365QOD- Day1290

BrainStorming vs. BrainWriting

"1. In a typical six- or eight-person group, three people do  70 percent  of the  talking.
 2. Early ideas tend to have disproportionate influence over the rest of the  conversation. "- Kellogg School of Management Research

Many of us have been taught that when there is a need to solve a problem, the best strategy is to get everyone involved.  Get them involved and pull out ideas by using brainstorming.  Usually the process is one in which a facilitator tries to engage everyone.

       Based on the research findings, a small sub-group dominates the conversation.  SO we tend to believe that everyone contributes BUT in reality three people dominate the conversation.  That is a complete opposite of the commonly accepted belief.

        The second finding is even more dangerous.  Unless the initial ideas are perfect the solutions will often be poor.  

        The researchers offer a three step improvement that is based on brainwriting instead of brainstorming:

       "Step 1: Write just one sentence each. For the first five or 10 minutes of your  next idea-generation meeting, every team member writes down  one good  idea or one proposed  solution on, say, each of a small stack of index cards.

Step 2: Consider the idea, not the source. When the timer goes off, all cards are submitted anonymously and taped or thumb-tacked to a wall for the whole team’s consideration.

Step 3: Put it to a blind vote. Team members signal their interest in an idea by marking it  with a sticker or a Post-it note. Everyone gets a limited  number of  stickers and, if done right,  the best  ideas emerge quickly."

I happen to use this technique with a senior design project group and I can tell you that it does work.  Ideas are presented and voted on without anyone controlling the conversation or quality of idea.

Today's question is:

"Have you ever tried BrainWriting?"