Brainstorming technique - Revision history

Tkokotas at 17:01, 16 November 2018

2018-11-16T17:01:31Z

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			''Developed by Ragnhildur Ragnarsdottir''


	==Abstract==		==Abstract==

Ragnhildur: /* Limitations */

2018-02-28T07:25:37Z

Limitations

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	==Limitations ==		==Limitations ==

	Brainstorming has proven to have numerous advantages, showing why it's as popular as it is today. However, not everybody agree on its excellence whereas it has some limitations. Brainstorming is about generating ideas. It ~~doesn't~~ help with analysing the ideas once they~~'re~~ recorded. There is usually a need for another technique to follow up the brainstorming session to organise and evaluate the ideas collected (like affinity diagram or decision matrix analysis). Moreover, brainstorming can sometimes be less effective than having the same number of participants generating ideas individually and then there may be other technique more suitable at each time. While brainstorming allows all participants to speak their mind and contribute to the discussion it may produce biased results if dominated by a strong participant. This can particularly happen in larger groups, where it's more likely that introverts recede into the background and refrain from contributing to the final session output. In order to deter such a behaviour it may be better to use technique like brainwriting.Furthermore, brainstorming session can be motivating for stakeholders and make them feel more engaged, but it requires their attendance which can sometimes be expensive and difficult to arrange. In those cases where stakeholders or other participants can't attend sessions, Remote brainstorming could be used instead.<ref name="pram"/>		Brainstorming has proven to have numerous advantages, showing why it is as popular as it is today. However, not everybody agree on its excellence whereas it has some limitations. Brainstorming is about generating ideas. It does not help with analysing the ideas once they are recorded. There is usually a need for another technique to follow up the brainstorming session to organise and evaluate the ideas collected (like affinity diagram or decision matrix analysis). Moreover, brainstorming can sometimes be less effective than having the same number of participants generating ideas individually and then there may be other technique more suitable at each time. While brainstorming allows all participants to speak their mind and contribute to the discussion it may produce biased results if dominated by a strong participant. This can particularly happen in larger groups, where it is more likely that introverts recede into the background and refrain from contributing to the final session output. In order to deter such a behaviour it may be better to use technique like brainwriting. Furthermore, brainstorming session can be motivating for stakeholders and make them feel more engaged, but it requires their attendance which can sometimes be expensive and difficult to arrange. In those cases where stakeholders or other participants can not attend sessions, Remote brainstorming could be used instead.<ref name="pram"/>

	Finally, brainstorming may not suit in all circumstances but that's up to the project manager to decide ~~what~~ tool is the most relevant at each time. Brainstorming needs to be approached in the right way in order to be effective. Wrong approach in a brainstorming session may lead to argument, criticism and groupthink, where people tend to gravitate toward an idea because it seems popular.<ref name="PMweb"/><ref name="con"/> In conclusion, by following the guidelines, in the right circumstances and with firm control of the project manager, brainstorming can be a useful tool to generate radical solutions to problems.		Finally, brainstorming may not suit in all circumstances but that is up to the project manager to decide which tool is the most relevant at each time. Brainstorming needs to be approached in the right way in order to be effective. Wrong approach in a brainstorming session may lead to argument, criticism and groupthink, where people tend to gravitate toward an idea because it seems popular.<ref name="PMweb"/><ref name="con"/> In conclusion, by following the guidelines, in the right circumstances and with firm control of the project manager, brainstorming can be a useful tool to generate radical solutions to problems.

	==Annotated bibliography==		==Annotated bibliography==

Ragnhildur: /* Remote brainstorming */

2018-02-28T07:22:59Z

Remote brainstorming

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	* '''Visual diagramming and mindmapping software.''' Some kind of visual diagramming and mindmapping software. Software like Inspiration, Mindjet and Mindmanager can be used for example.		* '''Visual diagramming and mindmapping software.''' Some kind of visual diagramming and mindmapping software. Software like Inspiration, Mindjet and Mindmanager can be used for example.
	* '''E-mail'''. Participants can do individual brainstorming and send ideas to an e-mail where they are gathered and listed on some kind of archive.		* '''E-mail'''. Participants can do individual brainstorming and send ideas to an e-mail where they are gathered and listed on some kind of archive.
	* '''Specialized online brainstorming software'''. Some companies have developed ~~special~~ software ~~specially~~ for remote brainstorming. That can include threaded idea generation, polls for rating ideas, idea generation and decision matrices where each idea is rated against a set of criteria etc.		* '''Specialized online brainstorming software'''. Some companies have developed a software especially for remote brainstorming. That can include threaded idea generation, polls for rating ideas, idea generation and decision matrices where each idea is rated against a set of criteria etc.

	The team members are then working in the presence of each other or remotely, but not sharing ideas verbally. This technique can be an efficient complement to nominal group brainstorming especially for large groups and when participants ~~can’t~~ attend sessions or if they are in other countries.<ref name="beyond"/>		The team members are then working in the presence of each other or remotely, but not sharing ideas verbally. This technique can be an efficient complement to nominal group brainstorming especially for large groups and when participants can not attend sessions or if they are in other countries.<ref name="beyond"/>

	==Limitations ==		==Limitations ==

Ragnhildur: /* Remote brainstorming */

2018-02-28T07:21:33Z

Remote brainstorming

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	===Remote brainstorming===		===Remote brainstorming===

	Remote brainstorming, also known as online brainstorming and electronic brainstorming, replaces physical and oral session with virtual and written one. Remote brainstorming can be done with synchronous and asynchronous communication technologies, but ~~what ever~~ way is chosen they all have that in common that the Internet is used to share and develop ideas. Some general approaches for remote brainstorming can be:		Remote brainstorming, also known as online brainstorming and electronic brainstorming, replaces physical and oral session with virtual and written one. Remote brainstorming can be done with synchronous and asynchronous communication technologies, but not matter which way is chosen they all have that in common that the Internet is used to share and develop ideas. Some general approaches for remote brainstorming can be:

	* '''Online chat.''' Distributed teams can then brainstorm using chat or instant messaging software. The session is recorded and the ideas that are generated can be prioritized later. One problem with using this kind of software is that it’s easy to lose track of the ideas as they scroll out of view.		* '''Online chat.''' Distributed teams can then brainstorm using chat or instant messaging software. The session is recorded and the ideas that are generated can be prioritized later. One problem with using this kind of software is that it’s easy to lose track of the ideas as they scroll out of view.

Ragnhildur: /* The Nominal Group Technique */

2018-02-28T07:21:02Z

The Nominal Group Technique

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	===The Nominal Group Technique===		===The Nominal Group Technique===

	The nominal group technique introduces structure to the process. It's a technique that enhances brainstorming (and brainwriting) with a voting process used to rank the most useful ideas for further brainstorming or for decision making.<ref name="PMBOK"/> The participants are given a problem or topic and asked to write down ideas for a specific period of time. Then all ideas are listed on a board where each team member reads out one idea at time and the project manager sees if any further clarification is needed. If so, the team member who proposed the idea has limited amount of time to explain the idea. Then, the team members give each idea a score following with summing the scores up, providing a rank-ordered list.<ref name="nominal"/>		The nominal group technique introduces structure to the process. It is a technique that enhances brainstorming (and brainwriting) with a voting process used to rank the most useful ideas for further brainstorming or for decision making.<ref name="PMBOK"/> The participants are given a problem or topic and asked to write down ideas for a specific period of time. Then all ideas are listed on a board where each team member reads out one idea at time and the project manager sees if any further clarification is needed. If so, the team member who proposed the idea has limited amount of time to explain the idea. Then, the team members give each idea a score following with summing the scores up, providing a rank-ordered list.<ref name="nominal"/>

	===Remote brainstorming===		===Remote brainstorming===

Ragnhildur: /* Variations and extensions of brainstorming */

2018-02-28T07:20:16Z

Variations and extensions of brainstorming

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	==Variations and extensions of brainstorming==		==Variations and extensions of brainstorming==
	Over the years, various modifications and variations of the traditional brainstorming have been developed. It's a little like the process of brainstorming itself: One good idea begets another. Here, few popular variations will be mentioned.		Over the years, various modifications and variations of the traditional brainstorming have been developed. It is a little like the process of brainstorming itself: One good idea begets another. Here, few popular variations will be mentioned.

	===Brainwriting===		===Brainwriting===

Ragnhildur: /* Brainwriting */

2018-02-28T07:20:04Z

Brainwriting

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	===Brainwriting===		===Brainwriting===

	Brainwriting, like brainstorming, has a goal of generating quantitive amount of ideas in a short time. But unlike brainstorming, it's done via writing, not speaking. Participants write their ideas on paper at the same time and exchange written ideas rather than shouting them out as happens during traditional brainstorming. For brainwriting, the following steps should be followed:<ref name="beyond"/>		Brainwriting, like brainstorming, has a goal of generating quantitive amount of ideas in a short time. But unlike brainstorming, it is done via writing, not speaking. Participants write their ideas on paper at the same time and exchange written ideas rather than shouting them out as happens during traditional brainstorming. For brainwriting, the following steps should be followed:<ref name="beyond"/>

	* Ideas written down on a page for a specific time (usually several minutes).		# Ideas written down on a page for a specific time (usually several minutes).
	* Ideas passed on to the next person in the team on a signal from the project manager.		# Ideas passed on to the next person in the team on a signal from the project manager.
	* New ideas added to the list without interacting with anyone else.		# New ideas added to the list without interacting with anyone else.
	* The process is repeated until the allotted time has run out.		# The process is repeated until the allotted time has run out.

	At the end of the brainwriting session, all the ideas are collected for review. The team can then vote on the best idea or use another approach to determine what ideas to consider further.		At the end of the brainwriting session, all the ideas are collected for review. The team can then vote on the best idea or use another approach to determine what ideas to consider further.

Ragnhildur: /* Multi-Voting */

2018-02-28T07:19:16Z

Multi-Voting

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	===Multi-Voting===		===Multi-Voting===
	When the difference between options are quite subjective, Multi-Voting can be a good option to help choose between options as a team. It's a useful technique when there is a need of reducing a long list of ideas to a manageable number. The team votes on its acceptance or rejection which enables the project manager to select the most voted options. That results in a shorter list identifying the most important ideas to the team. The following steps should be followed in order to conduct Multi-Voting:<ref name="multi"/>		When the difference between options are quite subjective, Multi-Voting can be a good option to help choose between options as a team. It is a useful technique when there is a need of reducing a long list of ideas to a manageable number. The team votes on its acceptance or rejection which enables the project manager to select the most voted options. That results in a shorter list identifying the most important ideas to the team. The following steps should be followed in order to conduct Multi-Voting:<ref name="multi"/>

	# '''A list of ideas developed.''' This should already have been developed after the brainstorming session.		# '''A list of ideas developed.''' This should already have been developed after the brainstorming session.
	# '''Voted on ideas.''' Before the team votes on the ideas, the project manager decides how many votes each individual is going to be given. Generally, each participant gets to vote for roughly 1/3 of the ideas on the list. However, that number can be altered.		# '''Voted on ideas.''' Before the team votes on the ideas, the project manager decides how many votes each individual is going to be given. Generally, each participant gets to vote for roughly 1/3 of the ideas on the list. So, for example, with a list of 15 items, each participant would be allowed to place five votes (thus the name 'Multi-Voting'). However, that number can be altered.
	# '''Votes counted.''' As the vote progresses, votes for each idea is counted and the process is complete. The idea with most votes is chosen.		# '''Votes counted.''' As the vote progresses, votes for each idea is counted and the process is complete. The idea with the most votes is chosen.
	# '''Repeated.''' In the case of a particularly long list of ideas, it may be needed to repeat the process a couple of times. It ~~won't~~ always be necessary, but it's good to have in mind.		# '''Repeated.''' In the case of a particularly long list of ideas, it may be needed to repeat the process a couple of times. It will not always be necessary, but it is good to have in mind.

	==Variations and extensions of brainstorming==		==Variations and extensions of brainstorming==

Ragnhildur: /* Decision Matrix Analysis */

2018-02-28T07:15:09Z

Decision Matrix Analysis

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	Following are step-by-step instructions for the tool:<ref name="beyond"/>		Following are step-by-step instructions for the tool:<ref name="beyond"/>

	# All options are listed as rows on a table, and the factors considered are listed as columns. It's the project manager and the team that decide the factors.		# All options are listed as rows in a table, and the factors considered are listed as columns. It is the project manager and the team that decide the factors.
	# Working the way down the columns of the table, each option is scored for each of the factor. Each option is scored from 0 (poor) to 5 (very good).		# Working the way down the columns of the table, each option is scored for each of the factor. Each option is scored from 0 (poor) to 5 (very good).
	# Relative importance of the factors is decided, rated from 0 (not important for the final decision) to 5 (very important for the final decision).		# Relative importance of the factors is decided, rated from 0 (not important for the final decision) to 5 (very important for the final decision).

Ragnhildur: /* Affinity Diagram */

2018-02-28T07:13:49Z

Affinity Diagram

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	The affinity diagram organises ideas with the following steps:<ref name="beyond"/>		The affinity diagram organises ideas with the following steps:<ref name="beyond"/>

	* Ideas are gathered together.		# Ideas are gathered together.
	* Ideas are sorted into logical groups. If applicable, the ideas can be sorted into subgroups (and sub-subgroups if the amount of data is large).		# Ideas are sorted into logical groups. If applicable, the ideas can be sorted into subgroups (and sub-subgroups if the amount of data is large).
	* Header for the groups. After creating a hierarchy of related information, the groups and their subgroups are given names.		# Header for the groups. After creating a hierarchy of related information, the groups and their subgroups are given names.
	* The final affinity diagram is drawn formed by the groups and subgroups.		# The final affinity diagram is drawn formed by the groups and subgroups.

	Finally, the results can be used for further analysis.		Finally, the results can be used for further analysis.