© 2004 Cayman Business Systems
Rev: Pre-G3 - Rendered  Thursday, February 12, 2004
Slide 63
Elsmar.com  --- The Cove!
8-Disciplines Problem Solving
Elsmar.com
 Individual vs. Group Brainstorming
•Brainstorming can either be carried out by individuals or groups:
•Individual brainstorming tends to produce a wider range of ideas than group brainstorming, but tends not to develop the ideas as effectively, perhaps as individuals on their own run up against problems they cannot solve. Individuals are free to explore ideas in their own time without any fear of criticism, and without being dominated by other group members.
•Group brainstorming develops ideas more deeply and effectively, as when difficulties in the development of an idea by one person are reached, another person's creativity and experience can be used to break them down. Group brainstorming tends to produce fewer ideas (as time is spent developing ideas in depth) and can lead to the suppression of creative but quiet people by loud and uncreative ones.
•Individual and group brainstorming can be mixed, perhaps by defining a problem, and then letting team members initially come up with a wide range of possibly shallow solutions. These solutions could then be enhanced and developed by group brainstorming.