How does divergent thinking differ from convergent thinking?

Divergent thinking — this is the process of generating a multitude of different ideas or solutions to a given problem. It aims to expand the range of possible options, find non-standard approaches, and foster creativity.

Convergent thinking — this is the process of narrowing down a set of ideas to a single optimal solution. It emphasizes logic, analysis, and selecting the most suitable option from existing ones.

Example:

• During the idea generation stage for a new product, divergent thinking is used — the team proposes different concepts.
• During the selection stage for a specific feature to implement, convergent thinking is applied — the best solution is chosen based on criteria.