Transcript

Brief Synopsis

Welcome to the next lecture on Brainstorming. So we are now discussing in this module about various creative thinking tools. The first lecture what we saw in this module is what are all the various blocks, which happens to our creativity. Now we will see a tool which is used for enhancing the creativity. The most powerful tool for enhancing the creativity is ‘Brainstorming’. Moment I say brainstorming, there has to be a team. So I would reiterate, it is very clear, that when you are trying to work on a design problem, you should have a team. A team of people coming from multiple backgrounds, who can complement each other towards a solution, is what is brainstorming.

Introduction

• So brainstorming is a name given to a situation. When a group of people meet to generate new ideas around a specific area of interest. The specific area of interest is nothing but the problem definition which you have defined in the previous stage.
• Using rules which remove inhibition. People are able to think more freely and move into newer areas of thought, and so create numerous new ideas and solutions. So here what happens. You have just put the problem definition in front of maybe 8 people in a group. So now all the 8 people are allowed to think for a solution in their own thought process. So here when they are thrown a definition, then they all work on their own thought process. They come up with multiple ideas. And these ideas can be strange. Can be all similar. It can be also out of the box, which is completely imaginative.
• The participants shout out ideas as they occur to them and then build on ideas raised by others. So what they say is, “please do not stop any idea, please don’t evaluate any idea, allow everybody to talk about solutions”. For example we go back to the tea plucking device. If you can develop a tea plucking device wherein which it weighs 500 grams, and which has infinite energy; portable energy with it, and which can maneuver and which can have sensors to exactly pick the leaf which is to be cut. So that will be a very vague idea. But there can be some merit in that idea. Now we are to just accept the idea. So you allow the individuals to shout their idea.
• All the ideas are noted down and are not criticized. Only when the brainstorming session is over, all the ideas are evaluated. So it is something like, okay there is a time start now, the problem definition is thrown in front of everybody, and then they start giving their thoughts. And there is a person to record all the ideas or they video record their ideas. And they say, okay there is a time which is given for 1 hour, ½ hour, 15 minutes. And then they say, at the end of 15 minutes they stop the clock. And now they have listed down all the ideas. They look at individual ideas. And then what they say is, they say okay let’s take this idea. Then we will try to take one more idea. Try to merge these two ideas, and then try to develop a solution.

When we started looking towards this developing of prototypes for agricultural implements, we had N number of ideas. And these N number of ideas, we finally what we did was we merged 2 ideas, 3 ideas into one idea, and started working on those ideas. And when we took forward to the next step, several of these ideas of its own got filtered out. When we had 4 to 5 ideas which we took to the next level of prototyping. Here in the brainstorming session what we say is, you don’t put any filter. You allow everybody to participate. Then you try to create a conducive environment. People even go ahead and argue that the room should be conducive in terms of lighting, in terms of ambience. Give them proper food such that their thought process is more provocated. So all these things are conductively done in an environment. Such that the brainstorming session becomes more successful.

Brainstorming Techniques

• There is an incitement of an individual’s brain by the psyche of another in this process
• In the normal gathering of a brainstorming session, 4 to 6 individuals are present lounging around a table, perceptualizing creative thoughts intended to tackle a particular issue or a problem.

So the rules are

• Criticism is not allowed
• Free-wheeling is welcome. Free-wheeling means anybody can talk anything during that time.
• Any number of ideas is welcome and desirable
• Improvements and combinations are sought. So that means to say, one idea, 2nd idea, 3rd idea. They will take 10% of the first idea, 50% of the second idea and rest 20% from the third idea. Merge these three ideas and come out with one idea.

Important rules

• Newly generated idea should not be judged simultaneously. They should be separated by time, space and people if possible. This is only for newly generated ideas.
• A large quantity of possible solutions should be generated.
• As ideas are generated watch for opportunities to combine and improve them. Even apparently impractical ideas should be considered.

This is how a scene which is created. And you will see a table. As I told you a conducive environment, you will have a round table, wherein which you will have 8 people, 10 people, 12 people participating. And mind all these people should be complementary to each other. That means to say, not to have all 12 people expert in one area. When you are trying to develop an agricultural implement,

1. you should try to have mechanical engineer,
2. you should try to have industrial engineer,
3. you should try to have economics person,
4. you should have experts in material,
5. you should have experts in market,
6. you should have few customers also participating in the discussion.

So when you have all these things happening together, then a brainstorming session happens at a very full; effectively happens.

How to Brainstorm

So how to brainstorm

• Step 1 is Defining the Issue which we have already discussed.
• Step 2 is Layout the Context very clearly. Layout the context. We are trying to develop a tool for economically backward farmers.
• Step 3 :-The next one Is pick an Appropriate Facilitator. So a brainstorming session, if you make everybody as a leader, then there is a setback in the discussion. So it is always better to identify, one amongst the person as a facilitator, who tries to give chance to everybody. Though freewheeling is allowed but giving proper chance, giving proper mentoring and recording the ideas in a sequential manner, and then consolidating it for the next step of evaluation, you need a facilitator.
• Step 4:- then Invite the Right People. That’s what I said, complementary to each other. Then you should not have a critic, who comes and criticizes every idea. So he should not say, whatever idea you say, “this is infeasible”. Because we have said very clearly, at this point you are not supposed to evaluate any idea. So you should have right mentality people in the brainstorming session. That is Step 4.
• Then Step 5 is Set the Agenda.
• Step 6 is Holding the Session. Say for example giving the appropriate time, giving importance whatever it is. And then you start allowing them to generate ideas.

So these 6 steps have to be followed for doing a brainstorming session. Brainstorming always happens as a group. Brainstorming on your own is not permitted. If you think I am the expert. I know everything. I am the customer. So I can develop everything, no. You are a customer. You have understood the problem very clearly. But until and unless you discuss the idea with a group of people and evolve new ideas. Then only your brainstorming session becomes more effective.

Brainstorming Benefits

So what are all the benefits of brainstorming session.

1. Improves:

It improves

• initiative,
• innovation,
• quality,
• profitability,
• efficiency
• and morale of the customer.

2. Problem Solving:

• It tries to solve issues.
• Through problem solving it tries goes towards the root cause,
• alternative solution,
• impact analysis- impact analysis is, you have 10 different ideas. What is the idea of this, whatever your idea is given, in terms of feasibility, and how good it is. According to the gut feeling. Still you have not gone to the prototype.

Let me give you a simple example of impact analysis. When the plastic bags; carry bags which came into existence. People were happy and people were just looking at producing at a very economical price. So today you have technology which has got so mature, which produces plastic bags at an economical price, but the impact what it has created is, it is trying to kill mother earth. So because these polymers are not biodegradable. So they are going to sustain in the environment for a longer time. So that is impact analysis. By developing the solution, what is the impact it is going to create for the environment, for the individual. That is impact analysis

• and decision making

These are all the problem solving which happens while using this brainstorming sessions
Team Building: it is a team building where you try to share and discuss.
Project Management: and then project management also comes.

So for receiving all these benefits, we always try to do brainstorming sessions.

Summary

Brainstorming is an activity by a group to generate ideas. A typical brainstorming session can be executed by the following steps.

1. One is defining the issue
2. Then layout of the context. Layout of the context is very important. If I just put the definition of the problem alone, without giving the context. The context can be the emotional pain. The context can be happiness. The context can be sad. Context can be the plight. So that if you don’t put then the brainstorming session cannot happen with that impact. For example if I say, double up a tool for a farmer to pluck leaves, to pluck fruits. If I don’t say, poor man has to carry 50 kilos and when he walks it is too heavy, it is equal to his weight. If I don’t tell the context properly, then the brainstorming session will not happen to the fullest extent.
3. Next pick an appropriate facilitator, that is very-very important.
4. Next one is invite right people.
5. Next set the agenda
6. And hold the session properly

So brainstorming is one among the several creativity tools, which has proved to be very successful. There are N number of tools out of which in creativity, brainstorming is one of the best tools which is used.

Thank You.