"Brainstorming"

   In Brainstorming, group members shift
      into their creative right brain.

   Since the left brain does not like to
      relinquish its authority, the environment
      of a brainstorming session must be set
      up correctly in order to encourage the
      right brain to dominate.

   The critical components in setting up a
      brainstorming session include:

1. Five to seven people is the ideal group size.

2. Some groups may need a leader to help members clearly understand their goal and explain the procedures of the session.

   Note: Studies indicate that having a project manager or department head, etc... as leader usually inhibits the members of the group.

3. Write the problem on a board or flip chart to help members keep the objective in mind.

4. Someone should be assigned to write down all responses.   This record is important in the second session when the group reconvenes to evaluate the idea.

5. The session should be at least 15 minutes, but no longer than 90 minutes.

6. A second session should be scheduled several days after the first meeting to allow members to "sleep on it" which may result in additional ideas.

7. At the second session, read through list and evaluate each idea.

   Session Rules:

   No judgmental remarks.
       -  positive or negative.

   Quantity rather than quality should
      be emphasized.

   Group will be less inhibited.

   Less inhibited will result in more ideas
      from which to develop new ideas.

Variations of Brainstorming

   Often a group will contain individuals who are
      too inhibited to share their idea or who have
      been overshadowed by personalities
      who dominant groups

   A variation that helps to eliminate these
      problems.  Brainstorming rules apply.

1. No recorder or secretary is assigned.

2. Group members use paper and pencil to write down all ideas, both practical and impractical.

3. A master list is then compiled by taking one idea at a time from each member until all ideas have been given to the group.   Members are encouraged to keep lengthening their list with new ideas.

4. Another meeting is scheduled to discuss feasibility of the ideas and to reach a final decision(s).

Brainwriting

   Group members are asked to write ideas
      down and pass them around the group
      for other members to enlarge or elaborate.

   No judgmental remarks are allowed when
      ideas or suggested are presented.

1. No positives or negatives (not even "that's good").

2. Quantity should be emphasized not quality.

3. The less inhibited the group, the less inhibited, the larger the idea pool there will be which to develop new idea.

Brainstorming  |   Variations of Brainstorming  |   Brainwriting

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