Brainstorming

Brainstorming is a simple and effective method of collecting a broad range of ideas quickly.

The approach
You will need the following things for your brainstorming session.


 * A room.
 * A white board, flip-chart, or other writing surface large enough for all participants to see clearly.
 * One or more marker pens.

Starting the session
Gather all the participants in the room and explain the brainstorming method to those that are unfamiliar with it.

Idea gathering
The method is simple. One person first explains the problem or issue to be addressed. Participants are then invited to shout out ideas (in the case of problem solving these ideas will be potential solutions or potential causes of the problem, depending upon where you are in the problem process).

As ideas are called out one person writes them all up on the board. Do not focus on details, one or two words is usually enough, just capture the essence of the shouted out idea (if you put up too much detail people will get lost and other ideas will be missed).

It is important that all participants' ideas are captured and no criticism or comment on ideas is permitted during the brainstorming session. The main idea here is that there is no such thing as a bad idea. No matter how silly, off-topic, or mistaken the idea being proposed is, record it on the board!

Refinement
Once ideas stop being proposed or participants are struggling to propose new ideas, call an end to the initial phase.

Now, work through all of the ideas on the brainstorm board, sorting them into useful or rejected categories. During this process conversation is encouraged.

Useful ideas can then be organised into an order in which they will be further investigated and participants can take responsibility for actioning them.