Brainstorming Techniques

Synopsis

The ability to innovate and adapt has transcended from a nice-to-have competitive advantage to a fundamental survival skill for any business that wants sustained relevance. How can you accelerate the cerebral engines that power those "Aha!" moments? And what sets a good idea apart from just any average idea? Whether it's as a collaborative effort with other team members, or a solo endeavor at your desk, or thinking on-the-spot during a case interview, or even leading a workshop, a trusty suite of Brainstorming Techniques is a must-have to upkeep the mind palace.

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What are some ways to evaluate the quality of an idea generated from a brainstorming session?

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The quality of an idea from a brainstorming session can be evaluated through various methods. One way is to assess its feasibility, i.e., whether it can be practically implemented or not. Another way is to evaluate its potential impact on the business or project. The idea's uniqueness and creativity can also be a measure of its quality. Additionally, the idea can be tested through a pilot project or a small-scale implementation to gauge its effectiveness.

How can a business balance the need for innovation with the need for stability?

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A business can balance the need for innovation with the need for stability by creating a culture that encourages and rewards innovation while also maintaining a strong focus on core business operations. This can be achieved by setting clear goals and expectations, providing resources and support for innovative ideas, and implementing a robust risk management strategy to ensure stability. It's also important to foster a culture of continuous learning and improvement, and to be open to change and adaptability.

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Follow along as we divulge the best practices for fruitful brainstorming sessions, tried-and-tested brainstorming techniques such as brainwriting, Six Thinking Hats, lightning demo, and reverse brainstorming, and how to organize and evaluate which ideas are ultimately worth pursuing. By the end of this, you'd be well on your way to better ideas with less time. But just keep in mind that every brainstorming session has its unique goals, timeline, resources, and manpower, so do what makes the most sense for your own scenario. You can download our collection of Brainstorming Techniques to see more and customize.

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What are some resources available for learning more about brainstorming techniques?

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Some resources for learning more about brainstorming techniques include books, online courses, and workshops. You can also find a wealth of information on websites dedicated to creativity and innovation. Additionally, many organizations offer training sessions on brainstorming techniques. It's also beneficial to learn from experienced professionals in your field who can share their insights and techniques.

How can brainstorming techniques be used in problem-solving?

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Brainstorming techniques can be used in problem-solving by providing a platform for generating multiple ideas and solutions. Techniques such as brainwriting, Six Thinking Hats, lightning demo, and reverse brainstorming can be used. Each technique has its unique approach and can be chosen based on the problem at hand, resources, and timeline. It's important to organize and evaluate the ideas generated to identify which are worth pursuing.

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Best practices

Divergent vs. convergent thinking

As two-time Nobel Prize winner and science pioneer Linus Pauling said, "The best way to have a good idea is to have a lot of ideas." Why is that so? Since when is quantity more important than quality? Broadly speaking, the act of ideation and solution seeking can be divided into two phases: divergent thinking and convergent thinking.

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How can one cultivate the habit of regular brainstorming?

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One can cultivate the habit of regular brainstorming by setting aside dedicated time for brainstorming sessions, encouraging an open and non-judgmental environment, and promoting divergent thinking. It's also beneficial to keep a record of all ideas, no matter how insignificant they may seem at the time. Regular practice and persistence are key to making brainstorming a habit.

What are some ways to manage the flow of ideas during a brainstorming session?

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There are several ways to manage the flow of ideas during a brainstorming session. First, set clear guidelines for the session, including a time limit and the expectation that all ideas are welcome. Second, use a facilitator to guide the discussion and ensure everyone has a chance to contribute. Third, use visual aids like whiteboards or sticky notes to capture and organize ideas. Fourth, encourage participants to build on each other's ideas. Finally, after the session, review and categorize the ideas, and decide on next steps.

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Divergent thinking is also known as the generative or flaring phase. At this point, let your imagination flow, anything goes. This is when quantity matters more than quality. Once enough ideas have been collected, we then transition into convergent thinking, also known as the selective or focusing phase. This is when hard cold logic and critical thinking reign supreme. Use this occasion to narrow down the collection of ideas into only the practical few. In fact, this interplay between divergent and convergent thinking has taken up a critical role in product discovery, with an emphasis on rapid iterations.

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Session agenda

Making an agenda for a brainstorming session is like charting a map for an unexplored territory of ideas. If your team has the resources to do so, it's never a bad idea to designate a meeting facilitator for the task. The agenda should be succinct but flexible, basically providing a structured pathway while allowing reasonable detours to explore unexpected bursts of creativity. Make sure that the agenda is circulated to participants well in advance so they can be mentally prepared.

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Speaking of mental preparation, needless to say, we've all heard about brainstorming do's and dont's such as "don't be judgmental", "be respectful and inclusive", etc. All in all, a safe and positive environment is the way to go. But why? What if employees come up with better ideas under pressure and sadistic discomfort? Multiple scientific research and studies have provided empirical support to the Broaden-and-Build theory, which demonstrates that positive emotions and moods can facilitate creative thinking and problem-solving by enhancing cognitive flexibility and promoting open-mindedness. In one of the experiments, participants performed much better in creative "out of the box" thinking after they were primed by feel-good gestures as simple as watching a few minutes of comedy or getting a small bag of candy.

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Avoid groupthink

We mentioned the power of number when it comes to brainstorming. While that is true, one common pitfall to avoid is groupthink. Groupthink is a phenomenon where the desire for harmony and conformity within a group leads to subpar ideas and outcomes. When too many team members are brainstorming out loud all at the same time, our human instinct to want to be loved takes over. We then end up nodding, smiling, and passively agreeing with whatever ideas our teammates just voiced, all the while subconsciously suppressing our own ideas.

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How does the concept of 'Two-Pizza Teams' in Amazon enhance the productivity of brainstorming sessions?

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The concept of 'Two-Pizza Teams' in Amazon enhances the productivity of brainstorming sessions by ensuring that teams are small enough to be fed with two pizzas. This size limitation encourages more focused and productive brainstorming sessions. With smaller teams, each member has a better opportunity to voice their ideas, which can lead to more diverse and innovative solutions. Furthermore, smaller teams can reduce the potential for groupthink and allow for more efficient decision-making processes.

How does Amazon's concept of 'Two-Pizza Teams' contribute to more productive brainstorming sessions?

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Amazon's 'Two-Pizza Teams' concept contributes to more productive brainstorming sessions by ensuring that teams are small enough to be fed with two pizzas. The idea behind this is that smaller teams are more focused and productive. Each member of the team has the opportunity to voice their ideas, which can lead to more innovative solutions and strategies. This approach also prevents the dominance of a single voice or idea, encouraging diversity of thought and reducing the risk of groupthink.

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That is why it's often recommended to dedicate a time during the brainstorming session for participants to silently think on their own first without influence from others, and then come together to share their ideas. Or in Amazon's case, its concept of "Two-Pizza Teams" is the idea that teams should be small enough to be fed with two pizzas. Small teams ensure more focused and productive brainstorming sessions, as each member has the opportunity to voice their ideas.

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What are some effective brainstorming techniques that can be incorporated into team meetings?

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There are several effective brainstorming techniques that can be incorporated into team meetings. One of them is the "Brainwriting" technique where team members write down their ideas on a piece of paper, then pass it on to the next person who builds upon the initial ideas. Another technique is the "Round-Robin" method where each team member shares an idea in turn, promoting equal participation. The "Starbursting" method is also effective, where the team focuses on creating as many questions as possible about an idea or problem. Lastly, the "Rapid Ideation" method can be used where team members are given a fixed amount of time to generate as many ideas as possible.

How have companies like Pixar and Apple utilized brainstorming to enhance their creative processes?

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Companies like Pixar and Apple have utilized brainstorming to enhance their creative processes by dedicating significant time, budget, and resources to it. Pixar has a Braintrust, a group of creative professionals who provide candid feedback on projects. Apple holds brainstorming camps, where teams are encouraged to think outside the box and come up with innovative ideas. These practices allow for a free flow of ideas, fostering creativity and innovation.

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Brainstorming techniques

Pixar's Braintrust, Spotify's squad model, Apple's brainstorming camps, Microsoft's ThinkWeek… The list goes on and on showing the level of time, budget, and resources that even the most competitive companies continue to dedicate to the act of brainstorming. Without getting such costly endeavors involved, let's go over some brainstorming techniques and frameworks that you and your team can easily and realistically incorporate into your next powwow.

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6-3-5 Brainwriting

The essence of the method lies in its cyclical and collaborative nature. Six participants are tasked to write down three ideas within a span of five minutes. After the initial five-minute ideation phase, each participant silently passes their sheet to the person on their right.

This person then builds upon the ideas and adds new perspectives and dimensions. The cycle continues until each participant receives their original sheet back, now embellished with a slew of fresh takes from the rest of the team.

Six Thinking Hats

The Six Thinking Hats is a framework that introduces a structured parallel thinking that guides participants through different facets of an idea. Each hat symbolizes a distinct type of thinking. Through this journey, the Six Thinking Hats makes sure that the brainstorming session is not a chaotic storm of ideas but is rather a structured exploration through varied cognitive domains. Here's how:

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What are some challenges that IBM, Siemens, and Boeing might have faced when implementing the Six Thinking Hats method and how could they have overcome them?

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Some challenges that IBM, Siemens, and Boeing might have faced when implementing the Six Thinking Hats method could include resistance to change, difficulty in understanding the method, and time constraints. To overcome these challenges, they could have provided comprehensive training to their employees, ensured top management support, and allocated specific time for the implementation of the method.

What are some effective ways to implement the Six Thinking Hats method in team meetings to manage the direction and flow of discussions?

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The Six Thinking Hats method can be effectively implemented in team meetings by following these steps:

1. Brief the team about the Six Thinking Hats method and each hat's significance.

2. Assign a facilitator to guide the discussion and ensure that everyone sticks to the hat's perspective in use.

3. Start the meeting with the Blue Hat to set objectives and define the problem.

4. Use the White Hat to gather information and data about the problem.

5. Use the Green Hat to encourage creative thinking and generate new ideas.

6. Use the Yellow Hat to evaluate the benefits and feasibility of the ideas.

7. Use the Black Hat to critically analyze the ideas and identify potential risks.

8. Use the Red Hat to gather everyone's feelings and intuition about the ideas.

9. Finally, use the Blue Hat again to summarize the discussion and plan the next steps.

Remember, the order of the hats can be changed based on the needs of the discussion.

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• The process starts with the "Blue Hat," which sets the stage for the brainstorming session, and defines its objectives and the sequence of thinking that will ensue.
• Subsequently, the group dons the "White Hat," when they get to navigate through a realm of facts, data, and information. This ensures that the discussion is grounded in reality and is informed by relevant and accurate data.
• The journey then meanders through the emotional and intuitive terrains of the "Red Hat," where participants express feelings, intuitions, and gut reactions without justification. This gives a glimpse of the emotional responses towards the issue at hand.
• The "Green Hat" then sprouts seeds of creativity and novel ideas. This is a space where participants can explore alternatives and new concepts, free from the constraints of critical judgment.
• As a natural follow up to the freeflow of ideas, "Yellow Hat" continues the discussion in optimism. This is the chance to explore the positive aspects, benefits, and potential upsides to the proposed ideas.
• In contrast to the "Yellow Hat", the "Black Hat" then casts a shadow of caution and critical judgment, where potential pitfalls, risks, and negative aspects are explored. This instills a much needed reality check in the brainstorming process.
• The session can then culminate with a return to the "Red Hat" for a quick check in to see how everyone is feeling, then concludes with the "Blue Hat" to consolidate solutions and plan for the next steps.

IBM has utilized the Six Thinking Hats in their meetings to manage the direction and flow of discussions, ensuring that their teams explore various aspects of the issues at hand. Similarly, Siemens and Boeing are known to have employed the method to foster creativity and collaborative problem-solving within their teams.

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What are the practical applications of brainstorming techniques in the software industry?

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Brainstorming techniques have several practical applications in the software industry. They can be used to generate new ideas for software development, identify solutions to complex problems, and improve existing software products. For instance, a product team might use lightning demos to showcase existing solutions in the market, which can inspire new ideas or improvements. Brainstorming can also facilitate collaboration and innovation within the team, leading to more creative and effective software solutions.

What sets Adobe XD apart from other software for web and mobile app designs like Figma?

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Adobe XD and Figma are both powerful design tools, but they have some key differences. Adobe XD is integrated with other Adobe Creative Cloud apps, which can be a significant advantage if you're already using Adobe's ecosystem. It also offers auto-animate and voice prototyping, which are not available in Figma. On the other hand, Figma is a browser-based tool that allows real-time collaboration, making it a great choice for teams. It also has a robust component system. Ultimately, the choice between Adobe XD and Figma may depend on your specific needs and workflow.

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Lightning demo

"Good artists copy." That is a good mantra to live by for teams that wants to improve upon existing solutions in the market. Compared to all other brainstorming techniques, lightning demo focuses heavily on visuals. In a rapid-fire lightning demo session, participants showcase existing solutions or ideas from other companies that inspire them. These companies can be direct competitors, or they may simply have that one offering or capability that can be reappropriated across industries.

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Let's say, hypothetically, Adobe is in the process to update its creative software tools. Its product team might utilize lightning demos to showcase existing solutions in the market: Perhaps in trying to improve Adobe XD, the software for web and mobile app designs, the team could look into Figma. Or as we know, simply acquire the company, now that's an idea too!

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What sets Reverse Brainstorming apart from traditional brainstorming methods in terms of problem-solving?

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Reverse Brainstorming, also known as negative brainstorming, differs from traditional brainstorming methods in its approach to problem-solving. Instead of focusing on how to solve the problem, it focuses on how to create or exacerbate the problem. This counterintuitive approach allows participants to explore the problem space from a different angle. By understanding the ways a problem can be intensified, participants often stumble upon unique insights and end up with solutions that might have otherwise remained obscure.

How can Reverse Brainstorming technique be used to intensify a problem and find unique solutions?

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Reverse Brainstorming, also known as negative brainstorming, is a technique where the focus is on how to create or exacerbate the problem instead of solving it. This approach often leads to unique solutions as it explores the problem space from a different angle. By understanding the ways a problem can be intensified, participants often stumble upon unique insights and end up with solutions that might have otherwise remained obscure. This technique can be particularly useful when traditional brainstorming methods fail to produce the desired results.

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But remember, simply copying from sources of inspiration isn't enough. When presenting their findings, participants should clearly indicate the areas worth replicating and the areas worth avoiding. Critical thinking and evaluation in this case really helps avoid making the same costly mistakes that other companies made.

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How did McDonald's use reverse brainstorming to address criticisms and challenges related to health?

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McDonald's used reverse brainstorming to address health-related criticisms by first identifying the issues. They then developed solutions such as introducing plant-based or lower-calorie options and eco-friendly packaging. They also redesigned their stores to exhibit a more modern and muted palette, moving away from the typical fast food franchise aesthetics. This approach was aimed at improving both the nutritional content and public perception of their menu items.

What are some effective brainstorming techniques that can be used to improve public perception and nutritional content of menu items?

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There are several effective brainstorming techniques that can be used to improve public perception and nutritional content of menu items. One such technique is reverse brainstorming, where you identify criticisms and challenges related to health and develop menu items that are both appealing and nutritious. Another technique is to use a SWOT analysis to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats related to the menu items. You can also use mind mapping to visually organize information and ideas. Additionally, you can use the nominal group technique where team members independently write down their ideas and then discuss them as a group. Lastly, you can use the Delphi method, where experts provide their opinions anonymously and the group facilitator summarizes the responses for further discussion.

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Reverse Brainstorming

Reverse Brainstorming, or negative brainstorming, flips the script by focusing on how to create or exacerbate the problem. This seemingly counterintuitive approach often unearths solutions by exploring the problem space from a different angle. By understanding the ways a problem can be intensified, participants often stumble upon unique insights and end up with solutions that might have otherwise remained obscure.

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To improve nutritional content and public perception of menu items, McDonald's culinary and marketing teams might use reverse brainstorming to identify criticisms and challenges related to health and develop menu items that are both appealing and nutritious. Once the issues are laid bare, the team developed plant-based or lower-calorie options, introduced eco-friendly packaging. The fast food giant even redesigned all of its stores to incorporate more modern and muted palette, ditching the interior aesthetics commonly associated with fast food franchises and instead exhibiting a visual nod to establishments that would serve grilled instead of fried chicken.

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Idea evaluation

Dot-voting

Now that we've fulfilled the tasks under the generative phase of brainstorming, it's time to narrow down and hone in on the ideas that are the most promising. This elimination process could sometimes be as simple as a vote of popularity, which is commonly done by processes like dot-voting. As the name itself suggests, each dot serves as a voice, or a vote that democratically elevates ideas that resonate with the collective intellect and intention of the group. As a result, the chosen ideas are not merely the product of hierarchical decision-making but are rather born out of collective consensus and ownership.

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What is the significance of weighted percentages in ranking idea priorities during brainstorming?

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Weighted percentages in ranking idea priorities during brainstorming are significant because they provide a more quantitative approach to evaluating ideas. Not all criteria are equally important in every case, and some are usually valued more than others. By multiplying each idea's base score by weighted percentages, a clear, incontrovertible ranking of idea priorities is provided. This method helps in prioritizing ideas based on their relevance and importance, thus aiding in decision-making.

How does an idea evaluation form with weighted criteria enhance the brainstorming process?

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An idea evaluation form with weighted criteria enhances the brainstorming process by providing a quantitative approach to assess the value of each idea. It allows for a clear ranking of idea priorities based on their weighted scores. This method acknowledges that not all criteria are equally important and some are valued more than others. By multiplying each idea's base score by its weighted percentage, teams can objectively determine the most valuable ideas.

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Action priority matrix

Realistically, even after narrowing down, there are still multiple ideas that are equally appealing. In this case, consider using an action priority matrix, which organizes ideas by effort and impact. By this logic, place each idea into its appropriate quadrant and relative locations.

• Ideas or tasks that require low effort and generate low impact are fill-in jobs that can be tended to when there's downtime and certainly aren't the biggest priorities.
• Ideas that require a lot of effort to execute but would only yield little impact are thankless tasks. Regardless of how "cool" the idea might sound, reality says not to pursue it.
• Ideas that require a lot of effort to execute but would also create big upsides are considered major projects. These are definitely a priority, but they do require more complex planning.
• Last but not least is the low-hanging fruit that the team should tackle first: quick wins that not only demand relatively low effort but also generate the biggest impact.

If your team prefers a more quantitative approach, however, consider an idea evaluation form with weighted criteria. In some cases, all criteria are equally important. But realistically, some are usually valued more than others. By multiplying each idea's base score by weighted percentages, the results provide a clear, incontrovertible ranking of idea priorities.

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Conclusion

By intertwining structured methodologies with the unbridled creativity of the participants, organizations can harness the collective intellectual prowess of their teams, thereby crafting solutions that are not only innovative but also deeply rooted in collective wisdom and diverse perspectives. The Brainstorming Techniques we mentioned can catalyze organizations towards a future where ideas are not merely generated but are also meticulously evaluated, nurtured, and brought to fruition.

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