Brainstorming

Abstract

This chapter focuses on group brainstorming, a group method where participants generate ideas on a particular topic or problem in a nonjudgmental environment following a set of ground rules. The basic procedure for group brainstorming involves selecting a group of three to 10 participants with different backgrounds, posing a clear problem, question, or topic to the group, asking the group to generate solutions or ideas with no criticism or attempts to limit the type and number of ideas, and discussing, critiquing, and possibly prioritizing the brainstorming results for subsequent action. Group brainstorming should have fundamental principles including aim for sheer quantity, defer judgement about the quality of ideas, encouraging wild ideas and new ideas formed by synthesizing ideas, stretching ideas, applying metaphors, or improving on existing ideas. Brainstorming is often used in the early to middle stages of product development; however, this method is applicable at any time when new ideas or solutions are required.