Innovative & Fun-Filled evening at CTS ODC

Post date: 30-Mar-2010 09:15:57

Posted in: Generic by Mishra, Ashwin @ 4:19 pm @ Cognizant Blog.....

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The flow of Innovation N Fun started from 3.30pm at CTS ODC on 25th March where in everyone from every corner got out of their work area to share some innovative thoughts.

We made our participants speak about the creativity insect in them, by asking about, “How many of them think they are innovative/creative”

We were amazed to find out that there were no hands-up!!! People didn’t realized the creativity in them. We then took it as a challenge to get out the creative person out of each one at the end of our talk show and we were really successful in achieving it

We started the journey of getting out the creativity in everyone by using a Water Bottle as a probe, n asking each one to showcase their creativity with it.

We came across many constructive/destructive ideas, some really funny which we never-ever had dreamed about, like using it for their room fish, using it as a weapon etc

This propped up the creativity in everyone and people really started coming up with innovative thoughts. Again we used the same probe but in a different aspect. We asked our participations as to how would they use it in their kitchen.

And this time we had loads-n-loads of creative idea flowing around, which made us happy realizing our goal of lighting up the creativity is materializing. People realized the innovative power in them and started using it. We got some amazing use of water, as it could be used to test purity of honey.

We went forward by asking our creative participants to from two team among themselves and get ready for the so called ‘War of Innovation/Creativity’, where in every team wanted to beat the other and grab some goodies for themselves.

Then we asked for one volunteer from each team and we were surprised to see that people took initiative and stood forward to represent their team. By this time people were all set for the war. Volunteers were in the battle field and their armour was all set for the war which was about to be fought using creative ideas.

The first task for the teams was to arrange six coins in 2 rows, such that each row had exactly 4 coins each, within a time frame of 1 minute.

Unfortunately, none of the volunteer was able to crack down the solutions within the given time frame. Then came in their team for their rescue, to help them get out the solution and the teams were surprised, to see how quickly they were up with a solution within few minutes of effort.

This task helped both the teams to understand the importance of ‘Team Work’ and from this point Team Spirit went forward throughout our Talk show. Showing that we were successful in putting forward the message of ‘Key to innovation is through Collaboration of Ideas’.

Then my buddy Ashish took the show forward and asked for few new participants from each team for the next task and surprisingly both the teams were very much excited to be a part of it, and soon came in two volunteers from each team. This time we had a female participant from one team and a male participant from another team and the task was to Play the game of Arm wrestling and to Win maximum number of times.

To this, the team from where we had a male participant were very happy, but then hats off to the spirit of the other team as they moved forward for the task. At the end of the task there came the twist, as it was a Win-Win game, as the wining criteria was just to have the zeal of doing the task.

This task helped the participates to understand that we are boxed into stereotypes and mental models which drives our action and reactions. Wining a situation also doesn’t have the same definition. We need to think/question to have do out of the box thinking.

This helped the participants to indulge themselves into a detailed discussion over the ‘Barriers for Innovation’ and how can we overcome those. This also helped participants to grab some goodies for themselves

Our event moved forward with next activity which required 4 participants from each team. It was really good to know that by this time everyone was very much into participation. We asked the teams to perform a task based on our childhood story of ‘Alien under the bridge’. Where in participants were asked to cross a river using a Bamboo bridge and the crux was everyone would do it in a different walking style. This task helped everyone to understand that each of us are creative but its only that we don’t use it to the fullest. In this task participants were compelled to walk in a different style over the imaginary bamboo bride to reach the other end and at the end of this activity we really learned that if we put to innovate as a necessity, each of us can do it and also some very creative and funny ways if crossing the bridge as well

With these fun filled activities we were able to spark in the Creativity in each one over the floor and enjoyed a lovely and rememberable evening at Merck ODC

I would like to give million thanks Ashish Kabra for not only help me execute this Talk Show, but also to help me organize and structure it so well. It was really not possible without all the efforts put in by u buddy. Thanks a ton for been there and making it a great success