective feelings or assumptions.
• Cost-effectiveness:  Convergent thinking can be more cost-effective if resources are directed toward arriving at a singular solution.
• Ease of evaluation:  Given its structured approach, the processes and outcomes of convergent thinking are easier to evaluate and improve upon over time.
• Less ambiguity:  Convergent thinking helps reduce ambiguity by eliminating unlikely or impractical solutions, creating a clearer path toward problem resolution.
• Standardization:  Convergent thinking allows for the standardization of processes, which is beneficial in many professional and organizational settings.
• Better control:  The systematic approach of convergent thinking provides better control over the problem-solving or decision-making process.

Challenges and criticisms of convergent thinking

While valuable in many scenarios, convergent thinking is not without challenges and criticisms.

Lack of creativity

One of the major criticisms of convergent thinking is that it may stifle creativity. Individuals’ or groups’ focus on finding the single correct or best answer means they might miss out on exploring innovative solutions or creative ideas outside the established boundaries or conventions.

Difficult to use with complex or ambiguous problems

Convergent thinking may fall short when dealing with highly complex, ambiguous, or novel problems in which the “correct” solution isn’t clear or well-defined.

Resistance to change

Convergent thinking may foster a resistance to change or a reluctance to explore new methods or ideas, especially in fast-evolving fields where adaptability is crucial.

Too reliant on logic and analysis

Over-reliance on logical analysis might ignore emotional, ethical, or social considerations that could be important for a well-rounded solution.

Potential for confirmation bias

Convergent thinking can lead to confirmation bias, as individuals or groups may only seek or interpret information in a way that confirms their preexisting beliefs or values — especially when evaluating several possible solutions.

Missed opportunities for learning and growth

Not exploring alternative or unconventional solutions means individuals or groups may miss the opportunities for learning and growth that often come from experimentation and making mistakes.

Possibly less engagement

Convergent thinking can lead to reduced engagement or motivation, especially among those who thrive on creativity, exploration, and discovery.

When to use divergent vs. convergent thinking

Determining when to use convergent or divergent thinking largely depends on the nature of the task or problem at hand, as well as the stage of the problem-solving or creative process you’re in.

Here’s a breakdown of when each of these types of thinking might be more beneficial than the other:

‎Convergent thinking

Use convergent thinking for the following scenarios:

• Well-defined problems

Convergent thinking is often the preferred approach when dealing with problems with a clear or objective solution.

• Final decision-making

When you need to make a decision, especially one based on factual information or specific criteria, convergent thinking can help you analyze your options and select the best one.

• Analytical tasks

Tasks that require data analysis, the evaluation of multiple options against set criteria, or the application of established rules and procedures benefit from a convergent thinking approach.

• Execution stage

When it’s time to implement a solution or execute a plan, convergent thinking helps in focusing efforts and resources efficiently to achieve the desired outcome.

A convergent thinking approach is often required when assessing the success or effectiveness of solutions, actions, or outcomes as they compare to defined metrics or standards.

Divergent thinking

Use divergent thinking for the following scenarios:

• Problem exploration

In the early stages of tackling a problem, especially a complex or novel one, divergent thinking can help you explore different perspectives and generate a variety of possible solutions.

• Creative ideation

When brainstorming innovative ideas, divergent thinking encourages going outside the box and generating a wide range of options.

• Team collaboration

Divergent thinking can help foster a  collaborative environment  in which different viewpoints are valued and explored, promoting a more inclusive problem-solving process.

• Learning and development

Encouraging divergent thinking can facilitate learning and personal or professional growth by promoting openness to new experiences and willingness to explore unknown territories.

• Complex, ambiguous, or novel problems

When facing problems for which the solution isn’t clear or well-defined, divergent thinking can help you navigate the ambiguity and discover new or unexpected solutions.

A combination of divergent and convergent thinking is often most effective in real-world scenarios. Start with a divergent thinking phase to explore and generate ideas, and follow it up with a convergent thinking phase to select the best possible solution.

Apply your convergent thinking with Motion

Harnessing the power of convergent thinking becomes significantly easier with tools like Motion. Motion’s streamlined workflow ensures that decision-making is swift, eliminating unnecessary clutter and distractions.

Task management  becomes a breeze with Motion, which categorizes and organizes each task to help ensure that you methodically approach each one with clarity and focus.

Don’t let decision fatigue slow you down. Let Motion help by  signing up for a free 7-day trial  today.

Related articles

6 Best AI Calendar Assistants for Easy Organization

13 Time Management Techniques to Boost Your Productivity

What Are Long-Term Goals? (+50 Examples & Tips to Achieve Them)

Put motion to the test., tech and media companies are talking about motion.

• Professional Services
• Creative & Design
• See all teams
• Project Management
• Workflow Management
• Task Management
• Resource Management
• See all use cases

Apps & Integrations

• Microsoft Teams
• See all integrations

Explore Wrike

• Book a Demo
• Take a Product Tour
• Start With Templates
• Customer Stories
• ROI Calculator
• Find a Reseller
• Mobile & Desktop Apps
• Cross-Tagging
• Kanban Boards
• Project Resource Planning
• Gantt Charts
• Custom Item Types
• Dynamic Request Forms
• Integrations
• See all features

Learn and connect

• Resource Hub
• Educational Guides

Become Wrike Pro

• Submit A Ticket
• Help Center
• Premium Support
• Community Topics
• Training Courses
• Facilitated Services

Convergent Thinking vs. Divergent Thinking: Why Planning Isn’t Always the Right Thing to Do

September 4, 2021 - 10 min read

You’re overseeing a project and have all the pieces in place.

Your detailed timeline is mapped out. You’ve set expectations with leaders and team members. You’re prepared to keep all the deliverables organized.

Halfway through the project, a team comes to you with a suggestion—they think they’ve found a better way to handle a piece of the process.

Your stomach drops into your shoes. You’re the taskmaster. The organizer. The keeper of the schedule. This change in direction will only throw a wrench into the flawless plan you spent hours agonizing over. Even if it is a better way to go, you’re cringing at the idea of straying from your beloved system.

Sound familiar? It’s a common scenario for project managers. When you’re the one who’s solely responsible for keeping everything on track, it’s understandable that you’ll white-knuckle your tried and true processes.

But, think about this: You may be limiting the wiggle room team members need to take that project to the next level. By planning away every last inch of flexibility, you’re making it that much tougher to adapt to new information and evolving demands.

So, what do you do? It’s time for project management professionals to not only think of themselves as the keepers of plans, but also the ones responsible for pulling the very best out of teams.

To do so, they need to encourage and enable both pieces of the creative problem-solving process: divergent thinking and convergent thinking.

What is the Difference Between Divergent and Convergent Thinking?

“Divergent thinking is the process of coming up with new ideas and possibilities—without judgment, without analysis, without discussion. It is the type of thinking that allows you to free-associate, to ‘go big’ and to discuss possible new ways to solve difficult challenges that have no single/right/known answer,” explains Anne Manning, Founding Partner of Drumcircle LLC and Instructor at Harvard University.

Think about a brainstorming session, where you sit down to discuss what company problem needs to be solved next. People are throwing out all sorts of suggestions—even ones you know at first glance are unfeasible. That’s divergent thinking. You’re spitballing ideas without any rules or restrictions.

Now that you have that long list of lofty ambitions, what happens next? In an ideal world, it’s convergent thinking.

What Is Convergent Thinking?

“Convergent thinking is associated with analysis, judgment, and decision-making. It is the process of taking a lot of ideas and sorting them, evaluating them, analyzing the pros and cons, and making decisions,” Manning explains.

Some of those ideas will get tossed out because they’re too expensive, too time-consuming, require too many resources, or are just too far outside the box. Put simply, convergent thinking is the process of strategically weeding through those ideas to find your solution.

Check out this exercise that Anne Manning does with her class that illustrates the difference between these two types of thinking:

Convergent Thinkers vs. Divergent Thinkers: Is One Better Than the Other?

Everybody is capable of both convergent and divergent thinking, depending on the situation. However, it’s natural to lean more toward one or the other when approaching problems and projects.

“Some people have a natural preference for divergent thinking. They are the people in organizations who love to come up with new ideas,” says Manning, “They are also the people who are most useful when solving daunting, complex challenges because they are more likely to articulate ideas that are new and useful.”

The real issue lies in becoming too reliant on one method of thinking. “Too much divergent thinking can lead to endless ideation and no solutions. Too much convergent thinking can lead to no new ideas and ‘analysis paralysis,’” adds Manning.

Project Management and the Lure of Convergent Thinking

That’s a trap that project management professionals—who are notoriously married to their plans and processes—can fall into easily.

Let’s break this all down with some examples. Divergent thinking starts with an objective—perhaps you need to generate 1,000 new leads within a month. You start by brainstorming creative ideas and solutions to satisfy that goal: happy hours with famous speakers, direct mailers including $100 gift cards, a man in a gorilla suit on the corner of Times Square.

From there, you move into evaluating those options and settling on the one(s) that works best. This is an example of convergent thinking.

That’s how successful projects should progress, but too often project managers skip that first piece. They’re so eager to pin down a plan they don’t allot time to let imaginations run wild. They point to a tried and tested solution, tie it back to a goal, and move onward.

This approach is dangerous for a few reasons. For starters, you’ll rely on the same ideas over and over again—not necessarily because they’re the best, but because you’re comfortable with them.

Secondly, it limits your success. Competitive organizations need to be flexible, agile, and adaptable. They should explore what’s possible, rather than diving straight into a planning process or relying on that dreaded “we’ve always done it this way” philosophy.

“The issue isn’t plans —plans are fine, in and of themselves,” writes software manager, Kris Gage, in her article for Medium , “The issue is people who can’t do anything without plans, whose knee-jerk, default response to any unknown is to compulsively ‘figure out a plan’—to get ‘certainty.’ News flash: there is no certainty. And when you obsess over perfecting something that’s inherently imperfect, you immobilize yourself.”

How to Enable More Divergent Thinking

While project management professionals should empower teams to think divergently, managing timelines and efficiencies is still critical. So where’s the balance?

How can you incorporate divergent thinking into your project planning processes and be creative—yet not disorganized? Here are a few tips to remain nimble enough to meet evolving business goals and demands—without letting things run off the rails.

1. Bank Ample Time for Both Types of Thinking

Both convergent and divergent thinking are important for creative problem solving and project planning—which means you should have time set aside for each of them.

“We already do that!” you’re thinking to yourself, “We’ve had so many brainstorming sessions, you wouldn’t believe it.”

But, really think about that for a moment: Were those brainstorming sessions true opportunities for divergent thinking—where any and all ideas were jotted down to be considered and evaluated at a later point? Or, did you and other team members jump in immediately to write ideas off as impossible or irrelevant?

The latter—trying to think both divergently and convergently at the same time—is counterproductive. “In other words, mixing divergent and convergent thinking is like putting your foot on the gas and then the brakes. You end up going nowhere,” says Manning.

While both types of thinking are necessary for success, it’s smarter to separate them. Start by educating your project team members on these two different types of thinking. What is a divergent thinker? What is a convergent thinker? Why does it matter and how can people do both well?

When you kick off a brainstorming session, emphasize that this time is reserved for true divergent thinking. No idea is too big or crazy—every single one will be considered. Remind team members this isn’t the time to poke holes in others’ suggestions.

This ensures you’re giving people the breathing room to think divergently—before you jump right into planning. 38% of employees say leaders dismissing ideas without exploring them is a key reason why they don’t take initiative, so divergent thinking not only improves project results, but also boosts morale!

2. Implement a Collaborative Work Management System

Wait.… a work management system ? Isn’t this just another way to document your plan and stick to your process?

True. A collaborative project management platform (like Wrike !) is a great way to provide ongoing visibility into project planning and progress. However, the best platforms also provide the flexibility necessary to support divergent thinking.

Real-time @mentions and comments make it easy to collaborate around big ideas without having to schedule tons of meetings or consolidate information across email threads. Flexible folder structures and custom fields allow project managers to quickly spin up new project templates and process workflows.

Put simply, a good collaborative work management platform makes it easy for you to repeat what works, but also gives you the flexibility to think divergently and adapt to changing goals and demands .

3. Free Yourself (and Others) From the Minutiae

Who has time to think outside the box when there are status updates to be sent, tasks to assign, and project plans to build? Project managers often save time by skipping straight to convergent thinking and knocking out tasks like these.

However, technology is emerging that can free project managers and teams from painstaking administrative work. For example, workflow automation eliminates the need to manually assign task owners, create project templates, or send status update notifications.

Solutions like Zapier and Azuqua make it easy to connect software systems and seamlessly pass information between platforms—no copy and paste required! Many leading platforms even offer native integrations.

Minimizing repetitive busy work leaves teams more time for divergent thinking that might have previously been pushed to the backburner. Offload a little planning and process to machines and focus on doing what they can’t!

Planning to Be Creative: It’s Possible

Planning and creativity sound like they’re mutually exclusive. But, when you understand the ins and outs of divergent and convergent thinking, you realize the two can actually play nice together.

There’s a time and place for both, and the most effective project managers understand when and how to effectively leverage them. Use the tips we’ve outlined here, and you’ll keep projects on track—while still being flexible, agile, and supportive of change and new ideas.

Interested in trying a collaborative work management system that supports both divergent and convergent thinking? Sign up for Wrike’s 14-day free trial!

Kat Boogaard

Kat is a Midwest-based contributing writer. She covers topics related to careers, self-development, and the freelance life. She is also a columnist for Inc., writes for The Muse, is Career Editor for The Everygirl, and a contributor all over the web.

Related articles

Project Management Terms: A Quickstart Glossary for Newbies (Part 2)

In our Quickstart Project Management Glossary for Newbies, Part 1, we revealed the secrets behind Gantt charts, the Critical Path Method, and more. And now your boss has walked in with more confusing jargon to muddle your brain: "Can you double-check our resources to make sure this project isn't in danger of scope creep?" Uh, what resources? And scope creep? Relax, it gets easier with time. Here are a few more key project management terms to learn that will educate you and boost your confidence before you talk to the boss again. Project Portfolio Management (PPM) — Your project portfolio is much like any other portfolio. It contains all of your best work as an easy reference tool so that you can properly manage your resources. It keeps all of the processes, methods, and technologies right at your hand. With the help of PPM you can mix-and-match your resources for optimal planning before a new project begins. Resources — They're all you've got. Literally. Your project resources are anything and everything you need to complete your task. They may include people, tools, money, facilities, or other tangible necessities. Scope — For project managers, scope is the information and work required to complete a project. Gather your "how-to"s before jumping in blind - How will we fund it? What are our milestones? How will we define success? Documenting your project scope should be a part of your planning process. Controlling it becomes the challenge once you have begun. Scope Creep — Everything seems to be going fine, but then those little issues sneak up on you and suddenly everything is wrong. Maybe it's the uncontrolled growth of a project. Or the new feature you add to your project plan without updating the constraints. This is scope creep and it usually appears near the end of your project timeline. If it occurs, you risk overspending or missing deadlines. Update your budget, schedule, and resources with every project addition to eliminate scope creep before it can surprise you. Gold plating is another type of resource management issue. The difference between scope creep and gold plating is that gold plating is a problem arising internally. Stakeholders — The people who have an interest in the completion of the project. Your team, your investors, your boss. Simple as that. What-if Scenario Analysis (WISA) — The key to the WISA is to anticipate many different possible project outcomes and create solutions before they occur. Examples include a delayed deliverable, going over budget, or a change in available resources. By preparing for those "what-if" situations, you will be able to act quickly in any situation. Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) — This is how you break down your work into smaller deliverables. It is a hierarchical tree structure that builds up to a final product. In Wrike you can build this hierarchy by creating sub-folders for your projects. Have you heard of small wins? Reducing projects into bite-sized pieces can help boost your team's productivity. Start with your overall project folder, and break it down further and further until you can effortlessly manage its every component.   With these words in your knowledge handbook, you are one step closer to successfully taking charge of your new project management role. Now, what did the boss ask for again? Gantt Charts? Critical path? No problem. Report back and confidently say: "Our critical path is on track. I checked the Gantt charts and we have a few days of free float for some tasks. Let me show you what I've found..." Did we leave out any terms that still leave you puzzled? Let us know! There are more "Project Management Basics" coming soon, so check back later for more information you can't go a day without!

PRINCE2: The Reigning Project Management Methodology

What is PRINCE2 and why is it so popular? We dive into the reigning project management methodology to uncover the risks and rewards of implementing Projects in Controlled Environments.

Free Online Project Management Guide for New Project Managers

If you're taking your first steps as a project manager and feel like you're in way over your head with all the terms, acronyms, and best practices, we've put together something that can help. Today we launch our online Project Management Guide for Beginners. It's a complete guide that tackles project management fundamentals and addresses it in easy-to-understand, layman's terms. In the guide, we break down the basics of project management into different sections: a basic glossary of terms; a discussion on project management methodologies; tips on team management, collaboration, risk, stakeholders, and more; even a section on the PMI and PMBOK. The guide also features a sizable collection of frequently asked questions to introduce you to basic project management concepts. We've arranged the guide to allow you to browse by the topic you're interested in, but you can also read through it sequentially for a full overview. So instead of feeling overwhelmed by all the various processes necessary to bring a project to completion, refer to our Project Management Guide for Beginners, and get a clearer picture of best practices and processes for delivering projects on time, within budget, and to exact specifications. Here's a sneak peak at the sections of the Project Management Guide. Go check it out:

Get weekly updates in your inbox!

You are now subscribed to wrike news and updates.

Let us know what marketing emails you are interested in by updating your email preferences here .

Sorry, this content is unavailable due to your privacy settings. To view this content, click the “Cookie Preferences” button and accept Advertising Cookies there.

How to Teach Divergent Thinking Skills in the Classroom

• December 21, 2020

To solve a problem they are struggling with, some students need only to “think outside the box.” This tactic is called divergent thinking, and it gets students to come up with several answers to a question and decide which is the best, most useful one.

Read on to take a look at divergent thinking, why it’s important, and how it differs from its opposite, convergent thinking. Then, discover a few strategies for helping students strengthen and maintain their divergent thinking skills.

What is Divergent Thinking?

Although divergent thinking is not synonymous with creativity—here defined as the ability to have new ideas or make something new—the two skills are closely related.[3] Divergent thinking can lead to creativity as students come up with more unique solutions. Likewise, encouraging creativity in your students can lead them to consider divergent answers to their problems.

Studies also suggest that, as a whole, children have stronger divergent thinking skills than adults. For example, children are better at visualizing divergent ideas than adults. In fact, a person’s ability to think divergently decreases with age. It could be argued that teaching divergent thinking to students is less about teaching a new skill and more about maintaining it.

Divergent Thinking vs. Convergent Thinking

It’s important not to confuse divergent thinking with convergent thinking, a problem-solving strategy that is more often taught in schools. Convergent thinking encourages students to come up with one distinct answer to a question based on the information given to them.[6] After they have come up with this solution, they stop and do not come up with others.

Convergent thinking is not necessarily a negative thinking strategy. In some situations, there may be one answer to a question (though there likely isn’t only one way to get that answer). But in general, teaching divergent thinking over its convergent counterpart will help students solve problems more creatively and effectively.

Divergent Thinking Boosts Problem-Solving and Student Success

Divergent thinking can also help students become more open-minded, a crucial social-emotional skill.[4] As students learn to think about a topic from new angles, they’ll be able to consider ideas from beyond their own experiences. This can help them broaden their perspective and better understand people whose ideas differ from their own.

Additionally, divergent thinking strategies teach students how to problem solve.[2] Instead of stopping at the quickest, easiest, or most obvious solution, students spend time thinking of many different answers. That way, they learn to prioritize finding an effective solution over a fast one.

The younger a student is, the easier divergent thinking may come to them. For example, 90% of kindergarteners ranked at the “genius” level for divergent thinking in a study conducted by the Royal Society of Medicine.[14] If you can nurture this skill early in a student’s academic journey, you can help them maintain skills that will benefit them for their entire life.

Strategies to Encourage Divergent Thought in Schools

One simple yet effective way to help students think divergently is by asking open-ended questions.[12] Open-ended questions are defined as ones that cannot be answered by “yes” or “no.” The more open a question is, the more likely students will be able to come up with many different answers.

These open-ended question examples from the Coeur d’Alene Public School District can help you get started as you structure your lesson plans:

• What were the major effects of World War II for the United States?
• What is your favorite memory from childhood?
• What makes the leaves change color?

In class, encourage students to focus more on the learning process, and not on the answer.[16] If students worry too much about finding the “right” answer, they may hurry and choose their first answer. But if they spend a little more time on a question, they may think of a better one.

Additionally, teach your students to view failures as a positive rather than a negative experience.[10] Making mistakes provides learning experiences that can help students move toward a more successful solution. If a student is struggling with a project, praise them for working hard and encourage them to try again from another angle.

And finally, make sure to include time for creative play in your classroom. Studies show that playing pretend, for example, is linked to stronger divergent thinking skills in young students.[5] Assign students projects that allow them to use their imagination and play as they complete it. You could, for example, assign students an art project or have them perform a skit in small groups.

5 Quick Tips to Teach Students Divergent Thinking Skills

It’s crucial to encourage divergent thinking in schools in order to help students thrive. By thinking outside of the box, your students will come up with better and more thoughtful solutions.

These five quick and simple tips will help you move towards divergent thinking in the classroom.

1. Journaling is a great way to encourage self-analysis and help students think through many solutions to a question.[13] Assign students to keep a journal and ask them thought-provoking questions .

For earlier grades, journaling may involve more drawing and early attempts to write than full sentences.

2. Include free play in your curriculum, which is when students can work on projects of their own choosing.[11]

3. Ask students open-ended questions that cannot be answered with one solution.[8] You could, for example, ask what they believe makes life meaningful or how they would solve a global issue.

4. Brainstorming is a great example of a divergent thinking strategy. If a student is stuck on an assignment, encourage them to brainstorm answers or solutions—either on their own or with their classmates. Through brainstorming, students are taught to consider a variety of solutions instead of just one.[6]

5. Play this Animal Soup Activity to teach students how to come up with many outcomes to a situation.

• Runco, M.A., and Acar, S. Divergent Thinking as an Indicator of Creative Potential . Creativity Research Journal, 2012, 24(1), pp. 66-75.
• Vincent, A.S., Decker, B.P., and Mumford, M.D. Divergent Thinking, Intelligence, and Expertise: A Test of Alternative Models . Creativity Research Journal, 2002, 14(2), pp. 163-178.
• Runco, M. A. Commentary: Divergent thinking is not synonymous with creativity . Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts, 2008, 2(2), 93–96.
• Goodman, S. Fuel Creativity in the Classroom With Divergent Thinking . March 2014. Edutopia. https://www.edutopia.org/blog/fueling-creativity-through-divergent-thinking-classroom-stacey-goodman
• Hadani, H.S. The Creativity Issue: Why Imaginative Play in Early Childhood Could be the Key to Creativity in Adulthood . Toca Magazine. tocaboca.com/magazine/creativity-issue_imaginary-play/.
• Nelson-Danley, K. How to Teach Divergent Thinking . Teach Hub. July 2020. https://www.teachhub.com/teaching-strategies/2020/07/how-to-teach-divergent-thinking/
• Palmiero, M., Di Giacomo, D., and Passafiume, D. Divergent Thinking and Age-Related Changes . Creativity Research Journal, 2014, 26(4), pp 456-460.
• Amico, B. Crucial Creativity: The Case for Cultivating Divergent Thinking in Classrooms . Waldorf Education. February 2020. https://www.waldorfeducation.org/news-resources/essentials-in-education-blog/detail/~board/essentials-in-ed-board/post/crucial-creativity-the-case-for-cultivating-divergent-thinking-in-classrooms.
• Guido, M. How to Teach Convergent and Divergent Thinking: Definitions, Examples, Templates and More . Prodigy. July 2018. https://www.prodigygame.com/main-en/blog/convergent-divergent-thinking/.
• Briggs, S. 30 Ways to Inspire Divergent Thinking . InformED. June 2014. https://www.opencolleges.edu.au/informed/features/divergent-thinking/.
• Iannelli, V. The Importance of Free Play for Kids . Verywell Family. March 2020. https://www.verywellfamily.com/the-importance-of-free-play-2633113.
• Hughes, D. Activities that Inspire Divergent Thinking . https://study.com/academy/lesson/activities-that-inspire-divergent-thinking.html.
• University of Washington Staff. Strategies of Divergent Thinking . https://faculty.washington.edu/ezent/imdt.htm.
• Abbasi, K. A riot of divergent thinking . Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, October 2011, 104(10), pp. 391.
• Lewis, C., and Lovatt, P.J. Breaking away from set patterns of thinking: Improvisation and divergent thinking . Thinking Skills and Creativity, August 2013, 9, pp. 46-58.
• O’Byrne, W.I. Understanding key differences between divergent & convergent thinking . November 2017. https://wiobyrne.com/divergent-convergent/.
• Cohut, M. What are the health benefits of being creative? Medical News Today. February 2018. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320947.

More education articles

Preparing Your Child for Kindergarten: 6 Important Skills to Foster

As someone who has had the privilege of being a kindergarten teacher, I vividly recall the excitement and anticipation of children stepping foot into my

National Poetry Month: Elementary Classroom Activities & Picture Books

Every April, the literary world comes alive with rhythm and rhyme as we celebrate National Poetry Month. For elementary school teachers, this month is an

Bridging the Trust Gap in AI: Ethical Design and Product Innovation to Revolutionize Classroom Experiences

Written by Leah Dozier Walker Executive Vice President of Equity & Inclusion at Waterford.org The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) holds tremendous promise across the

Mental Health Awareness Month 2021: 7 Ways to Nurture Your Child’s Mental Health

MacKenzie Scott’s Yield Giving Awards Waterford.org a $10 Million Grant

• CPS Training
• CPS Facilitation

Site Sponsor

Site author.

Paul Reali, MS, MBA OmniSkills Founder & Principal 336.926.8833 * E-mail Paul

PLEASE READ: Permissions to Use Site Content

We encourage you to use the content you find on this site, in accordance with the Creative Commons license specified here, and on each page:

Click the image above for a description of these terms. For additional permissions (e.g., to license the work for commercial use), e-mail us .

DIVERGENT THINKING IN CPS

About divergent & convergent thinking: why both.

One key - perhaps the key - to the Creative Problem Solving process is the use of both divergent and convergent thinking.

Divergent thinking is wide and free. When you diverge, you generate many options. Divergent thinking is followed by convergent thinking , in which you assess, judge, and strengthen those options, and then decide what to keep and how to proceed.

CPS requires both divergent and convergent thinking, but not at the same time. Trying to do both at once is a mess. If you've ever been in a meeting where people are generating ideas, and shooting them down at the same time, you understand why we need to keep these two thinking modes separate.

DIVERGENT THINKING GUIDELINES

Whenever you think divergently, follow these guidelines for best results:

• Defer judgment
• Strive for quantity
• Seek wild and unusual
• Build on other ideas

A trained CPS facilitator can help you and your group to use these guidelines, and the divergent thinking tools, to their best advantage.

DIVERGENT THINKING TOOLS

There are many divergent thinking tools in the universe, including, perhaps, some you have created yourself. CPS is tools agnostic, so any tool you like for divergent thinking is likely to work just fine. Below are very brief descriptions of some of the tools we use for divergent thinking.

Brainstorming The classic idea-generating tool, often misused. Method: working from one statement or challenge, think, following the divergent thinking guidelines; every idea is said out loud and then written down, usually on a flip chart pad. When the ideas come fast, as they often do, it can be difficult for the recorder to keep up. Can be used individually or in groups.

Brainstorming with Post-its A twist on brainstorming that makes the recording process easier. Method: each person has a Post-it note pad; every idea is written on a Post-it, then said out loud. The facilitator collects the ideas as they are generated, and sticks them up on a flip chart pad. Having each idea on a separate sheet makes converging easier.

Brainwriting Like brainstorming, but done quietly. On a standard piece of paper, draw three rows of three boxes. Each person starts with one sheet, and a few extras are placed in a central pile. Each person writes an idea in each box of the first row (that is, three ideas), then puts the paper into the center pile, then takes another sheet from the pile. If that sheet has ideas on it, the person reads the ideas, then writes three more in the next row, either building on the existing ideas or adding new ones. Continue until all the boxes are full.

SCAMPER Questions that help to stretch the thinking in specific ways. SCAMPER is named as a mnemonic to remember these words: substitute, combine, adapt, modify, put to other uses, eliminate, rearrange. Method: for each word, ask questions to spur thinking. For example: What can you substitute for it? What can be combined with it? What can you subtract? What can you add?

Visual Connections Spur thinking by making connections from an unrelated image to the current problem. Method: facilitator shows an image (usually a photograph), and asks participants to write down 3-5 words suggested by the image. Several other images are shown, and words written down. Then, participants are asked to make a direct connection from the words they have written to the problem at hand.

Forced Connections A way to force novel thinking. Can be used on its own, or as part of a brainstorming or brainwriting session. Method: facilitator holds up or points to an object unrelated to the problem, and asks: "When you look at this (object), what ideas do you get for solving this problem?"

Excursions Mental or actual voyages that take people outside the problem to look for inspiration elsewhere. There are many variations. One method: participants close their eyes while the facilitator talks them through a journey to a specific place, or one of their own imagining. When they open their eyes, they record ideas that were inspired by the excursion.

Word Dance Often used when Finding the Question , to think of the problem statement in new ways. Method: in the current problem statement (which begins with "How might...", "How to...", "In what ways might...", or "What might be all the..."), circle the verb, then generate other verbs that might replace it. Then, circle the object or outcome words, and generate possible substitutes. (In both cases, unusual and off-course are OK.) Mix and match the responses. Choose the statement that best expresses the problem.

Idea Box A mix-and-match method for generating ideas. Method: beginning with the problem statement, select the essential characteristics of the problem, and list those on paper as column headings. For each column, list a variety of options. Then, mix and match, choosing one from each column. What ideas does that combination give you? Repeat with different combinations.

Why? What's Stopping You? A deceptively simple approach to identifying the root of the problem; similar to the more commonly-known "five whys" approach. Method: begin with a goal, wish or challenge, and ask: "why do you want this?" To the response, ask again. When you feel you have arrived at the root of the problem, ask, "What's stopping you?" Repeating this process to its logical end can lead to the creation of a new and more accurate goal/wish/challenge or a concise problem statement.

Here are some choices:

• Learn about the other side of the "dynamic balance" of CPS, convergent thinking .
• Return to the CPS overview .

CONTACT US WHEN YOU ARE READY

When you're ready to talk to us about teaching you this process or facilitating a problem-solving session, just holler .