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
Stop-Start-Continue
Stop-Start-Continue is a feedback and brainstorming technique used to evaluate existing processes, behaviors, or strategies. It involves categorizing actions into three areas: what should be stopped, what should be started, and what should be continued. This method helps teams focus on improving their practices and promoting effective habits.
Provides a clear framework for constructive feedback and continuous improvement.
Encourages participation from all team members, promoting a culture of openness and shared responsibility.
Helps teams focus on what works well and identify areas for growth and innovation.
EFFORT
Low
DIFFICULTY
Easy
Ideation Techniques
Data Dive
A Data Dive is a brainstorming and analysis technique where teams deeply explore available data to uncover insights, validate assumptions, or identify new opportunities. It involves a thorough examination of datasets to extract meaningful information that can drive decision-making and innovation.
Provides a solid, data-driven foundation for decision-making.
Helps identify trends, patterns, and anomalies that might not be visible without in-depth analysis.
Can validate or challenge existing assumptions, leading to more informed strategies.
EFFORT
Medium, High
DIFFICULTY
Moderate, Difficult
Ideation Techniques
Six Thinking Hats
Six Thinking Hats is a brainstorming and decision-making technique developed by Edward de Bono. It involves participants adopting six distinct perspectives, symbolized by hats of different colors, to explore all aspects of a situation comprehensively and objectively. Each hat represents a different mode of thinking.
Promotes comprehensive exploration of problems from multiple angles.
Helps to balance emotional and logical arguments.
Encourages diverse thinking and reduces conflict by separating ego from performance.
EFFORT
Medium
DIFFICULTY
Moderate
Ideation Techniques
Analogies and Metaphors
Using analogies and metaphors is a creative brainstorming technique that involves drawing comparisons between unrelated concepts or processes to spark new ideas and insights. This approach helps teams understand complex problems by relating them to more familiar situations, thereby enhancing problem-solving and innovation.
Facilitates a deeper understanding of complex problems by connecting them to known concepts.
Encourages creative thinking and breaks conventional problem-solving patterns.
Can lead to innovative solutions that are inspired by diverse fields or experiences.
EFFORT
Low, Medium
DIFFICULTY
Easy, Moderate
Ideation Techniques
Impact vs. Effort Matrix
The Impact vs. Effort Matrix is a prioritization tool used in brainstorming and project planning to evaluate ideas or tasks based on their potential impact and the effort required to implement them. This matrix helps teams focus on projects that offer the greatest benefits with the most reasonable amount of work.
Helps in quickly identifying which projects or tasks will provide the best return on investment.
Efficiently allocates resources by focusing on the most effective tasks.
Simplifies decision-making by visually categorizing tasks based on their value and resource requirements.
EFFORT
Low
DIFFICULTY
Easy
Ideation Techniques
Random Input
Random Input is a brainstorming technique used to stimulate creativity by introducing a random stimulus to the problem-solving process. This unexpected element forces participants to think differently, often leading to unique and innovative solutions.
Breaks conventional thinking patterns, fostering innovative approaches to problems.
Engages participants in a fun and unconventional way, which can boost morale and creativity.
Often leads to unexpected, groundbreaking solutions by making abstract connections.
EFFORT
Low
DIFFICULTY
Easy, Moderate