|
|
|
|
Brainstorming is one of the oldest, best-known, most effective, and yet most widely abused creative tools known. It is widely abused because practitioners don't know or follow the rules. But it can be a very powerful method for gathering information or data and for creating new ideas when it is properly applied. When you need new ideas for anything you are working on, consider using brainstorming. The rules are simple:
These guidelines also help:
Two Popular Types of Brainstorming are: 1. Brainstorming with Sticky Notes: Team members write their ideas in headline form on a note. Use markers or pens that can be easily read. Call out the headline and pass it to a facilitator who will put in on flipchart paper for all to see. 2. Brainstorming with a recorder: A facilitator or team member serves as the
recorder to write the ideas on flipchart paper, a whiteboard, or elsewhere. Selection/convergence methods: A problem that is frequently encountered in the improper use of these methods is that of continuing to gather data and ideas with no systematic means of evaluation. The net result is that people gather the data and ideas until they run out of patience and then just pick something out of convenience. The better way is to sort the data by similarity and then to apply criteria to rank and select what will be used. The simplest criterion is that of choice. You can have each person vote (with a mark or a sticky dot for example) the top X choices that they have. Choose the number of votes that each will have based on the number of people and ideas. Force people to make a choice. With 200 ideas and a 6 person team, for example, it might be appropriate to give only 3 votes to each person (about 10% or less). That gives you a maximum of 18 remaining ideas if everyone votes differently. Often you will find the best ideas surface with multiple votes. In more complex matters (or as a next stage to the selection process) the team selects criteria on the basis of relative importance. For example, if you have gathered ideas on how to solve a particular problem, you might choose to rank order the potential solutions on the basis of relative risk, cost, ease of implementation, time to implement, and the like. If you were evaluating ideas for a future marketing plan, you might use such criteria as relative novelty, potential impact, cost of implementation, and so on. Don't just let ideas run out of steam or win by default, evaluate them with carefully selected criteria, and then implement those that pass the test. Brainstorming, like other well developed creative problem solving processes, can cut through barriers to better ideas and solutions when used properly. NOTE: Not everyone likes brainstorming. It’s too radical for some people and not the best method in some situations. There are dozens of other methods for creating ideas and gathering information. Many of these methods are part of the Creative Problem Solving system. Learn Advanced Innovation & Product Development techniques from an expert in creativity who has created products himself: Steven C. Martin is one of fewer than 300 people in the world to have a Master of Science degree in Creativity. He is a member of the adjunct faculty of the International Center for Studies in Creativity at the State University of New York College at Buffalo. He is a patented inventor and creativity expert who has taught widely in a broad range of settings. We teach creativity and innovation in courses ranging from hours to one week. These high-impact hands-on creativity sessions are guaranteed to teach you how to be more creative and innovative. |
Cost Reduction & Profit Improvement
|
