• DOI:10.21236/ada407136
• Corpus ID: 108608664

Innovative Problem Solving in USAF Officer PME Curriculum

@inproceedings{Willey2012InnovativePS,
  title={Innovative Problem Solving in USAF Officer PME Curriculum},
  author={Debra A. Willey},
  year={2012}
}

• Debra A. Willey
• Published 17 October 2012
• Education

Abstract : Innovative problem solving is a critical cognitive skill that leaders need to tackle the complex and ill-defined problems inherent in leadership and dynamic organizations. In an era of rapid technological and informational innovations, Air Force leaders find themselves in a constantly changing military and world environment. Air Force leaders must be capable of innovative thought and action in order to deal with the ambiguous, complex, and novel problems this changing environment generates. Although creative problem solving is often perceived as a rare talent, it is a cognitive skill and innate ability that can be nurtured, developed, and stimulated through education and training. This research paper examines the following two questions: (1) Are USAF officer professional military education (PME) curricula at in-residence schools offering innovative strategies for solving problems? and (2) Along the PME continuum, is there a difference in what is offered in each school and is it appropriate for the level of the officer's experience? A literature review of the following areas was conducted: the importance of innovative problem solving, problem solving and leadership, the acquisition of problem solving knowledge and skills, and the USAF officer PME curricula. The research concluded that while Air Force PME does a good job of developing innovative problem solving skills at the primary officer levels, not much of an emphasis is placed on fine-tuning or expanding these skills at the middle and senior officer levels. More research is needed to determine whether the curriculum at the middle and senior service schools should be expanded to include innovative problem solving.