We present two main techniques of conducting a Brainstorm with your team
- AOKI method is a structured brainstorming method. All participants can sprout ideas, then summarize their own ideas individually to the group and afterwards discuss and cluster them together.
- KJ method (or Affinity Diagram) consists in emphasizing on the ideas being relevant, verifiable and important.
Briefing – Aoki method
Assign a moderator and organize a 10 people group. For choosing the right people that will come out with the most interesting ideas, you need to remind that:
- Too big group can lead to difficulties of ideas expression and explanation
- Maintaing balance in personalities and competences in your group of people will bring complementarity and relevance to your ideas
- Some people might be leader of an idea or an opinion. Be careful that this person is not presenting a risk of prevent other people to express their own ideas. If this can happens, you can have discussion with that person in order to prevent this problem.
STEP 1 – Welcoming (5-10 min.)
Take the time to welcome people by introducing the aim of the brainstorming and the team
members so everyone feels comfortable and aligned on the objective.
STEP 2 – Sprouting ideas (15 min.)
People are sprouting and listing ideas in an individual way for 15 minutes on sticky notes.
STEP 3 – Summarize ideas (20 min.)
Each person present their own ideas to the group
STEP 4 – Short break (5 min.)
A short break of 5 minutes will help your team to stay focus and be efficient in the last part of the brainstorming which is being the most structuring stage.
STEP 5 – Cluster ideas ( 30 min.)
The moderator leads the discussion, organizes the ideas by mapping them out and clustering them in common main topics. You can do that exercice on a white board but also on a large sheet.
Briefing – KJ method
Assign a moderator and organize a 10 people group. For choosing the right people that will come out with the most interesting ideas, you need to remind that : Too big group can lead to difficulties of ideas expression and explanation
Maintaing balance in personalities and competences in your group of people will bring complementarity and relevance to your ideas. Some people might be leader of an idea or an opinion. Be careful that this person is not presenting a risk of prevent other people to express their own ideas. If this can happens, you can have discussion with that person in order to prevent this problem.
STEP 1 – Welcoming (5-10 min.)
Take the time to welcome people by introducing the aim of the brainstorming and the team members so everyone feels comfortable and aligned on the objective.
STEP 2 – Card making (10 min.)
Everyone write all relevant facts and information on individual cards. Remember that you read to stay focus on relevant and feasible ideas.
STEP 3 – Cards grouping (20 min.)
Cards are shuffled and read to the group. Similar ideas are grouped and a title is given to the groups of cards. If you have more than 10 groups, repeat this iterative process at higher levels.
STEP 4 – Short break (5 min.)
A short break of 5 minutes will help your team to stay focus and be efficient in the last part of the brainstorming which is being the most structuring stage.
STEP 5 – Cards redistribution ( 20 min.)
Cards are recollected and distributed to the group. One card is read out and all contributors look through the cards in their own hands to find any that seem to go with the one read out to build a group. A name is then selected for the set.
STEP 6 – Chart making ( 10 min.)
At this stage, you have less than 10 groups of cards containing sub-groups and sub-sub groups. Arrange them carefully on a large sheet or a board to appreciate the global picture.
STEP 7 – Chart explanation ( 10 min.)
Express now what the chart means to you by writing notes. Explaining the structure of the problem and the groups of cards will help you to identify the main ideas for the solution.
