Abstract:

Creativity is proposed as a process of solving contemporary problems and as methodological framework it is designed to help people achieve their goals. It is approached totally, as measurable social process, through the interaction of four types of capital: social, cultural, human and institutional. In organizational context, it challenges individuals and organizations to "generate" and "embrace" new ideas, new ways of implementation tasks, dealing difficulties, managing crisis and solving problems. This is a broad social process that requires teamwork that is resulting from the interaction between people's thoughts and the social, economic and cultural environment. It is a process that setting up the necessary changes, in personal, social, educational and political level and includes a series of steps that allows humans to adapt to the environment or to adapt to new conditions in an old or a new environment, solving problems that arise unexpectedly.

Under these conditions, local authorities are invited to redesign their role in creating communities where local and global dimensions are balanced; local resources and expertise are problem solving tools. All of that, in the search of urban and cultural sustainability. Education and training systems can play a fundamental role in the challenges of the future, by educating people to recognize and evaluate forms of creativity and innovation as key factors for personal fulfillment and self-realization, social prosperity and progress.

In this course, intense economic and social transformations are leading states and local communities to be oriented on solving problems through their holistic, innovative and creative approaches. In these circumstances, the European Union is seeking creative and innovative ways to meet the new challenges. Greece and the local authorities, as living organisms in Europe, must follow the changes methodically by documenting their progress and managing with clear judgment and flexibility the existing and the potential.

In this context, the purpose of this study is to explore the views of the members of Local Authorities Organisms in Rhodes, regarding problem finding and problem solving in their workplace. The research is empirical quantitative using the questionnaire as research tool. The questionnaire was completed in January 2016 on a sample of 56 people. Research data shows that the process used by the participants in finding and resolving problems is gathering information, leaving time to mature and finally structuring a plan of action. They state that they have a strategy to solve work problems by following steps such as finding data, hatching, finding new ideas and solutions.

Keywords:

Creativity, creative problem solving, Organisms of Local Authorities.