Characteristics of Creative and Innovative Solutions

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Quick Questions

Shade in the A or B circle for each question.

1. Which characteristic describes whether a solution is new or significantly different from what already exists?

A Effectiveness

B Originality

2. A solution that has been designed around the needs, preferences and behaviours of its users is best described as which type?

A Disruptive

B User-centred

3. Can a solution be original but still not be considered truly innovative?

A Yes — it must also be effective to be innovative

B No — originality alone makes it innovative

4. Streaming services replacing physical video rental stores is an example of which characteristic?

A Disruptiveness

B User-centred design

5. Which characteristic focuses on whether a solution genuinely solves the identified problem or need?

A Effectiveness

B Originality

Match the Pairs

Draw a line connecting each item on the left to its match on the right.

Left column		Right column
1Originality		AWrong — user-centred design focuses on the needs, preferences and behaviours of users, not the developer. Developer preferences are not the measure of good design
2Disruptive solution		BA solution that significantly challenges, replaces or transforms existing products, services or industries — such as streaming replacing physical video rental
3Effectiveness means the solution genuinely solves the identified need or opportunity		CWrong — originality is not about appearance. It means the solution uses a novel or significantly improved approach to solving a real problem
4User-centred design means every design decision is driven by the needs, preferences and behaviours of the intended users		D# An app that reduces food waste # by connecting surplus food # with local community members
5# Original because no one has done # it before and it looks cool		EThe solution is novel, new or significantly improved over existing approaches — it does not simply copy what already exists
6# User-centred design focuses # on what the developer prefers # rather than what users need		F# Conducting interviews with users # Testing prototypes with real users # Refining design based on feedback

Definitions

disruptive solution

Fill in the Blanks

Complete each line of code by filling in the missing parts.

# ___________ means the solution is novel

# _____________ means built for users

# _____________ means it solves the need

# __________ solutions replace existing ones

# Innovation requires ___________ and value

Spot the Error

Shade in the letter of the line that contains an error.

Question 1

A # Originality means copying an existing solution

B # Effectiveness means the solution works well

C # User-centred means designed around user needs

Question 2

A # Effectiveness measures how well a solution works

B # A solution can be original but not effective

C # Effectiveness means it looks visually appealing

Question 3

A # User-centred design focuses on developer needs

B # It involves understanding user preferences

C # Testing with real users improves user-centred design

Question 4

A # Originality is one characteristic of innovation

B # Effectiveness is another key characteristic

C # Disruptive solutions always improve on cost alone

Question 5

A # Streaming services disrupted physical video rental

B # This is an example of a disruptive solution

C # Disruption means making small improvements only

Answer Key

Characteristics of Creative and Innovative Solutions

Section A: Quick Questions

B — Originality

B — User-centred

A — Yes — it must also be effective to be innovative

A — Disruptiveness

A — Effectiveness

Section B: Match the Pairs

Originality → The solution is novel, new or significantly improved over existing approaches — it does not simply copy what already exists

Disruptive solution → A solution that significantly challenges, replaces or transforms existing products, services or industries — such as streaming replacing physical video rental

Effectiveness means the solution genuinely solves the identified need or opportunity → # An app that reduces food waste # by connecting surplus food # with local community members

User-centred design means every design decision is driven by the needs, preferences and behaviours of the intended users → # Conducting interviews with users # Testing prototypes with real users # Refining design based on feedback

# Original because no one has done # it before and it looks cool → Wrong — originality is not about appearance. It means the solution uses a novel or significantly improved approach to solving a real problem

# User-centred design focuses # on what the developer prefers # rather than what users need → Wrong — user-centred design focuses on the needs, preferences and behaviours of users, not the developer. Developer preferences are not the measure of good design

Section C: Definitions

disruptive solution — A solution that significantly challenges or replaces existing products, services or ways of doing things — transforming an industry or creating an entirely new market

Section D: Fill in the Blanks

# Originality means the solution is novel

# User-centred means built for users

# Effectiveness means it solves the need

# Disruptive solutions replace existing ones

# Innovation requires originality and value

Section E: Spot the Error

A — Originality does not mean copying an existing solution — it means the solution is novel, new or significantly improved over what already exists. Line 0 is wrong.

C — Effectiveness is not about visual appearance — it means the solution genuinely solves the identified need or opportunity. Visual appeal is a usability consideration, not effectiveness. Line 2 is wrong.

A — User-centred design focuses on the needs, preferences and behaviours of the intended users, not the developer. The developer's preferences are irrelevant to user-centred design. Line 0 is wrong.

C — Disruptive solutions do not always improve on cost alone — they challenge or replace existing products, services or industries in significant ways, which may include but is not limited to cost. Line 2 is wrong.

C — Disruption does not mean small improvements — it means fundamentally challenging or replacing existing ways of doing things. Small improvements are incremental changes, not disruptions. Line 2 is wrong.