Brainstorming
What is it?
Brainstorming is a problem solving technique that engages one to multiple participants in the process of thinking creatively and generating innovative ideas. The brainstorming technique is typically geared towards quality improvement and is usually the incipient phase towards developing a strategic plan.
How do you use it?
The brainstorming technique can be used for solving problems collectively or individually.
Group brainstorming
- Communication, schedule and book the brainstorming activity
- Clarify the topic and establish the time frame of the session; review the rules
- Assign a facilitator/mediator of the group
- Appoint a recorder (someone from the group who records ideas as they are generated)
- Let ideas flow freely
- Build on ideas of others
- State that there are no bad ideas
- Everyone participates; drive out fear, create trust, and creat a climate for innovation
- Think outside the box
- Generate additional open-ended questions to keep ideas flowing if the group "runs out of steam"
- Do not elaborate or discuss ideas
- Make a list of the ideas at the end of the session
- Use a decision grid or multi voting to sort ideas for action planning and priority scheduling
Individual brainstorming
- Clarify topic for the brainstorming activity
- Focus on topic and establish a flexible time frame
- Make sure you take notes on all ideas generated
- Use creative thinking techniques
- Start off your approach from a different angle
- There are no bad ideas
- Think outside the box
- Focus on creating an original idea based on a comparison of why something did not work; develop a new way of looking at the problem
- Review the list of ideas generated
- Use an optimization grid, matrix analysis or mindmap technReview the list of ideas generated
Why use it?
Brainstorming allows people to explore new ideas by thinking "outside the box." Individual or group brainstorming is triggered towards achieveing optimal results obtained because the solutions are obvious or someone has a brilliant idea. However, in the long term, a systematic approach will yield the greatest benefits.
Advantages
Group brainstorming
- Allows participants to explore new ideas and challenge traditional thinking
- Engages participants to put ideas on the table without fear of being corrected or challenged
- Separates the creating of ideas from the evaluation of the activity
- Energizes participants to move towards the action
- Makes everyone feel that they're an important part of the solution
- Easy to use
- Inspires collaboration amongst participants
- Breaks down barriers between department or individuals that are apparent or invisible
Individual brainstorming
- Explore various scenarios
- No need for justification
- Can move back and forth on the plan of generating ideas
- In control of decisions; complete freedom of actions
- No time constraints; immediate implementation outcome
Disadvantages
Group brainstorming
- Time consuming
- Ideas generated cannot be implemented right away
- Setting false expectations
- Not a decision making process that builds consensus
- Difficult to schedule to find a common time for all parties involved
- Participation is imposed
Individual brainstorming
- Can lead to infinite time
- Aware of limitations
- No need of unanimity approval request
- Can be distracting
- No one to rely on; no one to blame but yourself
Examples
1. A team of engineers uses a brainstorming session to generate ideas on reducing the oil spilage in the Gulf of Mexico.
2. A college management team meets to brainstorm on a new marketing technique to increase student enrolment.
3. A family gets together over coffee to generate ideas for a New Year's celebration.
4. A department store arranges for a brainstorm session on items' display and location management.
5. The process of deciding and applying for a new job (individual brainstorm).
6. A writer uses the brainstorming technique to choose a character's name for a story or a movie.
2. A college management team meets to brainstorm on a new marketing technique to increase student enrolment.
3. A family gets together over coffee to generate ideas for a New Year's celebration.
4. A department store arranges for a brainstorm session on items' display and location management.
5. The process of deciding and applying for a new job (individual brainstorm).
6. A writer uses the brainstorming technique to choose a character's name for a story or a movie.
References
Besterfield, D.H. (1998). Quality Control. (5th ed.) Prentice-Hall Inc.
http://www.brainstorming.co.uk/tutorials/creativethinking.html
http://www.mindtools.com/brainstm.html
http://www.brainstorming.co.uk/tutorials/creativethinking.html
http://www.mindtools.com/brainstm.html
