Brainstorming

BRAIN STORMING

Brainstorming is a creativity technique that tries to find a solution for a specific problem by gathering ideas proposed by the different members of a team or by a single individual. The purpose of brainstorming is using these ideas to craft an original and creative solution to the problem.

The term Brainstorming was popularized by Alex Faickney Osborn in his book from 1953 Applied Imagination.

Osborn had published 4 books related to creative thinking before.

Osborn founded the BDO advertising agency in 1919 along with Bruce Fairchild Barton and Roy Sarles Durstine.

In 1954 he created the Creative Education Foundation.

Osborn’s Method 1.Focus on quantity: the greater the number of ideas produced, the greater the chances of achieving an effective solution

3. Unusual ideas are welcome: participants are encouraged to generate unusual ideas that can lead to new and exciting solutions.

2. No criticism allowed: any criticism of ideas should be put on hold. This way, participants will feel free to generate non conventional ideas

4.Combination of ideas: ideas can be combined and associated to produce better results.

Brainstorming in businesses Brainstorming combined with SaaS solutions, such as Enterprise Edition give marketers the opportunity to deliver more successful and profitable marketing campaigns, with higher chances of going viral.

Brainstorming can help in visualizing how customers or users perceive and consume your products or services. It can be a powerful to generate new ideas and understand consumer’s needs at the same time.

LEFT BRAIN

RIGHT BRAIN

VS.

Left brained thinkers don’t feel comfortable with chaos and like clear and organised proccesses.

Right brained thinkers are usually more comfortable with a variety of patterns, shapes and ideas.

These type of thinkers prefer brainstorming methods based on lists or diagrams.

These type of thinkers prefer brainstorming methods such as clustering or mind mapping.

BRAINSTORMING TECHNIQUES 1. Mind Maps: they are a type of diagram used to represent, generate, structure and visualize ideas. They are a visual aid to organize and study information, solve problems and make decisions. Mind maps start with a central word and develop branches with the ideas originated from that word or problem.

2. SWOT Analysis: It is a strategic planning method used to evaluate the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats involved in a project. This method can be used to compile ideas that the team may not have considered before.

3. Carousel: Get a group of people and make sure that every member has a sheet of paper. Everyone has to write a list of ideas on that paper and after some time rotate the paper to the person on the right, so everyone can add their ideas and generate new ones.

4. Variable brainstorming: First identify the variable in the end outcome you want to achieve. List down all the possibilities for that variable and formulate questions for each of those possibilities.

After that, try to find the answers to those questions.

5. Escape thinking: Consider the assumptions behind the goal you want to achieve. Flip those assumptions around and take a look at your goal from a completely different angle.

6. Rolestorming: Take the role of another person and consider what would you do if you were in their place.

Think from their point of view and how they would act in they were facing your problem.

Resources used: Wikipedia About.com Personal Excellence Visit our lifestyle blog: Calm Your Beans