Brain Storming: Making the impossible possible

Presentation by M.L.PANDIA

What will be covered

Definition of Brainstorming Different types of Brain Storming Ways to create effective Brainstorming How Brainstorming can be used in your company

What will be covered cont.

Brainstorming in Real World applications Brainstorming exercise Summary Bibliography

What is Brain Storming

A sudden clever Plan or idea, violent disturbance of the mind
(http://www.yourdictionary.com/ahd/b/b0449500.html)

How can Brainstorming help your organization

Bring out new ideas
Help to create synergism Encourage possibility thinking

How Brainstorming can be used in your company.

Executive buy in
Eliminate bias by creating a diversified groups

Types of Brainstorming
Individual
Dont have to worry about any one else's opinion

Group
Builds team unity Helps to create thinking outside the box

Ways to create effective Brainstorming

Present issue and outline ground rules
Creates more effective use of time Allows individuals in the group to start thinking about the real issue
(Smith, Kerri Page 1)

Ways to create effective Brainstorming cont

Four Rules of Brainstorming 1. Stress quantity over quality 2. Freewheeling should be encouraged 3. Suspend judgment 4. Ignore seniority
Brainstorming (Organizational Behavior, Fifth Edition, by Robert Kreitner and Angelo Kiniki, pp 361-362)

Ways to create effective Brainstorming cont.

Reward group for coming up with solution or new idea
Money talks Time off

Make it an experience

Ways to create effective Brainstorming cont.

Create an effective atmosphere
Leave work premises Take routine away from the situation

Importance of Brainstorming
Increases ability to figure out different ways which to cure a problem
Allows opportunity for synergism within a company

A CASE STUDY: THE DETROIT NEWS' DRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE

Issues Detroit News was working on
1995 newspaper strike afternoon home-delivery cycle in a competitive market really hadn't been able to fully capitalize on our ability to sell single-copy newspapers in the morning
(Silverman, Mark)

A CASE STUDY: THE DETROIT NEWS' DRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE Cont Detroit News developes 3 groups to come up with solutions
1. Marketing 2. Circulation 3. Community groups

A CASE STUDY: THE DETROIT NEWS' DRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE Cont Came up with some goals to help take care of the issues
1. First focus on a.m. single-copy readership. 2. Second, we needed to better cover the places where two-thirds of our readers and potential readers lived: the suburbs. 3. Third, we needed to increase readership among women, especially younger women.

Brainstorming Exercise
Exercises to choose from
1. Group Brainstorming 2. Nominal Group Technique 3. Brain writing Technique
Utah State University, masters program

Group Brainstorming
1. Evaluation of ideas not permitted 2. Encourage wild ideas 3. Quantity of ideas preferred over quality 4. Build on ideas of others

Nominal Group technique

1. Divide assembled groups into smaller groups 5-6
2. Present open ended question

3. Each person brainstorm independently (Sample, A. John)

Nominal Group technique: Alternative Cont.

4. Share each others ideas in round robin fashion (no criticism) 5. Evaluate each idea individually and vote (anonymously) 6. Share votes with group 7. Groups present solution to ideas (Sample, A John)

Brain Writing Technique

1. Ideas generated in silent group and record on paper 2. Pass ideas to the left 3. Take ideas receive and try to build on them (MHHR 6650 Utah
State)

Brain writing technique cont.

4. Pass ideas to the left 5. Continue until your original sheet returns to you 6. Build final List of ideas based on experience(MHHR 6650 Utah
State)

Summary
Brain Storming is effective when done right Can help to create unity Helps to take routine away from the office New ideas get generated for possible solutions

Bibliography
Robert Kreitner and Angelo Kiniki Brainstorming Organizational Behavior, Fifth Edition, New York
2001 by, pp 361-362) Wilson, Brad. April 21, 2003 P.H.R Young and Young of Idaho, Inc. http://www.isixsigma.com/library/content/c010401a. asp Smith, Kerri, pg 1. MHR 6650: Team and Interpersonal Effectiveness. Utah State University Masters Program , 2003. http://www.gannett.com/go/newswatch/99/july/nw07 23-1.htm Mark Silverman, Publisher and Editor, and Jennifer Carroll, Managing Editor, The Detroit News

Bibliography Cont.
Sample John A. Executive Director Professional Development Specialist
Tallahassee, Florida. Journal of Extension March 1984 Volume 22 Number 2 . http: //www. joe.org/joe/1984march/iw2.html