Creative Thinking: Techniques and Tools for

Success

Top 6 Brainstorming Techniques

Let's start with Brainstorming. The aim of this tool is not to produce inventions for fully
developed products, instead, it is used to assist with the generation of ideas. This can be
done at any stage of the problem-solving process but tends to focus on problem
exploration, idea generation, and concept evaluation.

Brainstorming is a well-known activity which involves a multi-disciplinary group of people to

solve the stated problem. Yet the rules and types of brainstorming may not be as familiar.
Learning and applying the rules and types of brainstorming can make the sessions
dramatically more productive.

The various types of brainstorming which you will be learning about during this week,
include:

 Flipchart
 Post-its
 Brainwriting
 Alphabet
 Grid
 Circle brainstorming

Brainstorming involves a multidisciplinary group meeting together to propose and generate

ideas to solve a stated problem.

The emphasis within brainstorming is on quantity rather than quality of ideas, and criticism of
another person's idea is strictly forbidden.

Brainstorming is normally a group activity undertaken by an interdisciplinary team.

There are a series of well-established rules that can help a brainstorming session run smoothly.

These include having no more than 10 people present to aid effective group dynamics.

Don't criticize or mock-up any ideas, statements, or individuals during the session.

Have lots of flip charts, marker pens, pencils, and paper available.

Make sure you introduce and state the brief clearly, and define a set period of time for the
session.
The participants in brainstorming generally includes an interdisciplinary team, colleagues,
external collaborators.

What about the boss? Whether or not you include your boss will depend upon the aims of the
session, and the willingness of people to open up in front of a manager.

How about intimidating personalities? Again, you may choose not to include people who have
an intimidating personality, as this can inhibit the free flowing nature of a brainstorming
session.

How about skeptics? Having people who are skeptical can be both a hindrance and positive.
But can be handled by perhaps a private word beforehand, asking an individual to moderate
their critical approach for the duration of a brainstorming session.

What about non-participants? If an individual is not willing to engage, then it may be better
not to have them present.

There are various types of brainstorming including flip chart, post-its, brainwriting, alphabet,
grid, circle brainstorming, and many more

Flip Chart
The Flip Chart approach serves as a great entry activity to a brainstorming session. For
example, it can be used to determine the important areas of a problem. The group can "Flip
Chart" brainstorm these for several minutes.     

The following steps are a reminder of the Flip Chart brainstorming process:

1. During preparation, ensure that the brief defines the problems and that people,
pens and drawing surface are available
2. Organize the group so that all can see the display medium
3. Remind participants of the brief
4. Invite solutions for a period of time (no criticism allowed)
5. Record ideas
6. End the session when the frequency of ideas has reduced and energy levels of
the group have dropped
7. Review or reinvigorate for another session
8. Re-review the material to see if additional ideas are inspired by (for instance, a
combination of two of the suggestions)

As mentioned, Flip Charts are a great entry activity to a brainstorming session. However,
they should be used sparingly as they are a one-sided approach with a single facilitator that
records the ideas.

Following this, a more structured brainstorming technique such as post-its or grid can be
used for simultaneous idea contributions from the team.
Post-it
Post-its were born for brainstorming. They are a great size to focus and record a single
idea. As Post-its can be peeled off a surface and re-applied several times, the ideas can
then be rearranged and ordered into groups of similar ideas. The approach encourages a
group to come together and generate ideas simultaneously. 

Here’s a summary of the steps involved in a typical Post-it session.

 Define the brief

 Distribute the brief to the participants in advance of the session
 Remind the participants of the brief
 Allow participants to record ideas for 10-20 min
 Review the ideas generated individually or inspire additional ideas 
 Allow for a further idea-generation session to take place 
 Review the ideas generated collectively by asking participants to
share their favorite ideas 
 Invite the group to categorize the ideas by rearranging the postits 

Brainwriting
Brainwriting is a series of techniques developed by Horst Geschka at the Batelle Institute
in Frankfurt (Geschka, 1993). Most of the session is done in silence as it encourages a
group of participants to develop ideas in parallel.

Here's a summary of the steps involved in a typical brainwriting session:

 Define and introduce the brief

 Arrange the group in a circle
 Distribute blank cards to each participant
 Ask participants to sketch an idea on a card
 Allow participants to silently, pass the card to the next group member in one
direction
 Ask participants to read the card received and see if it inspires an idea (several
idea cards will be being passed around the group)
 Collect all cards after 10-20 min
 Review the ideas generated collectively by asking participants to share
their favourite ideas
✎ Try it!

Here's an example for you and your team to try practicing brainwriting techniques:

Each participant in the session can be invited to evaluate the ideas with a traffic light
system. In a traffic light system, each participant can be given a sheet of dots, say 5 dots,
and can allocate them to ideas that they think warrant further consideration. The 5 dots can
be distributed amongst different ideas, where more can be given to an idea you think is
better than another. If you do not have dots or stickers, just draw on a dot! 

Taking an Evidence Based Approach

When dealing with almost any subject, it can be difficult to judge whether someone is being
objective (dealing with facts) or being subjective (stating their personal opinion). 

When adopting a quantitative evidence-based approach we have to be objective limiting

our attention to the facts and figures relevant to a given topic or subject area. 

We need to restrain ourselves from asking why or how something has occurred, and only
look at quantifiable information. Quantitative information can help support or invalidate
opinions.  

Concrete Canvas 
The concrete canvas story is a great example of design thinking with evident elements of
exploration, experimentation, human centred design and exploitation  

Inception 

In 2004, William Crawford and Peter Brewin developed a concept for creating rapidly
deployable shelters for humanitarian disaster relief. The shelter idea came about somewhat
backwards to the normal design process in that they came up with the idea of using
inflation to create efficient concrete forms then sought out a suitable application. Part of
their original thinking arose from the need of principal stakeholders associated with disaster
release, the charities and relief agencies, to be able to respond rapidly and with agility to a
very human need, that of shelter.  

Exploration and Experimentation 

Will and Peter explored many concepts, sketching, talking to colleagues and tutors,
experimenting with materials in the local workshops and university labs. Their final project
concept was an inflatable formwork shelter with a cement filled geotextile lining that is
delivered to site, folded within a palletised crate. 

Human Centred Design was at the very heart of the original concept. However, take-up of
the initial product came from unexpected directions with purchasers feeling able to work
with the product in their own ways, applying it in diverse areas. The team were able to
advise but also develop their thinking beyond initial concepts. 

Exploitation 

The resulting technology Concrete Canvas® provides an easy-to-use, rapidly installed,

waterproof concrete layer, making it ideal for a wide range of erosion control applications.
Concrete Canvas is a low-carbon, environmentally friendly concrete alternative. With no
need for plant or mixing equipment, Concrete Canvas can be installed without specialist
training; simply unroll, secure and add water. 

Although originally conceived for use to make shelters, the technology has diverse
applications.  

 Channel Lining: Ditch Lining; Swale Lining; Canal Lining; Irrigation Channel
Lining; Stream Lining 

 Slope Protection: Embankments; Outfall Protection; RSW Facing; Slope

Facing; Bank Protection 
 Bund Lining: Berm Lining; Tank Floor Lining; Spill Containment; Chemical
Containment; Secondary Containment 
 Remediation: Concrete Repair: Concrete Resurfacing: Tank Base Repair 
 Lagoon Lining; Culvert Lining: Reservoir Lining 
 Weed Suppression: Weed control; Vegetation control: Knotweed control 

Check out https://www.concretecanvas.com 

Principles of Morphological Analysi

Morphological analysis can be used to generate additional ideas that would not
normally spring to mind. The technique involves considering the function of a
generic solution to a problem, and breaking it down into a number of sub-
systems or sub-functions. For each subsystem or sub-function, you need to
generate a variety of means to fulfill all these. The sub-functions and potential
means of fulfilling each of these sub-functions can be arranged in a grid. An
overall solution is then formulated by selecting one means for each sub-
function, and the combination of these forms the overall solution. Let's look at a
generic chart. Here we can see a series of sub-functions. For a given sub-
function, we have a row of corresponding means of fulfilling that sub-function.
Here's an example chart. This is for a device to move pallets around the factory
warehouse or loading bay. We might envisage that a generic pellet moving
device would comprise subsystems for support, propulsion, power transmission,
steering, stopping, lifting, and operation. A series of ideas or means for fulfilling
each of these has been developed in the chart. For example, for stopping, we
might use breaks, reverse thrust, a ratchet, magnetism or even an anchor. The
grids can be filled in by text or by sketches, depicting the potential means of
fulfilling the sub-system requirements. The morphological analysis creativity tool
relies upon the user's selection of sub-function options to synthesize an overall
solution. The user can explore the design space systematically using their
experience to guide the outcome, or experimentally. Let's see how this works in
our example. Imagine that following some initial market assessments, that the
board of a plant machinery company has decided that the company should
explore options for the design of a product transporting pallets around factories
and warehouses. You may be familiar with the range of pallet-moving devices
already on the market such as pallet, jacks, and trucks. As it's a competitive
world, innovation may be needed in order to compete. The use of morphological
charts requires consideration of the function of sub-systems rather than less
specific details. A pallet-moving device might consist of support, proportion,
power transmission, steering, stopping, and lifting subsystems. In using a chart,
the selection can be made of one means of fulfilling a subsystem from a given
row. An overall solution is then synthesized by pulling all of these elements
together. Once you've made a selection, you can then do a sketch or synthesis
where you pull the elements you've selected together and create an overall
solution. It's in the sketching or synthesis that formulation of the connections or
synthesis between the subsystems occurs. By doing a selection and then a
sketch or synthesis several times, making different selections each time, it's
possible to come up with a wide range of options from a single chart. Early
ideas may emerge that might not be practical, but may nevertheless inspire
further thought. As well as diverse ideas emerging from the chart by making the
selections wheels, driven wheels, bottle gas, gears and chefs, turning wheels,
hydraulic ram, and seated towards the front, the conventional form for a forklift
truck is possible. Of interest, if a small variation in the selection is made, a
substantial difference in the overall outcome is possible as embodied in the telly
truck innovation, which gives a significant number of additional functionalities,
such as being able to reach over a pallet or unload a flatbed truck from just one
side.