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Creative Strategy 

There are many ways to develop new products and processes. In 

addition to new products, it is important for companies to change or 

modify the products they already have. How do they do that? Here are 

several strategies for changing products and developing new ones. Think 

of products, materials, or services that could be changed, in order to 

develop new features, new uses, and new markets: 

1. 

Modification. What changes can I make to improve the product, 

the process, or the service? How about changing the color, the. shape, the 

sound, the form? What are some examples? 

2. 

New Uses. The life of some products or materials depends on finding 

new uses for them. Ask yourself: "What new things could the product be used 

for?" "What other functions could it perform?" 

 

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3. 

Subtracting or Minifying. What if the product were smaller? 

Thinner? Shorter? Lighter? Miniature (very small)? 

4. 

Adding or Magnifying. What can you add? Should it be stronger? 

Bigger? Longer? Thicker? What extra features? How can you add extra value? 

5. 

Combination. This is the most important way of developing new 

ideas. It is the basis for synthesis,  which is considered the most 

important part of creativity. Ask yourself questions like: "What ideas 

can be combined?" 

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What  materials  can be combined?" What kind of 

units can be combined?" "What kind of functions can be combined?" 

6. 

Substitution. Ask yourself: "What can I use instead?" "What other 

part can I use instead of this?" "What other material can I use instead?" 

"What other kind of power?"