Brainstorming
Creative thinking may mean simply the realization that there's no particular virtue in doing things the way they have always been done.Brainstorming is a group process designed to relax and energise a group so that the synergy of the group as a whole can be focused on a task. Brainstorming needs a sensitive, skills leader/facilitator and members who feel that they belong to the group and can participate with confidence.
People need to be comfortable in the group and able to express themselves. They need to be themselves and not be afraid of others or the status/rank they have outside the group in, say, their managerial or specialist jobs.
Classical brainstorming involves the application of a specific approach with rules designed to overcome some of the blocks and barriers acting to prevent the creative, imagining juices to flow.
The technique can be used in areas such as:
Rules:
- Quality problem and performance evalution and solution development
- Determining training needs
- Determining hazards in the work place
- Generating topics for an agenda
- No critical remarks allowed
- Hitch-hiking ideas onto someone else's is OK
- The 'wilder ' the idea the better
- quantity is what is wanted
- Evaluate the ideas afterwards
Suggestions for Brain-storming Process
- Work in a circle
- Make sure everyone knows each other and can relax. Have coffee. Know how long you have got! Keep it informal.
- Keep the flow going and tempo up
- Each person tries not to dominate
- Record ideas quickly. Use lots of flip-chart paper. Let everyone see the ideas
- Use praise and fun
Advantages:
- Produces many new and novel ideas
- Defers judgement hence encourages participation
- Fosters creativity and it's fun
Disadvantages:
- Not as useful where trial and error is required
- Many of the ideas are superficial
- Works best with simple or specific problems
- Often limits individual recognition for idea.
BOLA is maintained and developed by Chris Jarvis © 2003