Famous Creative Thinkers Presentation

Introduction

Creativity involves the act of recognizing or generating ideas, possibilities or alternatives that are essential in communicating with others, solving problems or even to entertain people. In most cases, creativity results to the generation of viable innovative ideas, which when implemented results in the provision of solutions to various life challenges. Moreover, creative and innovative individuals become iconic figures to their societies and the entire world due to their creative acts. For example, numerous individuals such as Bill Gates and Steve Jobs are commemorated due to their creative and innovative ideas of developing the computer industry, which have continued to benefit the present and the future generations. This paper pays high attention to the analysis of Steve Wozniak and Shigeo Shingo, in terms of the societal contribution of their creative ideas, how they implemented them, challenges they faced and the factors that contributed to their creativity.

Steve Wozniak

Wozniak`s contribution to the society was his innovation of Apple computers. His computer innovations have helped in shaping the computing industry throughout the world. He and Jobs founded Apple Company in 1976, after which Wozniak proceeded in developing Apple II computers. However, Wozniak work of creativity aimed at solving numerous technological problems. He developed Apple I computers, which were small-sized personal computers that customers could carry with ease. However, Wozniak implemented this idea by first developing circuit board system, hardware and an operating system (Wozniak, 2007).

Secondly, apple I computers lacked keyboard, power supply system, display, and case, and it was the responsibility of customers to provide for these components. To solve these challenge, Wozniak developed Apple II computers, which were characterized by high internal memory, high processing speed, power supply systems, BASIC (programming language) and color graphics (Wozniak, 2007).

Moreover, the personal and social environments of Wozniak contributed to the development of his creative idea.  For example, during his early ages, he spent most of his time with his father, Jerry, who was an engineer at Lockheed. His father`s profession made him become familiar with numerous electronics that were in his garage. He continued to develop an affinity for electronic, and at the age of 11-years, he had managed to acquire his ham-radio license (Van, 2011). Consecutively, Wozniak had lacked many friends both at school and after high school since he had dedicated most of his time in striving to enhance his desire of developing computers. Moreover, he used to draw computer designs during his high school life, and could even attempt to make computer by borrowing some electronic from his few friends who used to work in engineering companies. In addition, he managed to join Silicon Valley school, which had well-equipped computer labs that enhanced his computer generating skills. Furthermore, Wozniak met Steve Jobs at Berkeley University, and both became mutual friends. Jobs was also talented with computer development skills, and this enhanced the implementation of his creative ideas. Additionally, when both Wozniak and Jobs started Apple Company, Wozniak concentrated on products` innovation segment while Jobs was responsible on product marketing (Wozniak, 2007). This made him learn marketing skills, which together with his knowledge on electronics, enabled him to start and succeed in his Apple II computer company.

However, Wozniak`s process of creativity is based on intellectual independence; that is for him to succeed in his creative work; he relied on himself without consulting ideas from external forces. However, his creativity process was not encouraging since innovation arises when numerous ideas collide from one another. Most of these collisions come from external sources, such as brainstorming (Wozniak, 2007). Therefore, Wozniak could have thought of combinational creativity, which is attained through seeking ideas from peers.

Nevertheless, Wozniak faced numerous obstacles during this creativity process. For example, when he realized his talent of in computers, he lacked the necessary resources of enhancing his talent. For example, during his childhood, computers were not easily accessed even by his fellow students, and the school, and this limited him to continuously practice his computer developing skills. Consecutively, Wozniak was challenged while creating a color computer (Apple II) since there existed no digital formula, and this cost him huge amounts of money. In addition, writing BASIC programmer in his 6502 microprocessor was changing since he had not attended any class relating to developing a programming language (Wozniak, 2007).

Shigeo Shingo

Shingo`s contribution to the manufacturing industry involved improving the quality of the produced products. For example, he developed Just-In-Time (JIT) and Toyota production system which effectively reduces defects during the production process. JIT system was developed in 1949 to 1975, after realizing that most employees make mistakes during the production process (Vardeman, 2014). However, his ultimate aim was to reduce industrial wastes and enhance the productivity of companies. In addition, Shingo developed Zero-Quality Control devices, a device that is mandated to detect the root causes of defects rather that applying statistical process controls. His developments enhanced the Japanese industrial sector, as well as the industrial sector of most industries in the west.

However, his developments in the industrial productions aimed at solving numerous challenges that existed in the industrial sector. Some of these challenges include high quantities of wastes that resulted from overproduction, high waiting time, large amounts of production wastes, and wastes from production defects, excess inventory, and excess transportation, among others (Vardeman, 2014).

Shingo`s personal and social environments also contributed to the enhancement of his creative idea. Moreover, he pursued mechanical engineering, and this was the background of the innovative idea. Consecutively, he gained his initial field skills when he was employed in Taipei Railway Company in 1930 (Vardeman, 2014). While In this company Dr. Shiego realized that the company was experiencing high costs of operations. This stimulated him to employ scientific methods of management. Moreover, the concept of statistical quality control appeared to him in 1951, after which he conducted extensive research and consultation. This managed him to develop self-defect detecting devices.

Dr. Shigeo`s process of creativity was based on brainstorming or collective thinking rather than individual creativity. Dr. Shigeo believed that other people contribute 44% of innovative ideas. In order to enhance his creative ideas, he conducted numerous meetings, group discussions and intensive research since they help in generating more ideas (Shingo, 2007). His creativity process (collecting thinking) is encouraging as opposed to individual thinking process of that is used by Steve Wozniak.

However, just like Wozniak, Shingo sometimes experienced ignorance from some employees who fail to provide him with the necessary information, thus limiting or delaying him in drawing scientific conclusions (Vardeman, 2014).

Conclusion

It is, therefore, evident that both Steve Wozniak and Shigeo Shingo used different processes while implementing their creative ideas. Wozniak uses self-independence while Shingo uses collective thinking process. However, collective thinking is by far better than self-independence process of creativity.

References

Shingo, S., (2007). Kaizen and the art of Creative Thinking; Ed. Vancouver CA, PCS Press,

Wozniak, S., (2007). With Gina Smith, Iwoz: Computer Geek To Cult Icon17.

Reviewed by Danielle McLaughlin, Journal of High Technology Law. Suffolk University Law School.

Van, R. A. B. (2011). A biographical encyclopedia of scientists and inventors in American film and TV since 1930. Lanham, Md: Scarecrow Press

Vardeman, S., B., (2014). The impact of Dr. Shigeo Shingo on modern manufacturing process. Retrieved on 7^th November, 2014, from http://www.public.iastate.edu/~vardeman/IE361/f02mini/bumblauskas.pdf