Brainstorming

Overview

Brainstorming is an elicitation technique that can be used to identify a list of ideas in a short period of time (e.g., a list of risks, stakeholders, or potential solution options).

Brainstorming is conducted in a group setting, and led by a facilitator. The goal is to generate as many ideas as possible about a topic. The facilitator ensures that every one participates in the session and no individual monopolizes the session.

Key Aspects

The key aspects of brainstorming are:

1. All ideas are welcome.
2. No idea is critiqued or criticized.

Parts of Brainstorming

Brainstorming has two parts:

1. Idea generation
2. Analysis

First a list of ideas is generated and then it is analyzed to convert ideas into usable information.

Affinity diagram is a companion technique to brainstorming. It is used to organize ideas into categories or common themes, which provides new insights into the topic that might not be possible otherwise.