Brainstorming:
What
is Brainstorming?
Brainstorming,
or free associating, is usually consideredto be thinking of random
ideas to work towards generating a solution to a problem. Brainstorming
techniques can range from picking words out of the dictionary randomly,
to considering things from another person's point of view, or even
filling out a specifically designed chart.
Why do
Chemical Engineers
need to use it?
Chemical
engineers often have to think of alternative solutions to problems
depending on the situation. Brainstorming allows us to look at things
differently and find better solutions we would not think of if
we simply kept using the same-old techniques.
General
Outline for Brainstorming:
Before you
start brainstorming, make sure you've identified the problem correctly!
Write a detailed Problem Statement which explains what
the problem is and what you have to deal with it.
Usually
a Group Leader is designated to write down the ideas.
Brainstorming,
as we know it, is often done first. Random ideas are thrown out
and written down to look at later.
Other techniques
can be used after Brainstorming, such as Osborn's Checklist,
Random Stimulation, looking at the Problem Statement
from Other People's Views, or Futuring.
Osborn's
Checklist involves thinking of ideas to alter the Problem
Statement by:
- Adapting
it -- How can it be used as is, and what other uses could
it be adapted to?
- Modifying
it -- How can we change the meaning, material, shape, color,
smell, etc?
- Magnifying
it -- How could we make it bigger, stronger, or add something
new to it?
- Minifying
it -- How could we make it smaller, split it apart, remove
something, make it smaller?
- Substituting
with it -- How could we interchange parts, use other ingredients,
materials, etc?
- Rearranging
it -- How could we use other layouts, reverse positives/negatives,
cause/effects -- reverse roles?
- Combining
it -- How could we combine parts, units, or ideas? Can we
blend, compromise, or combine different ideas?
(from Folger
and LeBlanc, pg 68)
Random
Stimulation involves picking a completely random word or idea
and using it to generate a better, more applicable idea. This
word could be pulled out of a hat, a prepared list, or even opening
up a dictionary to a random page and picking the first word there.
Other
People's Views is where one tries to put themselves in others's
shoes and analyze the problem differently.
Futuring
is where solutions not do-able now, but may someday in the near
or far future, are considered.
Brainstorming
tips:
Don't reject
any ideas, even if they may seem too strange. Don't worry about
their likelihood at this stage either. The purpose here is to think
of ideas, not to crush ideas.
Keep a positive
attitude. Negative thinking and comments will often put a damper
on the brainstorming session, resulting in what Folger and LeBlanc
term "braindrizzling" (68).
Adapted
from Folger and LeBlanc, Strategies for Creative Problem Solving.
Prentice Hall PTR, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. 1995
Click here
to visit the official website:
http://www.engin.umich.edu/~problemsolving/
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