The correct answers are A and D . In the Creativity Phase, the VM team deliberately moves beyond the current design, process, or solution and generates alternative ways to perform the required functions. SAVE’s Value Methodology Standard defines the Creative Phase as the point where the team uses creative techniques to identify other ways to perform the project’s functions .
Envisioning the ideal promotes innovation because it removes premature constraints and helps the team imagine the best functional outcome before judging feasibility, cost, or implementation difficulty. This supports divergent thinking, which is essential during Creativity. Modifying what currently exists also promotes innovation because many value-improving ideas are produced by adapting, improving, simplifying, combining, or changing an existing concept rather than inventing a completely new one.
By contrast, maintaining existing solutions does not promote innovation because it preserves the current approach and limits alternative thinking. Testing old combinations is also not the best answer because the Creativity Phase is focused on generating possibilities, not testing or validating them. Testing, screening, and ranking belong more naturally in the Evaluation Phase.
References/topics: Creativity Phase; Creative Thinking; Alternative Generation; Function-Based Innovation; VM Job Plan.
