Chris,
Could you please remind in start of the brainstorming topic to all people what are Basic rules of Brainstorming.
I know this is off topics, but I want to remind all those people who are writing in here: What is Brainstorming? It seems that many people don’t know Basic rules of Brainstorming. Here are the rules:
1.Defer judgment,
2.Reach for quantity.
Following these two principles were four general rules of brainstorming, established with intention to :
- reduce social inhibitions among group members,
- stimulate idea generation
- increase overall creativity of the group.
1.Focus on quantity: This rule is a means of enhancing divergent production, aiming to facilitate problem solving through the maxim quantity breeds quality. The assumption is that the greater the number of ideas generated, the greater the chance of producing a radical and effective solution.
2.Withhold criticism: In brainstorming, criticism of ideas generated should be put ‘on hold’. Instead, participants should focus on extending or adding to ideas, reserving criticism for a later ‘critical stage’ of the process. By suspending judgment, participants will feel free to generate unusual ideas.
3.Welcome unusual ideas: To get a good and long list of ideas, unusual ideas are welcomed. They can be generated by looking from new perspectives and suspending assumptions. These new ways of thinking may provide better solutions.
4.Combine and improve ideas: Good ideas may be combined to form a single better good idea, as suggested by the slogan “1+1=3”. It is believed to stimulate the building of ideas by a process of association.
And because of breaking these rules, this whole thing is out of control. People should not have to respond to the objections raised, but to generate ideas and develop ideas already given. Now some of those rule breakers are holding other people brainstorming process.
