Method 27 The Phoenix Checklist

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Main idea and its purpose

Phoenix is a checklist of questions developed by the Central Intelligence Agency to encourage agents to look at a challenge from many different angles.
The Phoenix Checklist provides context-free questions that enable you to look at a problem from many different angles. Sometimes, problems aren’t as easy to understand as they may seem at face value—especially problems that are inherently multi-faceted. These questions will help you clear ambiguities and pinpoint the unknown unknowns associated with a problem.
"Phoenix" is like holding a problem in one's hands. You can turn it around, look at it from below, see it from a certain angle, look at it from a different perspective, imagine a solution and actually control it.

Application guidance: scope of application, for example, when working with a group of a certain age and composition; in individual work, etc.

The Phoenix Checklist has two sets of questions.The first one will help you better understand the problem you are struggling with.The second - will facilitate the development of a solution.A ProblemWhy should this issue be resolved?What are the benefits of a solved problem?What is unknown?What else do you not understand?What information do you have?What is not a problem?Is your information sufficient / insufficient, contradictory?Should I develop a diagram or other representation of this problem?What are the limitations of solving this problem?Can there be different aspects of it? What is the relationship between them? Are there any constants?Have you dealt with this problem before?Think of a similar problem with the same or a similar unknown that has already been solved. Can you use that solution now? Can the same method be used?Can you describe your problem in a different way? How many different ways can you do this? Can the rules be changed?What are the best, worst, and most likely scenarios you can imagine?A PlanCan you solve all or part of the problem?What solution do you want to achieve?How many unknowns can be determined?Can you extract anything from the information you have that will help you?Have you used all the information you have?Have you considered all the main issues related to the problem?Can you highlight any steps you are going to take to resolve the issue? Justify each of them.What types of creative thinking methods will help you come up with new ideas? How many different methods are there?Will these methods produce any results? How many different outcomes do you predict?How many solutions have you considered?What did the others do?Do you have a solution?Can you check what the result will be? What should be done? How to do it?Where and when should it be done?Who should do it?What should you do at this point?Who will be responsible for what?Can you use this problem to solve others?What are the unique properties of this problem that make it what it is and not something else?By what indicator can you most accurately assess your result?How will you know if you've succeeded?At first glance, it seems that there are many similar questions. Perhaps the role of the Phoenix Checklist is merely to state the obvious? In part, it is, but this is exactly what helps to take matters into one's own hands and still find a solution. Because when you are driven by strong emotions, nothing seems so "obvious".To start using the method, you can allocate several hours. Then, when you master the algorithm, the time for work can be reduced. Byexperimenting with time, you have the opportunity to train the speed of reaction to unexpected events and the speed of decision-making in difficult situations.

The results of applying the method, for example, increasing the ability to go beyond standard solutions, etc.

The result of using the method will be creating the skill of quick analysis of a situation, problem, information, or idea that was unexpected
- distribution of responsibility
- construction of effective action in the existing conditions
When applying the method in a team, you can expect an increase in team spirit, cohesion, and the effectiveness of everyone's actions in the event of an emergency.

Instructions for combining creativity methods

1. Determine the goal
Determine why you want to use creative methods in your work and for whom, that is, what is the purpose, goals, meanings, audience, for whom it is happening.
2. Read
Read the description of the methods and recommendations for their use.
3. Choose
Choose those that best suit your purpose and tasks. When choosing methods, pay attention to the fact that they can be conditionally divided into several groups:● procedural, those that help answer the question HOW TO DO IT? How to optimize the process? How to do the process differently?● horizontal, those that answer the question WHO? WITH WHO? FOR WHOM? This is about the distribution of responsibility, and about clarifying the interests, association or for whom we are doing it.● vertical, those related to WHY? WHAT IS A PURPOSE? WHAT IS THE MAIN? It is about clarifying the hierarchy in the structure, the essence of the problem and its solution, what it consists of and what one wants to achieve.
4. Make it specific
Add the missing aspect to the vector. Depending on the task, one of the vectors will be the main one, and the other 2 will be auxiliary.● For example, you need to start the learning process in a different, new way: you choose the most suitable methods for your task and audience, and add methods for vertical and horizontal questions. This will add specificity towards the goal of this process and the distribution of tasks for everyone in the process, will help determine who and what it will be useful for. This creates a habit of thinking in different directions and structuring the process.● For example, the "Blooming Lotus" method allows you to determine the vertical vector, disassemble the problem into components, detail it by seeing the entire system of the problem at the same time, show the connections between different elements and find a solution for each element separately. If we add a horizontal and procedural layer of questions from the SCAMPER method, adding and concentrating on what is still missing, what can be added, what aspect has not yet been revealed, then we will get an even more complete picture and a solution that will cover the maximum fields of the same problem.

5. Сombine methods
Find and add polar aspects. You can combine methods that are more structural with playful ones based on the principle of combining polarities. This can make the process emotional but also structured at the same time. Yes, you can first choose the method that, in your opinion, is most suitable for your problem and task, then immediately determine the one that you would rather not use, which highlights the opposite sides. Moreover, your determined polarity can be conditional, that is, you yourself can determine what is polar in your case, what is the opposite. ● For example, if in one method there is a lot about the connections between elements, their detailed description, diving into the essence of details, then choosing a method that will consider the system of the problem from above, the whole whole, the system as a separate element in the environment around it, this will add scaling in finding a solution.
6. Application time
Different methods require different periods of time when applied. When combining methods, it is better to take this into account by adding a simpler and time-limited method to a method that is time-consuming and more difficult to use.
7. Calibrate the original purpose
During the whole process, calibrate from time to time with the original purpose, goals, meaning for what it all happens and for whom, because in the exciting creative space it can be easy to lose the axis on which the whole process should rest.
8. Experiment
Having created a combination of methods, it is important to experiment and be ready for changes and adaptation of the newly created to the needs, goals and tasks even more, because during the approbation we can just see the fact that was not taken into account. Here we can go back to points 4 and 5, adding aspects that are missing.● Note: try to feel the process, be present in it as much as possible, and allow imperfection and something spontaneous to arise, because the marker of novelty is your surprise, expansion of space and emergence of unexpected details, solutions, ideas.

Instructions for combining creativity methods

1. Determine the goal
Determine why you want to use creative methods in your work and for whom, that is, what is the purpose, goals, meanings, audience, for whom it is happening.
2. Read
Read the description of the methods and recommendations for their use.

5. Сombine methods
Find and add polar aspects. You can combine methods that are more structural with playful ones based on the principle of combining polarities. This can make the process emotional but also structured at the same time. Yes, you can first choose the method that, in your opinion, is most suitable for your problem and task, then immediately determine the one that you would rather not use, which highlights the opposite sides. Moreover, your determined polarity can be conditional, that is, you yourself can determine what is polar in your case, what is the opposite. ● For example, if in one method there is a lot about the connections between elements, their detailed description, diving into the essence of details, then choosing a method that will consider the system of the problem from above, the whole whole, the system as a separate element in the environment around it, this will add scaling in finding a solution.
6. Application time
Different methods require different periods of time when applied. When combining methods, it is better to take this into account by adding a simpler and time-limited method to a method that is time-consuming and more difficult to use.

3. Choose
Choose those that best suit your purpose and tasks. When choosing methods, pay attention to the fact that they can be conditionally divided into several groups:● procedural, those that help answer the question HOW TO DO IT? How to optimize the process? How to do the process differently?● horizontal, those that answer the question WHO? WITH WHO? FOR WHOM? This is about the distribution of responsibility, and about clarifying the interests, association or for whom we are doing it.● vertical, those related to WHY? WHAT IS A PURPOSE? WHAT IS THE MAIN? It is about clarifying the hierarchy in the structure, the essence of the problem and its solution, what it consists of and what one wants to achieve.
4. Make it specific
Add the missing aspect to the vector. Depending on the task, one of the vectors will be the main one, and the other 2 will be auxiliary.● For example, you need to start the learning process in a different, new way: you choose the most suitable methods for your task and audience, and add methods for vertical and horizontal questions. This will add specificity towards the goal of this process and the distribution of tasks for everyone in the process, will help determine who and what it will be useful for. This creates a habit of thinking in different directions and structuring the process.● For example, the "Blooming Lotus" method allows you to determine the vertical vector, disassemble the problem into components, detail it by seeing the entire system of the problem at the same time, show the connections between different elements and find a solution for each element separately. If we add a horizontal and procedural layer of questions from the SCAMPER method, adding and concentrating on what is still missing, what can be added, what aspect has not yet been revealed, then we will get an even more complete picture and a solution that will cover the maximum fields of the same problem.

7. Calibrate the original purpose
During the whole process, calibrate from time to time with the original purpose, goals, meaning for what it all happens and for whom, because in the exciting creative space it can be easy to lose the axis on which the whole process should rest.
8. Experiment
Having created a combination of methods, it is important to experiment and be ready for changes and adaptation of the newly created to the needs, goals and tasks even more, because during the approbation we can just see the fact that was not taken into account. Here we can go back to points 4 and 5, adding aspects that are missing.● Note: try to feel the process, be present in it as much as possible, and allow imperfection and something spontaneous to arise, because the marker of novelty is your surprise, expansion of space and emergence of unexpected details, solutions, ideas.

Desirable thinking

Instructions for combining creativity methods

Determine why you want to use creative methods in your work and for whom, that is, what is the purpose, goals, meanings, audience, for whom it is happening.

Read the description of the methods and recommendations for their use.

5. Сombine methods

6. Application time

Different methods require different periods of time when applied. When combining methods, it is better to take this into account by adding a simpler and time-limited method to a method that is time-consuming and more difficult to use.

7. Calibrate the original purpose

During the whole process, calibrate from time to time with the original purpose, goals, meaning for what it all happens and for whom, because in the exciting creative space it can be easy to lose the axis on which the whole process should rest.

8. Experiment

Instructions for combining creativity methods

Determine why you want to use creative methods in your work and for whom, that is, what is the purpose, goals, meanings, audience, for whom it is happening.

Read the description of the methods and recommendations for their use.

3. Choose

4. Make it specific

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