Brainstorming

Great books--

Mind Keys and Thinker's Keys



http://www.jpb.com/creative/brainstorming.php

Brainstorming Tips

Definition of Brainstorming: “This is a group method of listing a large number of ideas. No one evaluates the ideas until the list is complete. There are no dumb ideas. One person volunteers to record the ideas on paper or flipchart.”

“DOVE” Brainstorming—adapted from the Project Lead Trainers Manual, Quest International, Columbus, Ohio, Association of Junior Leagues International, New York, NY.

D efer judgment It is difficult to drive down the highway with your foot on the gas and brake at the same time. When you judge ideas as they are mentioned, it is like giving each idea a grade just as it is formed. It stifles the incentive to throw out some of your best ideas.

O ffbeat ideas encouraged The offbeat idea of today is the accepted method of tomorrow. Think of suggesting to people 20 years ago that they would have a computer in their briefcases. Try to reach for some really offbeat ideas that may stimulate other ideas.

V ast number of ideas sought Allow everyone to generate a vast number of ideas. Creativity is the goal. Every idea is excellent and the more the better. Putdowns, however, are out of order.

E xpand on other people’s ideas Using the “Gate-Keeper” or “Piggybacking” technique, allow participants to add on or expand to each others’ ideas. Purpose is to build on or improve the ideas generated

Brainstorming is a process of spontaneous thinking used by an individual or by a group of people to generate numerous alternative ideas while deferring judgment. Introduced by Alex Osborn in his book "[|Applied Imagination]", brainstorming is the crux of each of the stages of all problem-solving methods.
 * What is Brainstorming?**
 * Rules for Brainstorming**

> Allowed People tend to automatically evaluate each suggested idea--their own as well as others. Both internal and external criticism are to be avoided while brainstorming. Neither positive nor negative comments are allowed. Either type inhibits the free flow of thought and requires time which interferes with the next rule. Write each spoken idea down as it is given and move on. > Alex Osborn stated that "Quantity breeds quality." People must experience a "brain drain" (get all the common responses out of the way) before the innovative, creative ideas can surface; therefore, the more ideas, the more likely they are to be quality ideas. > Hitchhiking occurs when one member's idea produces a similar idea or an enhanced idea in another member. All ideas should be recorded. > Outrageous, humorous, and seemingly unimportant ideas should be recorded. It is not uncommon for the most off-the-wall.
 * **No Criticism**
 * **Work for Quantity**
 * **Hitchhiking Welcome**
 * **Freewheeling Encouraged**

SCAMPER http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newCT_02.htm



Brainstorming http://www.mindtools.com/brainstm.html


 * **S**ubstitute What else instead? Who else instead? Other ingredients? Other material? Other power? Other place?
 * **C**ombine How about a blend, an alloy, an ensemble? Combine purposes? Combine appeals?
 * **A**dapt What else is like this? What other idea does this suggest? Does past offer parallel? What could I copy?
 * **M**inify Order, form, shape? What to add? More time?
 * **M**agnify Greater frequency? Higher? Longer? Thicker?
 * **P**ut to other uses New ways to use as is? Other uses I modified? Other places to use? Other people to reach?
 * **E**liminate What to subtract? Smaller? Condensed? Miniature? Lower? Shorter? Lighter? Omit? Streamline? Understate?
 * **R**everse Interchange components? Other pattern?
 * **R**earrange Other layout? Other sequence? Transpose cause and effect? Change pace? Transpose positive and negative? How about opposites? Turn it backward? Turn it upside-down? Reverse roles?


 * S - Substitute - components, materials, people
 * C - Combine - mix, combine with other assemblies or services, integrate
 * A - Adapt - alter, change function, use part of another element
 * M - Modify - increase or reduce in scale, change shape, modifyattributes (e.g. colour)
 * P - Put to another use
 * E - Eliminate - remove elements, simplify, reduce to core functionality
 * R - Reverse - turn inside out or upside down, also use of [|Reversal].