1. Brainstorming - Creative Problem Solving Method

2. Session objectives What is brainstorming Why and when use it
How to organise and lead a successful brainstorming session
What mistakes are to be avoided
Additional creative problem solving methods

3. What is brainstorming
„The best way how to have a good idea is to have many ideas“
Alex F. Osborne, 1939
method of thinking up solutions, concepts, ideas in problem solving
using the brain to storm new ideas in groups
„It is easier to tone down a wild idea than to think up a new one.“

4. Creative thinking require appropriate tools !
Why and When Use It
the creative process is not always easy (problems of fear, criticism, no existing solutions yet)
one person has a limited capacity
people tend to judge new ideas immediately (a change is difficult for a human being)
Creative thinking require appropriate tools !

5. How does it work in a group of people
free associations to the topic given
relaxed and friendly atmosphere
deferred judgements – release the human mind, lateral thinking
As many ideas as possible, no matter how crazy they are

6. The key rules relaxed atmosphere - completely free
no criticism or judgements
quantity matters
all ideas legitimate
all ideas put on the sheet of paper
evaluation only after the session

7. BENEFITS of brainstorming

8. Why and When Use It Specific questions:
How can we promote our products?
What can our company do in 5 years hence?
What can we do to solve the problem XY?
How can we improve co-operation of A and B?
What do our customers really want?
What opportunities do we have this year?
How can we have more fun at work?

9. BRAINSTORMING CONSTRAINTS
does not rank the ideas
cannot help you select the important ones
does not suggest the best solutions
must be amended by other methods

10. Organising a session? 1. PREPARATION PHASE 3. EVALUATION
2. CONDUCT THE SESSION

11. Select the right people
1. PREPARATION PHASE
Specify the problem
What do we really want?
Invite people
make sure they have time
Select the right people
up to 10 – 12 different positions
Decide when and where
place and time matters „U“ layout of the room

12. 2. CONDUCT THE SESSION
Specify the objectives – make sure that everybody is happy with the central question.
Decide the roles: - leader, recorder, panel.
Explain the rules (or make sure that everybody knows them. Eventually – a warm-up exercise for fun). You can let people to jot down a few ideas before starting.
Begin by going around, after some rounds, open the floor.
Record the ideas exactly, clarify only in the end.
Suspend judgements !
Encourage the ideas, even the most radical and far-fetched. Allow the late coming ideas, do not hurry.
At the end – eliminate duplicates, clarify, thank the participants.

13. 3. EVALUATION PHASE
Put the evaluation off / next day
Add newly born ideas to the list
Group similar ideas together
Select the best or most interesting suggestions
Create teams which will work on them further
Inform people about the results

14. Mistakes to be avoided
people are negative in advance (it will not work anyway)
too many brainstormings in the company
bad atmosphere in the beginning
bad experience with the method
judgements occur during the session
any criticism and personal attacks

15. Additional creative problem-solving methods
INDIVIDUAL BRAINWRITING
COLOURFUL CARDS
MIND MAPS

16. INDIVIDUAL BRAINWRITING
When?
When you need to solve some problem alone, and you do not have a group to work with
How?
A piece of paper (can be big and colourful to stimulate your thinking).
Jot down all ideas linked with the issue.
!! Do not judge yourself !!
further steps as in brainstorming

17. COLOURFUL CARDS
When?
in a group of people, sensitive topic (eg. What do we like / dislike about our managers, company?)
How?
a set of papers / person (smaller pieces, A4/3 or 3M), colours as needed, for example yellow and green
people individually note their opinions on the cards, one idea per card, yellow – positive, green – negative
glue the cards on the flip chart, grouping immediately similar opinions together, negative on the left, positive on the right
let people see and discuss the result
brainstorming on What can we do about it? can follow

18. * eg. Tony Buzan, The Creative Intelligence
MIND MAPS*
WHAT is it?
alternative way of making notes and mapping any issue
many well-known thinkers used some form of it (Leonardo da Vinci)
does not use linear form of notes, but EXPLOSIVE
using colours, pictures and symbols
WHY?
uses natural brain processes
stimulate thinking, fun, joy
explosive form
linear form
* eg. Tony Buzan, The Creative Intelligence

19. restaurants and good food
How to use MIND MAPS
architecture
history
capital city
PRAGUE
culture
transport
restaurants and good food

20. to make a daily schedule notes of the lesson, books, articles
When to use MIND MAPS
to make a daily schedule
notes of the lesson, books, articles
holiday planning
shopping list
to do list
every day, as often as possible, be creative, develop your own style with time, have fun
also in groups after brainstorming session

21. Have fun and all the best !
SUMMARY
creativity is not born by itself
creative methods must be consciously introduced and developed in organisations
people must be encouraged to use them, with no fear to make mistakes, prized for new ideas
support from top management needed
good preparation and patience
Have fun and all the best !

22. End of Presentation