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Brainstorming is a technique for generating new ideas on a topic, usually a problem that
seems hard to solve. The rules for brainstorming are designed to help people be
creative and spontaneous in their thinking so that as many ideas as possible, are
generated. It was invented in 1941 by Alex Osborn, an advertising executive, who
wanted to devise a method that would encourage people to spark off new ideas, without
inhibitions. He defined brainstorming as "a conference technique by which a group
attempts to find a solution for a specific problem by amassing all the ideas
spontaneously by its members
According to Wikipedia "brainstorming is a group creativity technique that was designed
to generate a large number of ideas for the solution of a problem." No idea is dumb or
impossible, and each person's contribution is equally valuable.
Brainstorming, a useful tool to develop creative solutions to a problem, is a lateral
thinking process by which students are asked to develop ideas or thoughts that may
seem crazy or shocking at first. Participants can then change and improve them into
original and useful ideas. Brainstorming can help define an issue, diagnose a problem,
or possible solutions and resistance to proposed solutions
preactive phase
One of the first things you need to determine is whether you need to use a
brainstorming session at all. A brainstorming session should be used for generating lots
of new ideas and solutions. It should not be used for analysis or for decision making. Of
course you will need to analyze and judge the ideas but this is done afterwards and the
analysis process does not involve brainstorming techniques.
SELECTION OF TOPIC:
A brainstorming session must be targeted to a specific topic or else you run the risk of
downgrading any future sessions A topic or problem can be selected by the
teacher or by the class, but should be one that will elicit good response by the group or
groups. It might best be phrased as a question . You must define the problem
area or the opportunity area you want to create ideas for. You must draw up a specific
probortunity (problem/opportunity) statement which describes what you are trying to
achieve. This statement must not even suggest what a typical solution might be
because this will hinder the idea generation.
Once you have an initial probortunity statement you should decide whether a
brainstorming session is appropriate. The time and costs spent brainstorming can
sometimes be saved by just implementing a currently known solution and spending your
valuable time on more crucial probortunities. Some problems are best solved by
computer simulation or mathematical calculations because they do not need a change
in perception. If you are only going to ignore what everyone else suggests then you
shouldn't waste their, or yours.
Decide how you will run the session and who will take part
Assume you now have a probortunity statement describing what you are trying to
achieve or investigate. You have also decided that brainstorming is the most valid
approach to your investigation.
Now you need to decide how you will run the session and who will take part. It is
important to adjust the style and management of the session depending on the topic
and the participants involved.
First you should decide who will lead the session - the facilitator. This person needs to
introduce the session, to keep an eye on the time and to make sure the rules are
obeyed. This person will facilitate the session to make it run smoothly and ensure that
the participants feel comfortable and join in the process. They will also be responsible
for restarting the creative process if it slows down.
Next you should decide who will take part Group sizes are often number between 4 and
30 people. More people means more opportunity for diversity but can lead to
nervousness or to frustration if each person is not given enough individual time to
suggest ideas.
The choice of room will obviously depend on what is available and we will leave this to
your creativity if the ideal room is not available. We make the following suggestions and
you should adapt them to your own conditions:
to make brainstorming easy. You can use it to start your search for new ideas and is the
stimulus required to spark off an infinite number of new ideas.:
Arrange people to be seated in a circle with no "head of the table". Ideally, a round-
shaped table is best, though a set of tables in a circle is the usual solution. Otherwise a
broad U shape layout is fine. This makes everybody feel equal and when people's ideas
start to flow you will find that the person initiating the session becomes part of the group
and can play an equal role without pushing any authority. You could have flipcharts just
behind the members (approximately one per two people) and with lots of coloured pens.
Each person should also have a notepad and pen so that they can write down their
personal ideas at the same time as ideas shouted out by other people are being written
down elsewhere. Make sure no ideas are lost at any stage..
You may well need an overhead projector if you intend to display the probortunity
description and any background information or pictures.
A room which has space around the table in which to move about, but not one which
makes the group feel small in comparison, is ideal. Comfortable chairs and tables
coupled with refreshments on a nearby table are useful. Providing an object in the
middle of the circle gives people something to fix on while thinking and removes the
need to look into the face of someone else while suggesting an idea.
A dedicated secretary (or two) whose only job is to grab and write down the ideas is
extremely useful. This releases some pressure on the facilitator who can spend more
time guiding the process.
Assign class members to different groups which are arranged eliminate any
unnecessary interference with one another. Effective operational size of each group to
select a chairman and one or more secretaries, the number of secretaries depending
upon the size of the group. The number should be adequate to assure that all individual
responses will be recorded
Smaller groups are easier to control but there are less people to keep the process
moving smoothly onward. Advanced techniques are very useful to kick start the flow of
ideas.
A very small group is more like a quick-fire conversation and could be seated round a
small table with a large pad of paper covering the whole table surface. Everyone can
add their ideas at the same time
Try to move the group close together so they don't feel remote from each other.
With large groups it's impossible to arrange people in a circle without them being too far
away to feel part of the group. In this situation you will need to have a theatre-style
seating pattern with the facilitator at the front.. If you want to brainstorm with such a
large group then you need to have everyone write their ideas down on a notepad or on
a computer, use some ideas as stimuli to help people with their personal brainstorming
and then gather the pads in afterwards.
When you know who you will be inviting and where it is going to be held, you need to
invite everyone Send out invites by post or by email telling people the time and the
place and how long the session will last. Suggest just the most suitable time and
location for you and specify a date by which they must have replied. Tell them you want
a reply whether their answer is yes or no. Let them know the topic of the brainstorming
session and let them know how much you appreciate their assistance.You may need to
remind people to reply just before the deadline.
Thank everyone for replying and tell them the final meeting place and time and invite
those who say they cannot attend to turn up if they change their situation.
You are now ready to run your brainstorming session. Because of your initial
preparation your session will run a lot smoother. The next stages of this training course
will tell you how to actually run a successful brainstorming session.
Active Phase
Brainstorming sessions are meant to serve as a toll to produce ‘ideas’ that are inspired
through creative means. When conducting a brainstorming session, consider the
following as key components necessary for an effective methodology:
The team must create a set of rulesfor the session. Ensure your team has read and
understands the rules. Conduct a practice session to teach these brainstorming
techniques if most of your team members are new to this concept. Brainstorming ideas
for the practice session can be found by clicking on the link
INITIATION: Being the discussion by making or by having the chairman make a positive
statement relative to the problem. This should serve to stimulate the “train of thought”
for the participants.
Announce the objective. And explain the rules: No negativity. Add to ideas. Say it
rather than censor it- Write the objective, what you want to accomplish. Distribute it to
attendees, and post it for all to see during the session. Write the initial topic on a
flipchart, whiteboard, overhead as long as everyone can see it. The better defined, and
more clearly stated the problem, the more likely that everyone will agree on the issue or
statement being brainstormed
Different groups might work with the same or different topics. Insure a clear
understanding of the problem by all students. Provide examples where needed to insure
comprehension. Allow approximately 30 seconds after the problem has been presented
to the group for each individual to organize has thinking on the subject
Stating your challenge is the key component for an effective brainstorming session.
Often, participants are not aware of the issue at hand, which in turn leads to solutions
that do not solve the problem at hand. The goal should be to bring all participating
members on the same platform by clearly stating the challenge at hand. Be sure to
ensure that the moderator is clear and concise in addressing the challenge and running
a effective session. Define the approach for the class setting forth some anticipated
outcomes of the brain storming session. Identify any problems that might likely be
encountered
. Leave Criticism At The Door
In order to think like a creative, don’t forget your confidence! It is vital that criticism be
left outside the session. It only harbors negativity and it will not result in any teamwork.
It can also prevent participants from producing ideas as well as sharing them in a group.
The ideas that are presented should be used as a benchmark to welcome an increase
in discussion for a viable solution.
Enthusiastic Facilitator
The chairman should maintain only a passive leadership role. He is responsible for
keeping the group on the subject, stopping any criticism of ideas and generally
enforcing the rules prescribed for the technique. The secretary or secretaries must
record all comments that are made by individuals within the group
The facilitator sets the environment and the motivation for participants. An enthusiastic
facilitator will produce dynamic participation and ensure that the conversation remains
on track. • Determine the session facilitator; generally the team leader facilitates the
session but it could be a Six Sigma Black or Green Belt if the team leader doesn’t have
experience in conducting the session
Use Voice Recording
When ideas roll, they roll. It is very common for a great idea to be forgotten when
repeated twice. Therefore, it is always a great idea to record the brainstorming session.
These recordings can be used as a reference and analysis. • Determine prior to the
session who will be writing down the team’s responses.
: All ideas presented should be recorded by the secretary or secretaries during the
discussion. Assist each group as needed in cooperation with the chairman. The
discussion might continue for from five to perhaps 30 minutes, depending upon the
nature of the problem, the pace of the group or groups and the enthusiasm of the
participants. A one minute warning signal should be given prior to the lapse of time
Comfortable Environment•
Gather your team in a conference room. This is preferred to a classroom setting. A
classroom can be used by arranging the tables and chairs in a “U-Shape”. This
encourages participationThe environment can make or break your brainstorming
session. Your participants should be in an environment that has minimal distractions.
Keep To The Time Limit
Conduct a brainstorm session with a time constraint. It will build a high performance
team environment. The time constraint will give participants a sense of urgency to
develop ideas that provide results. Creativity requires a great deal of imagination and
innovation, which are key in brainstorming. The mind can only stay stimulated for a
certain period of time. Which means, if your sessions are stretched out to more then
thirty minutes, it may not be as effective. However, you can also consider splitting up
the sessions over at different times throughout the day or stretch it out over several
days.
Post Active Phase
Ending the Session
After the designated time has elapsed, allow approximately two minutes for each group
to categorize its ideas and eliminate any overlapping suggestions. The chairman and
other members of the group should assist the secretary in synthesizing key ideas
After the session, collect all the responses and categorize them. Remove any repetitive
responses. The Affinity Diagram is a great tool for placing responses into appropriate
categories. Then compare the responses against the decision criteria to create a list of
potential solutions. Team voting is one way to determine the best possible solution
Determine the extent to which objectives were met. Make appropriate application to the
work under study. Plan for any follow-up activities which might relate to the lesion.
Record derived from the experience.
Thank everyone. Clarify any points and get a consensus on which ideas should be
taken further, what the actions and timescales are. Make sure people know that ALL
ideas will be kept and the team leaves the session with the sense that "something has
been achieved
All your good ideas are wasted hot air if they are not recorded methodically and more
importantly, legibly. Consider using brainstorming software such as MindManager©,
post-it notes, flip charts or other such methods for getting your ideas down. Whatever
you choose, make sure you bring all the necessary tools and materials with you!
Quantity not quality
The aim of brainstorming is to churn out as many ideas as you have time for BEFORE
you do any reality check on their merits. Through quantity you will find quality, even
though it might take some time and effort to get there. Ideas breed ideas.
Consider using an ice-breaker or creativity exercise to get group members into the right
frame of mind and away from creativity blocking thoughts of unanswered emails, to-do
lists and other priorities. And once brainstorming has started, remember performance
anxiety will dry up creative juices quicker than a quick thing, so make sure the
atmosphere is kept light and fluffy and above all, fun.
Let no good idea go unheard.
Not everyone enjoys brainstorming and group problem solving. Shyness, fear of looking
stupid or silly may keep people quiet. Brush up on your facilitation skills and avoid the
risk of great ideas being un-spoken or unheard.
General precautions
Can be unfocused..Students may have difficulty getting away from known reality..
Value to students depends in part on their maturity level
The enthusiasm of individual members could cause the group to get out of hand or the
discussion to be monopolized and necessitate certain control measures.
Little evaluation and constructive criticism of individual ideas takes place during the
discussion.
The recording of all comments and statements during the session could slow the
spontaneous generation of ideas and the overall procedure. .
Advantages
Encourages full participation because all ideas are equally recorded.Draws on group's
Spirit of cooperation is created.One idea can spark off other ideasStimulates interest,
the power of association, a spirit of competition, free use of imagination and active
participation.Develops an understanding and an appreciation for the thoughts and
points of view of others.
Is relatively economical in terms of time, does not necessitate any elaborate classroom
arrangements and can be effectively used with both small and large groups.
REFERANCES
Brown, H.D, 1994 Principles of Language Learning and teaching, Prentice Hall Regents
Richards, J.C., 1990 The Language Teaching Matrix, Cambridge University Press.
Rubin, J 1975. What the "Good Language Learner" Can Teach Us, TESOL Quarterly, Vol.
9, No.1, March 1975.
Allen, Roberta, and Marcia Mascolini. The Process of Writing: Composing through
Critical Thinking. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice. 1997.
University of Richmond Writing Center. "Writer's Web." 1 Apr. 2003.
<http://writing.richmond.edu/writing/wweb.html>.