Feature and Product Development
Feature Brainstorming
Feature brainstorming is a creative process where team members generate ideas for new features, improvements, or extensions to an existing product. This exercise aims to expand the possibilities for product development by encouraging innovative thinking and diverse input.
EFFORT
Medium
While feature brainstorming can be intensive, it typically doesn't require as much preparation or follow-up as more research-based methods.
DIFFICULTY
Moderate
The process itself is accessible and can be facilitated with basic brainstorming tools and techniques, but deriving actionable items from a broad range of ideas can be challenging.
IMPLEMENTATION
Set Objectives: Clearly define what you hope to achieve with the brainstorming session, such as solving specific problems or exploring new market opportunities.
Gather Participants: Include a diverse group of team members from different disciplines to ensure a wide range of ideas.
Facilitate Ideation: Use techniques like mind mapping, sticky notes, or ideation software to capture thoughts freely without immediate critique.
Categorize and Prioritize: Group ideas by theme, feasibility, or impact, and use methods like dot voting to prioritize them.
Refine Ideas: Select top ideas for further development and discussion to refine and expand upon them.
Document and Plan: Record all viable ideas and create an action plan for researching and prototyping the most promising features.
BENEFITS
Generates a diverse set of ideas that can lead to innovative product features.
Engages the entire team, enhancing collaboration and ownership.
Helps identify unexpected areas for product improvement and market differentiation.
CHALLENGES
Can generate a large volume of ideas, making it difficult to manage and prioritize effectively.
May lead to "feature creep" if not carefully managed, where too many features are added without enough consideration for their value or impact.
Requires skilled facilitation to ensure all voices are heard and the session remains focused.
RECOMMENDED TEAM MEMBERS
Product Manager, UI/UX Designer, Engineering, Marketing, Sales
DELIVERABLES
A comprehensive list of feature ideas categorized by themes or potential impact.
A prioritized shortlist of features for further exploration or development.
A summary report detailing the brainstorming session's outcomes, including potential impacts and implementation considerations.
Action plans for next steps, including research, prototyping, and testing phases.
Check out our collection of Brainstorming Workshops.