Primary Purpose
Description
Brainstorming is a method for developing creative solutions. It encourages participants to be creative and come up with a broad range of ideas. While highly adaptable to different contexts, brainstorming follows a basic three phase structure structure
Something temporarily or permanently constructed, built, or placed; and constructed of natural or manufactured parts including, but not limited to, a building, shed, cabin, porch, bridge, walkway, stair steps, sign, landing, platform, dock, rack, fence, telecommunication device, antennae, fish cleaning table, satellite dish/mount, or well head.
Learn more about structure :
- defining a central problem or goal;
- generation of ideas; and
- evaluation of presented ideas.
Collectively generating ideas encourages everyone to participate and facilitates outside the box thinking. Brainstorming allows for participants to build upon one another's ideas and explore a wider array of solutions. Separating the process of generating ideas from the process of evaluating or judging ideas promotes creativity and participation. Brainstorming can also be useful for building a sense of unity between participants who have not worked together before.
Outcomes
Brainstorming helps develop a range of potential solutions to a problem. It can result in a long list of ideas and/or a prioritized list of solutions to start working on.
Time considerations
Brainstorming is often used as a tool within a broader meeting or process. For instance, brainstorming might be part of a workshop.
Brainstorming exercises can be done in less than an hour or take several hours. Build in enough time to separate the process of generating ideas from the process of evaluating them.
Staffing
One or two people can effectively organize and lead a brainstorming process. Designating a facilitator and note-takers can enhance brainstorming exercises by keeping the process moving, ensuring ideas are recorded, and preventing premature evaluation of ideas.
Materials
- Somewhere to record ideas (whiteboards, butcher paper, easel-pads, etc.)
- Pens and markers