Nickname: ThoughtOffice Brainstorming Programs

Review: In regards to brainstorming and creative process, Bob Sutton is truly one of the good guys in this space. Frank, clear and honest. Second, one thing I learned early on: people are often afraid to contribute their ideas in open sessions. Group dynamics can stifle truly great breakthroughs. We either encourage a facilitator to break down (and keep down) walls, or; we provide individual breakout sessions to reduce potential friction and generate "idea concensus". Seems to work pretty well within our multiple companies, and with clients. Mark Alan Effinger www.ThoughtOffice.com

Date reviewed: Oct 28, 2008 9:36 PM

Nickname: Kitsune-leader

Review: I find this artical very useful. They helped me I guess.

Date reviewed: Oct 28, 2008 7:44 PM

Nickname: Tracydiziere

Review: Great article! I wonder about the rules piece . . . Is it effective to have a predetermined and communicated process for handling the initial ideas once they have been generated? Or is the approach itself also part of the session, whereby participants are asked "how should we proceed?". It seems to me there's room for a kind of meta-brainstorming to occur that might yield even more innovation; what are your thoughts on this? Other perspectives?

Date reviewed: Jan 2, 2008 5:33 PM

Nickname: abraham farag

Review: Great article, Brainstorming is a great way to foster a culture of creativity. It bleeds over nicely into the day to day work.

Date reviewed: Jun 14, 2007 8:23 AM

Nickname: Bob Sutton

Review: I love the votes of confidence, but I also should warn folks--don't believe everything I tell you (or, for that matter anyone else). I try to have "strong opinions, weakly held," which means that I make the best argument I can given the evidence that I have right now, but I am proven wrong by better logic and evidence. And I've reversed myself many times in the light of better facts! But I do believe what I wrote about brainstorming, at least for now.

Date reviewed: Jul 27, 2006 5:49 PM

Nickname: lueiro

Review: Very interesting and straightforward. I´m an industrial designer and I agree that a combination of both individual and group brainstorm and the correct application renders the best ideas. Also agree that it is a very good idea to drop a hint before the brainstorm or, indeed, introduce the theme to warm up the discussion. Very useful tips.

Date reviewed: Jul 26, 2006 9:05 PM

Nickname: Nils

Review: Anything Bob Sutton says I believe. Excellent points that should be common sense, but I guess a lot of companies don't really know what they're doing. Goes back to Bob's other point: There are no new ideas (as he documents in "Hard Facts, Dangerous Half-Truths And Total Nonsense: Profiting From Evidence-Based Management"). The original brainstorming book is over 50 years old, and it still applies (Rule No. 8: "Follow the rules").

Date reviewed: Jul 26, 2006 8:54 PM

Nickname: EJW

Review: This was excellent. I've experienced bad brainstorming facilitators who made the session so awful that two of the three participants refused to work with him ever again. If I liked him, I'd share this article with him.

Date reviewed: Jul 26, 2006 7:23 PM