Brainstorming – a collection of ideas
What is it?
The term ‘Brainstorming’
has been used since the 1890's: first to mean a mental disturbance, then by
the 1920s to mean a brainwave, then from 1938 in Osborn's sense of group brainstorming.
The current use of the
term brainstorming is as a technique that encourages creative thinking and
the generation of ideas.
When to use it
- Generating a list of
ideas
- Identifying possible
data requirements
- Developing objectives
for solutions
- Generating possible
solutions
- Developing action plans
What does it achieve?
Providing the rules and
principles are carefully followed, brainstorming can achieve the following:
- Many ideas are produced
in a short timeframe
- Enable participants
to both contribute individually and to benefit from the ideas generated
by others.
- Encourage the generation
of ‘unusual’ ideas
- Encourage deeper thinking
about particular problems
- Create the environment
that will enhance group activity and teamwork
- Create a more positive
environment in which to approach problem solving
Key steps
- Avoid criticism
- Encourage and ideas
- freewheel
- Quantity of ideas first
- Record all ideas
- Reflect on ideas -
incubate