Brainstorming Techniques PDF

# Brainstorming Techniques ## Brainwriting Brainwriting is a type of brainstorming that solves the problem of some peoples' reluctance to participate. Whereas everyone is allowed to write down their ideas and opinions instead of discussing them openly. This allows them to review and reformulate th...

# Brainstorming Techniques ## Brainwriting Brainwriting is a type of brainstorming that solves the problem of some peoples' reluctance to participate. Whereas everyone is allowed to write down their ideas and opinions instead of discussing them openly. This allows them to review and reformulate their ideas, as well as develop the ideas presented by others. ## Nominal Group Technique (NGT) NGT can be considered one of brainstorming techniques which is somehow similar to targeted brainstorming. Whereas ideas are created in an individual pattern and voted on, whereas the group brainstorms individually to generate ideas. These ideas are discussed by the group and are collected on note cards and placed together to vote on them. | Stage | Description | | ------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | Generating ideas | Participants given time to reflect on summary of previous findings, making own notes. | | Recording ideas | Participants' ideas recorded on flip-chart. | | Discussing ideas | By consensus, group merges all ideas into just ten positive exemplars (good practice) and ten negative exemplars (poor practice). | | Ranking ideas | For each exemplar list, participants individually rank on paper order of importance of these exemplars. Rank order scores are then calculated. | ## Star bursting Technique The star bursting technique pushes you to think about the who, what, where, when, why and how of an idea. Place your idea or problem in the center of the star diagram and at the ends put the questions: - Who is this idea for? - What is the reason people want this idea? - How do we determine if we proceed? - Why would the buyer want this? - Where will the idea be implemented? - When will the idea be ready? # Chapter Four # Creative Thinking Tools (2) # The Six Thinking Hats The six thinking hats are a direct and easy way to virtually apply the process of parallel thinking smoothly (All members think of the same direction at the same time). | Hat | Description | | ----------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Blue** | Organizing, discipline, and planning mode: Introducing the purpose of the meeting, & the sequence of wearing hats. Controlling the session, summarizing and concluding what was discussed and agreed upon during the session and telling the final recommendations. | | **White** | Information gathering mode: Represents the way of thinking that relates to data, information, statistics, numbers, facts, and documents. When wearing it, only facts, numbers and statistics are thought about. | | **Red** | feelings and instincts: The red color indicates an inner feeling towards a particular subject, including passion, love, hate, disgust. / Wearing the red hat allows the participants to express their personal opinions on a particular topic | | **Yellow** | advantages and opportunities: Indicates positiveness, optimism, and ideas far from any pessimism. It symbolizes progressive, optimistic thinking based on hopes. When wearing it, only positive ideas and advantages are thought about. | | **Black** | Risk assessment & disadvantage: It is a color that refers to formality and officiality. When wearing it only pessimism, caution, logic, and suspicious ideas, are thought about. The black hat is of particular importance, especially in the case of product design and constructions. It also shows its importance during evaluation processes, systems development processes and problem solving. | | **Green** | Creative thinking. The green hat is worn to think creatively, artistically, imaginatively, and innovatively. / The ideas that arise when wearing it must be far from traditional ideas or previously tried solutions. | # Sequence of Wearing Hats' Tips - The six hats can be used in any order during a meeting or discussion. - However, by using the hats in order you can direct a discussion in a more logical fashion - In general, depending on the purpose and the complexity of the situation, you can use different hat sequences as follows: - The standard sequence (blue, white, red, yellow, black, green, blue) - The exploratory sequence (blue, white, green, yellow, black, red, blue ) - The custom sequence (based on your own criteria) # Benefits of Using Six Thinking Hats The process can: - Reduce meeting times - Make them more productive - Help improve the quality of decision making Easily be learned and implemented. Enhance team working & collaborative problem solving. Empower diverse groups of people to work together with common perspective in mind. # Six Thinking Hats practices 1. Suggest a hats sequence for the following situations: - Improving an existent system - Conducting brainstorming session - Evaluation of a person or a system - Problem Solving 2. Who came up with the idea of the Six Thinking Hats? 3. What is the Six Thinking Hats? 4. What are the benefits of using Six Thinking Hats? 5. How the Six Thinking Hats work together? # Recommended sequence for different applications | Situation | Hat Sequence | | ---------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | When you are evaluating; | Blue, Yellow, Black, Blue | | When you are providing Alternatives | Blue, Green, Yellow, Black, Blue | | When you are Designing | Blue, White, Green, Yellow, Black, Blue | | When you are seeking improvement; | Blue, White, Black, Green, Blue | | options | Blue, Yellow, Black, Red, Blue | | Problem Solving | Blue, White, Green, Yellow, Black, White, Blue | | Creative session | Blue, White, Green, Yellow, Black, Green, Blue with an arrow pointing from Green to Blue | # Thanks for your Contribution