Discover how brainwriting fosters inclusive ideation by letting every participant share their ideas independently, ensuring a diversity of voices.
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Description:
Brainwriting is a collaborative ideation tool that allows participants to jot down ideas independently before sharing them with the group. By enabling each person to work independently, brainwriting ensures that everyone can contribute freely and equally, creating an inclusive environment that values every voice.
Intended Benefits:
Brainwriting enhances brainstorming sessions by promoting inclusivity, creativity, and efficiency. Here’s where it adds value:
- Equal Participation: Every participant gets an opportunity to contribute ideas without interruptions, which helps quieter individuals share their thoughts.
- Diverse Ideas: Independent thinking can often lead to more innovative ideas, as participants are free to explore different perspectives without group influence.
- Reduced Groupthink: By generating ideas individually, brainwriting avoids the tendency to conform to dominant ideas within the group, resulting in a wider range of suggestions.
- Time Efficiency: Since ideas are generated in parallel, a greater volume of ideas can be collected in a shorter period compared to traditional brainstorming.
Steps to Facilitate Brainwriting with a Group:
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Define the Objective: Clearly state the topic or problem at the start of the session. Make sure all participants understand the purpose and objectives of the session.
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Idea Generation: Distribute paper and pens to each participant. Set a timer for 5-10 minutes, during which everyone writes down as many ideas as they can independently. They should work in silence to maintain focus.
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Exchange and Build: Once the timer goes off, participants pass their paper to the person on their left. Each person reviews the ideas they received, uses them as inspiration, and adds new ideas. Repeat this process until each participant has contributed to every sheet.
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Gather and Discuss: Collect all sheets of ideas and either read them aloud or display them for the group. Group similar ideas together and facilitate a discussion to explore key themes and promising concepts.
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Prioritise and Decide: Work with the group to select the most valuable ideas. Discuss next steps, including how to develop these ideas further and who will be responsible for follow-up actions.
Variations of Brainwriting:
- 6-3-5 Brainwriting: Six participants write down three ideas in five minutes. This cycle is repeated for a total of six rounds, resulting in a quick and efficient way to generate a large number of ideas.
- Silent Brainwriting: Instead of passing papers, participants use sticky notes to record their ideas. Once done, they stick these notes onto a board for the group to review collectively.
- Digital Brainwriting: In remote or digital settings, participants can use collaboration tools like Miro or Google Docs to share their ideas in real time, enabling easy idea sharing and expansion.
- Reverse Brainwriting: This approach involves writing down the worst possible solutions to a problem. Reviewing these “anti-ideas” often inspires creative, positive solutions.
Space, Materials, and Time Required:
- Space: A quiet, comfortable room with a round table or individual workspaces for participants. The room should have sufficient lighting to create a positive atmosphere for brainstorming.
- Materials: Each participant will need paper and a pen. Sticky notes and markers can be helpful for the sharing phase. For digital brainwriting, ensure all participants have access to a device with internet connectivity.
- Time: Allocate approximately 30-45 minutes for a complete session. This includes 15-25 minutes for idea generation and exchange, with the remaining time dedicated to discussion and evaluation.
Brainwriting is an effective tool that brings out the best in collaborative ideation. By ensuring that all voices are heard and reducing the influence of group dynamics, it fosters a creative, productive environment that can help generate diverse and innovative ideas.
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