Criteria for Evaluating a Creative Solution

Some idea of the value or merit of an idea (or a solution to a problem) can be discovered by the degree to which it fulfills some or all of the following criteria, as appropriate. How significant a solution is will be determined by the problem itself. Inventing a new antacid is obviously less significant than finding a cure for cancer, but both can be evaluated using these criteria.

Successful

• Solves the Problem Effectively. The solution achieves the stated goals, meets a need well. "It works." Because many solutions are only partial, the degree to which the solution works is also an important part of this measure. And because there are often several solutions to the same problem, the degree of superiority of the solution is important. "This is a better idea." "What an improvement." Negative side effects (collateral damage in a military operation, side effects of a medication, hostile customer reaction, high electrical consumption) must also be factored in.
• Meets Constraints. The solution works within the stated constraints to the problem (or overcomes or circumvents them in some acceptable way). "It’s on time." "It fits the specifications." "It's under budget."
• Acceptable to Users. The solution is agreeable to those who must implement it, to society, to those affected by it. It is not "technologically brilliant but sociologically stupid." The solution has positive secondary effects and no (or minor) negative secondary effects. "We like it." Acceptance is a perceptual, emotional, and psychological phenomenon, as well as an intellectual and experiential one. It is crucial to think beyond the engineering, beyond the technology, when deciding whether the solution is or will be successful. You may have invented an anti-gravity device, but if no one will use it, it is not a successful solution.

Efficient

• Good Cost/Benefit Ratio. The solution is economical, with high price/performance ratio. "We can afford it." "It’s worth the money." "It’s worth the effort." "Here's a new, less expensive way to do it." "This will pay for itself quickly." Money (that of corporations and individuals) exists in finite amounts, and all solutions must compete with each other for these limited resources.
• Practical. The solution is logical, useful, systematic, understandable, "do-able," not overly difficult or complex for the intended benefits. It is as simple and direct as possible for the desired outcome. "We can do it." "We found an easier way." "I can see how this could work and what it could do for me." Sometimes a seemingly impractical solution is actually only a communication problem. Many new Internet companies, for example, seem unable to explain in a few, clear words, just what they do.
• Reliable. The solution will continue to work over time with a high degree of reliability, consistency, and effectiveness. "Hah! It still works." Dependability is at the core of user satisfaction. The parts cost may be trivial, but replacement cost in labor, disruption, and psychic trauma add up quickly. Or if the matches are great when they light, but they don't always light. . . .

New

• Original. The solution is innovative, breaking new ground. "That’s brilliant." "What will they think of next?" A ball point pen with a particularly great design may be seen as original from a design point of view.
• Surprising. The solution is unusual, out of the ordinary lines of thought. "Why didn’t I think of that?" "I can't believe they can do it that way."
• Seminal. The solution provides the foundation for further, similar solutions, opens new vistas for further development. It represents a beginning--a new line of inquiry--with the promise of a future. "Hey, this has possibilities." "We could use something like this over there, too."

Coherent

• Unified. The solution is organized, seamless, synthetic, organic, holistic, competent. "It all fits." "It’s perfect." "What a great system." Solutions that involve a clear (and perhaps even simple) conceptual design, are most likely to emerge as unified.
• Refined. The solution is synergetic, high quality, good, well-designed, well-crafted, well-executed. "That’s neat." The best solutions have usually passed through several iterations of the refinement process before being implemented. (Of course, refinement continues after the solution collides with the "real world" as well.)
• Esthetic. The solution is artistic, attractive, beautiful, enduring, timeless, likable. "It’s beautiful." "What an elegant idea." Many a great technology has failed because it was put into an ugly plastic shell.