Brainstorming

<h2>Warming Up</h2> <p>Start the session by worming up focusing on a problem which is not related to the problem at hand. In order to encourage people to surpass inhibitions, a possible exercise is "The Silly Cow": come up with a <a class="wikilink" href="/business_model/">business model</a> that includes a cow. They produce milk, eat grass, and make mooing sounds. </p> <p>The idea is for people to see they are able to come up with innovative ideas even if in a context radically different from what they do on a daily basis. Moreover, if there are more senior (or power dynamics) in the team, it can help having them onboard showing there is nothing to be embarrassed about. </p> <h2>Brainstorming Rules</h2> <ul> <li>Stay focused<ul> <li>Define the problem early on. Never let the discussion wander too far from the true purpose of the brainstorming session</li> </ul> </li> <li>Enforce rules (Facilitators should enforce them)<ul> <li>"Defer judgement": There will be a time to prioritize ideas</li> <li>"One conversation at a time": Avoid split focus in the group</li> <li>"Go for quantity": Don't censor yourself based on preconceptions</li> <li>"Be visual": Sometimes a drawing or schematic and be more useful than words</li> <li>"Encourage wild ideas": </li> </ul> </li> <li>Think Visually<ul> <li>Sketch ideas in a way everyone can see</li> <li>Using PostIt notes helps to move ideas around and see how they connect</li> </ul> </li> <li>Prepare<ul> <li>Prepare the participants with an immersion experience related to the problem at hand. Either by talking to customers, doing a field trip, etc.</li> </ul> </li> </ul>