Creativity and innovation are magic wands. They endow projects with enhanced performance. After all, two fundamental PMI qualities of all projects, progressive elaboration (iterating from concept to final deliverables) and the fact that all projects produce unique results, demand that project managers foster as much creativity as possible.

Apply techniques that combine left and right brain logic and creativity.

Reframing: This technique requires you to ask questions about your project which will lead to new frames of references to old problems. Questions asked may include: (a) What are the obvious realities of a situation and how can they be changed? (b) What are typical complaints? (c) What ideal situation do we seek?

Force Field Analysis: This method consists of identifying forces which contribute to or hinder the solution of a problem. Creative thinking is encouraged by clearly defining goals as well as identifying strengths to maximize and weaknesses to minimize.

Attribute Listing: This approach focuses on identifying attributes of a process or product and how to improve one or many of them. It is similar to force field analysis but the attribute listing provides neutral aspects as opposed to negative or positive aspects of a problem.

Scamper: This acronym stands for Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to other uses, Eliminate and Reverse or Rearrange. Address each of these issues and determine what new ideas emerge.

Alternative Scenarios: Explore plausible futures for your project or product and you will gain a deeper understanding of potential environments in which you may have to operate. Build scenarios on the basis of principal forces and influences. Business opportunities within these scenarios formulate a future strategy.

Forced or Direct Association: Combine two concepts which have little in common, then brainstorm to draw possible relations between the two. Fresh approaches to old problems may result.

Design Tree: This type of "mind map" is helpful when a central topic such as a product, market or process must be built on. By literally mapping out related ideas on a large sheet of paper, obvious results may be transformed into potential breakthroughs. Tuning into our intuitive good sense allows you to take that leap into generating new ideas. Consider the following: Imagery: Create multi-sensory images in your mind to address the issue at hand. The intuitive messages that are "sent" to you can then be applied to the problem at hand. Imagery requires a relaxed state of mind, a willingness to be non-judgmental and a vivid imagination.

Brainstorming: This common idea-generation approach should suspend evaluative judgements for the short-term. This technique is effective in both a group and a private setting. The problem at hand should be stated in neutral terms.

Analogy: The similarity between two conditions otherwise dissimilar is explored. Personal analogy identifies you with an object or process. Direct analogy compares parallel facts in two different areas in order to generate fresh solutions. Symbolic analogy uses an image that may be technically incorrect, but which describes the implications of a key aspect of the problem.

Meditation: This state of heightened awareness may release an inner source of creativity.

In the words of Alan Kay of Apple Corporation, "The best way to predict the future is to invent it."