Difference between revisions of "Brainstorming"

Difference between revisions of "Brainstorming"

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{{Term|BRAINSTORMING|Group of creativity methods first popularized by A.F. Osborne in 1941, in which all member of a team are encouraged to generate and share ideas on a specific topic. The aim is to put the participants in the condition of creating original ideas and developing unusual approaches to a problem. Therefore, the group should feel free to express the ideas spontaneous just focusing on quantity, since every evaluation must be postponed later in the process. Following these ground rules in brainstorming can reduce the inhibitions in the group, including self-censorship, and enhance creative thinking:
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{{Term|BRAINSTORMING|Group of creativity methods, in which all members of a team are encouraged to generate and share ideas on a specific topic. The aim is to put the participants in the condition of creating original ideas and developing unusual approaches to a problem. Therefore, the group should feel free to express the ideas spontaneous just focusing on quantity, since every evaluation must be postponed later in the process. Following these ground rules, brainstorming can reduce the inhibitions in the group (including self-censorship) and enhance creative thinking.  
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#'''Select a specific problem''', namely define the problem about which the brainstorming session should focus on. It must be a clear problem and, if too big, it should be broken into smaller parts, each one related to a question. Before the brainstorming session, it may be also useful to send the participants an invitation, containing a description of the problem, so they can start thinking about it;
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#'''Select suitable participants''', ideally between six and twelve, as well non-experts as experts. It is important that they have a positive attitude towards brainstorming and an open way of thinking. Each member of the group should participate, since observers can inhibit the creative process;
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#'''Create a positive environment''', where each participant can feel comfortable and free. If the members of the group feel judged, they will probably generate less unusual ideas, that often help to the effective solution. Therefore, managers can be discouraged from attending the brainstorming session;
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#'''Select a group moderator''', who should be able to conduct the discussion and to enliven it, if the creativity decreases. A list of lead questions may helps the facilitator in accomplishing this duty;
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#'''Aim to generate a large quantity of ideas''', according to the assumption that it increases the probability to produce a fit solution to the problem (''quantity breeds quality'');
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#'''Avoid judgement and criticism''', since the negative thinking can demotivate some members of the group to contribute their ideas;
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#'''Combine ideas''' by a process of association in order to improve them.
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[[Image:Brainstorming_session.png]]
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Brainstorming sessions may help to increase work enjoyment and make team work better, although they may not enhance the productivity of groups in terms of the quantity and/or the quality of ideas generated.
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Whether brainstorming can increase either quantity or quality of ideas is controversial, because problems such as distraction and evaluation anxiety can derail the process. <ref> [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brainstorming Wikipedia] (26 May 2009), [http://www.answers.com/topic/brainstorming www.answers.com] (27 May 2009)  </ref>
  
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===Session conduct===
 
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To lead a brainstorming session the facilitator usually follows these steps:
 
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#'''Warm-up''', to make the participants feel in a criticism-free environment;
 
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#'''Presentation''' of the problem, including also further explanations of it;
 
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#'''Asking''' the members of the group for ideas;
 
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#'''Encouraging the creativity''', if necessary;
 
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#'''Expression''' of ideas and record of them by someone selected for this duty;
 
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#'''Elaboration''' of ideas to make them clear;
 
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#'''Organizing and clustering''' ideas;
 
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#'''Evaluating''' ideas in order to identify those worthy of action
 
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#'''Thanking the participants''' <ref> [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brainstorming Wikipedia] (26 May 2009)</ref>
 
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[[Image:Brainstorming_conduct.png]]
 
  
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See also [[Nominal Group Technique]]}}
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'''See also''' [[Nominal Group Technique]]
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__TOC__}}
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{{Tool|Conducting a Brainstorming session|
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=='''Preparing a Brainstorming session'''==
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#Select a specific problem on which the brainstorming session should focus. It must be a clear problem and, if too complex, it should be broken into smaller parts, each one connected to a question. Before the session, it may be useful to send the participants an invitation containing a description of the issue that will be discussed, so they can start thinking about it.
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#Select suitable participants, ideally between six and twelve, both non-experts and experts on the subject. It is important that they have a positive attitude towards brainstorming and that they are open-minded. Each member of the group should participate, since observers can inhibit the creative process.
 +
#Create a positive environment, where each participant can feel comfortable and free. If the members of the group feel judged, they will probably generate less unusual ideas, which often help to find the effective solution.
 +
#Select a group moderator, who should be able to conduct the discussion and to enliven it, if the creativity decreases. A list of lead questions may help the facilitator in accomplishing this duty.
 +
#Aim at generating a large quantity of ideas, according to the assumption that ''quantity breeds quality''.
 +
#Avoid judgement and criticism, as negative thinking can demotivate some members of the group to contribute their ideas.
 +
#Combine ideas by a process of association in order to improve them.
 +
 
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=='''Running a Brainstorming Session'''==
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#Warm-up, to make the participants feel in a criticism-free environment.
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#Introduce the problem, including also further explanations of it.
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#Ask the members of the group for ideas.
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#Encourage the creativity, if necessary.
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#Let participants express their ideas and select someone to record them.
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#Let participants elaborate their ideas to make them clear.
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#Let participants organize and cluster ideas.
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#Let participants evaluate ideas in order to identify those worthy of action.
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#Thank the participants. <ref>[http://www.answers.com/topic/brainstorming www.answers.com] (27 May 2009)</ref>
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=='''Job Aid'''==
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[[Image:pdf.png]] [[Media:Conducting_a_Brainstorming_Session.pdf|Conducting a Brainstorming session]]}}
  
  
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
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<References>
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<References/>

Latest revision as of 16:42, 3 February 2014

Term2.png BRAINSTORMING
Group of creativity methods, in which all members of a team are encouraged to generate and share ideas on a specific topic. The aim is to put the participants in the condition of creating original ideas and developing unusual approaches to a problem. Therefore, the group should feel free to express the ideas spontaneous just focusing on quantity, since every evaluation must be postponed later in the process. Following these ground rules, brainstorming can reduce the inhibitions in the group (including self-censorship) and enhance creative thinking.

Brainstorming sessions may help to increase work enjoyment and make team work better, although they may not enhance the productivity of groups in terms of the quantity and/or the quality of ideas generated. Whether brainstorming can increase either quantity or quality of ideas is controversial, because problems such as distraction and evaluation anxiety can derail the process. [1]


See also Nominal Group Technique


Contents


Toolkit.png Conducting a Brainstorming session

Preparing a Brainstorming session

  1. Select a specific problem on which the brainstorming session should focus. It must be a clear problem and, if too complex, it should be broken into smaller parts, each one connected to a question. Before the session, it may be useful to send the participants an invitation containing a description of the issue that will be discussed, so they can start thinking about it.
  2. Select suitable participants, ideally between six and twelve, both non-experts and experts on the subject. It is important that they have a positive attitude towards brainstorming and that they are open-minded. Each member of the group should participate, since observers can inhibit the creative process.
  3. Create a positive environment, where each participant can feel comfortable and free. If the members of the group feel judged, they will probably generate less unusual ideas, which often help to find the effective solution.
  4. Select a group moderator, who should be able to conduct the discussion and to enliven it, if the creativity decreases. A list of lead questions may help the facilitator in accomplishing this duty.
  5. Aim at generating a large quantity of ideas, according to the assumption that quantity breeds quality.
  6. Avoid judgement and criticism, as negative thinking can demotivate some members of the group to contribute their ideas.
  7. Combine ideas by a process of association in order to improve them.


Running a Brainstorming Session

  1. Warm-up, to make the participants feel in a criticism-free environment.
  2. Introduce the problem, including also further explanations of it.
  3. Ask the members of the group for ideas.
  4. Encourage the creativity, if necessary.
  5. Let participants express their ideas and select someone to record them.
  6. Let participants elaborate their ideas to make them clear.
  7. Let participants organize and cluster ideas.
  8. Let participants evaluate ideas in order to identify those worthy of action.
  9. Thank the participants. [2]

Job Aid

Pdf.png Conducting a Brainstorming session


References

  1. ↑ Wikipedia (26 May 2009), www.answers.com (27 May 2009)
  2. ↑ www.answers.com (27 May 2009)
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