Problem Solving: Brainstorming Solutions
Sunday, March 30th, 2008In a series of posts on problem-solving, I will be sharing my personal approach to finding and evaluating solutions. At times, I may also evaluate other methods or draw from other resources, in which case references will be cited at the end of the post. This is the third post in the series.
In the previous two posts, I outlined how I like to clearly define the problem at hand and then get everyone interested in the solution to list their constraints on the solution. This gives us a bounded canvas for finding a good solution. The next step is to brainstorm solutions.
Almost everyone in the room is going to have a favorite solution or be opposed to someone else’s solution. At this point, the key is to get all the possible solutions out. Use a white board. Don’t allow criticisms. That will come later.
The key to a good brainstorming session is to make sure that everyone participates and that the tone of the group stays positive. At this point, there are no bad solutions. It’s often difficult for people to be the first one to put a solution out there. It helps if you start off with a couple of your own. But be sure to not dominate the session.
Encourage people to think outside the box. If the group is focusing on the same solutions that have already been thrown out, throw out some off-beat solutions. They don’t have to be practical. The point isn’t that one of these solutions might work, but it might help people think more creatively about solutions that will work.
There is a ton of literature out there on how to run a good brainstorming session. Do your homework. Everyone is creative. When you clearly define the problem, identify the constraints and set up the right environment for creativity, ideas come quickly.
In the next post, I’ll walk through my process for evaluating these solutions.
Previous posts in this series: