Brainstorming Methods
This collection of brainstorming techniques is designed to empower startup teams by enhancing creativity, improving decision-making, and refining product development processes. Each technique is tailored to stimulate innovation, improve user experience, and optimize operational efficiency, making them essential for dynamic startup environments.
Available Patterns:
49
Ideation Techniques
'How Might We' Questions
'How Might We' (HMW) Questions are a technique used in brainstorming sessions to open up possibilities and encourage creative thinking. These questions are framed to convert challenges into opportunities for innovation, fostering a positive and exploratory approach to problem-solving.
Encourages a positive and constructive approach to challenges, converting them into opportunities.
Promotes broad participation and idea generation, leveraging the diverse perspectives of the team.
Facilitates the discovery of innovative and out-of-the-box solutions.
EFFORT
Low, Medium
DIFFICULTY
Easy, Moderate
Ideation Techniques
Mind Mapping
Mind Mapping is a visual brainstorming technique used to organize information and ideas around a central concept. It helps in generating, visualizing, structuring, and classifying ideas, making complex problems easier to understand and solve collaboratively.
Facilitates a better understanding of relationships between different aspects of a problem.
Enhances creativity through visual thinking and the associative thought process.
Helps in organizing and prioritizing ideas effectively.
EFFORT
Low
DIFFICULTY
Easy
Strategic Thinking
Change Perspectives
Change Perspectives is a creative thinking exercise designed to help teams explore problems or opportunities from different viewpoints. This approach encourages looking at situations through the lens of various stakeholders, which can reveal unexpected insights and solutions.
Fosters empathy and a deeper understanding of different stakeholders' needs and motivations.
Encourages creative problem-solving by breaking down habitual thinking patterns.
Can lead to more robust and well-rounded solutions by considering multiple aspects of a problem.
EFFORT
Medium
DIFFICULTY
Moderate
Ideation Techniques
Design Thinking Workshops
Design Thinking Workshops are collaborative sessions that use the design thinking methodology to solve problems creatively and innovatively. These workshops focus on understanding user needs, redefining problems, and creating innovative solutions through a human-centered design approach.
Drives innovation with a user-centered focus, ensuring that solutions meet real needs.
Encourages collaboration across different areas of expertise, bringing diverse perspectives to problem-solving.
Builds empathy within the team, leading to more effective and sustainable solutions.
EFFORT
High
DIFFICULTY
Moderate, Difficult
Strategic Thinking
Wishful Thinking
Wishful Thinking is a brainstorming technique where participants imagine the best possible outcomes or solutions without constraints. This approach encourages unrestricted creativity, helping teams to think outside the box and identify innovative ideas that might not emerge through conventional thinking.
Frees the mind from constraints, leading to potentially groundbreaking ideas.
Boosts morale and engagement by allowing team members to dream big.
Often leads to unique and creative solutions that could be missed with a more conservative approach.
EFFORT
Low, Medium
DIFFICULTY
Easy, Moderate
Strategic Thinking
Stakeholder Mapping
Stakeholder Mapping is a process used to identify, categorize, and prioritize the various stakeholders relevant to a project or business initiative. This technique helps organizations understand who can influence or be affected by their actions and how best to engage them.
Enhances strategic decision-making by clearly understanding who needs to be involved and how.
Improves project outcomes by ensuring all relevant parties are considered and appropriately engaged.
Helps mitigate risks associated with overlooking or mismanaging key stakeholder relationships.
EFFORT
Medium
DIFFICULTY
Moderate