Creative Problem Solving Task

In this task, you'll think of solutions to real-world problems. The goal is to come up with solutions that are novel (original, unique, and innovative), while also being effective (practical, efficient, and feasible).

Mike is a graduate student at a Midwestern university. He has a problem with his transportation to school because he just moved to an apartment on a steep hill. Unfortunately for Mike, when it snows his sports car cannot get enough traction to make it up the hill to his garage. Currently, he gets a ride from his wife when he cannot drive, but she is tired of driving him around. Mike does not want to sell his car because it was his dream car since he was a little kid, and now that he has had it for six years, it is worth more to him than he can sell it for. Also, Mike has a very small income as a graduate student, and getting another job to pay for a new vehicle could jeopardize his education. His wife’s uncle is a car salesman who has found a couple sports utility vehicles that would solve his problem, but another local car dealer has the same vehicles for a cheaper price. Mike’s wife wants to buy a sports utility vehicle from her uncle because he will assure the quality of the vehicle.

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