Using The New Yorker Magazine’s Cartoon Caption Contest to Stimulate Creative Group Problem Solving: An In-Class Exercise

Abstract

Three staples of management and organizational behavior classes are units on creativity, problem solving, and group decision making. This article presents an experiential exercise in creative problem solving in which the participants attempt to create a cartoon caption both individually and in small groups. The cartoons all come from The New Yorker magazine’s weekly Cartoon Caption Contest. The exercise allows the participants to get some experience in creative problem solving and decision making as group members. In addition to introducing these topics, the exercise proves to be a lighthearted way for students to get to know one another and helps create an interactive class environment during the semester.

Keywords

creativity problem solving group decision making brainstorming

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