You can download a PDF version of this tool here: Brainwriting In A Bucket – Part Duex

Brainwriting In A Bucket – Part Duex

Divergent Tool for Problem Finding/Idea Finding/Ideation/Brainstorming
Works best in a large group broken into smaller groups to solve the same problem.

Introduction
After some thought, I decided to update the Brainwriting In A Bucket ideation technique I created.  The original technique still works fine.  The update is includes the entire group to enhance comradery and share ideas across groups.  It works best when a large group is ideating towards one task.  The large group is broken up into several smaller groups.  The modifications are in bold below.

Items Needed

• 1 Bucket per group
• Post It Notes
• Pens/Markers
• Flip chart

Process

1. Break larger ground into groups of 4-10.
2. Write the group’s task or problem at the top of the flip chart.
3. Quietly begin brainstorming ideas for the group’s task or problem.  Each member of the group should write their ideas down on a Post-It Note.
4. Once an idea is written down, it should be tossed into the first bucket.
5. Each person should write down as many ideas as they can onto Post-It Notes and toss them into the bucket.  A good goal is about 10 ideas per person.  It’s okay to come up with less.
6. Once the first round of ideas is complete or begins to slow down, instruct each group to switch buckets with another group to begin the second round.
7. Each person should reach into the other team’s bucket full of Post-It Notes and pull one out randomly.
8. The person reads the idea and builds off of it.  A build could be an addition to the existing idea, an option for the existing idea, or a whole new idea that’s sparked from the first idea.  Write this below the original idea on the Post-It Note.
9. The person then tosses the idea back into the bucket.
10. Repeat steps 6-8 until there are all ideas have been built on.
11. Each Post-It Note should now have 2 ideas on it.
12. Have each group switch buckets with another group they haven’t switched with already.  Repeat steps 7-8. After this, each Post-It Note should have 3 ideas on it.
13. Repeat step 12 as necessary.  It is not advised to go beyond 3 ideas per Post-It Note due to legibility issues on the Post-It Notes.
14. Take the Post-It Notes from the buckets and place them on the flip chart in front of the group.
15. Have one person read each Post-It Note out loud.
16. Take any final builds people may have and write them on the Post-It Notes.

Optional Convergence Tool (feel free to use the tool you feel is the most effective)

1. As a group, cluster similar ideas together.
2. Vote for the ideas group members want to move forward with.  Each person should get enough votes to vote for 10% of the ideas, e.g. 50 ideas means each person gets 5 votes.
   • Each Post-It Note should be considered an idea.  An idea from within each Post-It Note can be voted on individually if the group agrees to separate that idea from the Post-It Note.  If this happens, write the idea on a separate Post-It Note.
3. After voting is completed, discuss each idea that received at least 1 vote.
4. As a group, select 3-5 ideas to move forward with based on the discussion.

You can download a PDF version of this tool here: Brainwriting

Every now and then when your in an ideation or a brainstorming session, the idea flow can stall.  When this happens, it’s good to switch to a different technique to liven things up and jump-start the ideation again.  Brainwriting is a variation of ideation and brainstorming.

Brainwriting works great for when there’s either 1 person dominating the session or there are several quiet participants who haven’t really contributed to the session.  It allows people time to internalize their thinking and work through ideas without slowing the entire session down.  It builds off the ideas of others and can quickly snowball into very big, exicting ideas.  It’s a really great way to switch things up and encourage full participation while keeping the ideas coming.

Here’s how it works:

1. Have participants tear a page out of their notebooks.
2. Tell them to draw a line down the middle of the page vertically, then draw 3 more lines about the same distance apart horizontally.  Their paper should be divided into 8 sections.
3. Reiterate the task for the ideation session.  Re-write it on a flipchart at the front of the room if you need to.
4. Tell the particpants to think of 2 ideas and to write them down in the top 2 boxes of their sheet.
5. Once the participants have their 2 ideas written down, have them exchange their sheet with another person who also has 2 ideas written down.
6. Tell the participants to write 2 more ideas on the second line of their new sheet.  Encourage them to build off of the ideas that are on the sheet.  New ideas are welcome as well.
7. Once the sheet the have has 4 ideas on it, have the participants to exchange sheets with someone other than the person they originally exchanged sheets with.
8. Tell the participants to write 2 more ideas on the second line of their new sheet.
9. Once the sheet the have has 4 ideas on it, have the participants to exchange sheets with someonethey haven’t exchanged sheets with yet.
10. Tell the participants to write 2 more ideas on the second line of their new sheet.
11. You should now have a full sheet with 8 new ideas.

Modifications
Depending upon the size of your group and the set up you have for your session, here are some modifications you may find helpful:

• Have participants flip their sheet over and draw an identical grid on the back to continue brainwriting.  This is best used when there are a lot of participants or when more ideas are needed.
• To accommodate more ideas, participant’s papers can be divided into 3 rows of 3, which gives a total of 9 squares.  This eliminates a round of trading but leads to more ideas.  This is best used in a smaller group.
• Post-It Notes can be used on a sheet of paper instead of drawing a grid.  Participants can arrange 8 Post-It Notes in 4 rows of 2 on their paper.  This makes it easier to remove and reorganize the ideas.
• Flip charts can also be used instead of paper if they are available.  Lines can be drawn or Post-It Notes can be used on the flip chart paper.  This is best used if there is a small group of people.

Optional Convergence Technique
Brainwriting can generate a lot of ideas very quickly.  Here is an optional convergence tool to begin to pare these ideas into a manageable few.

1. Once participants have a full sheet of 8 ideas, have them switch sheets with the person next to them.  Ideally they will have a sheet they did not contribute an idea to, but it’s okay if this doesn’t happen.
2. Have each participant select an their favorite idea from the sheet.
3. Once they have selected their favorite idea, have the participants pair off and discuss the idea they selected.  Each pair must then select 1 idea from their 2 favorite ideas.
4. Have each pair join with another pair.  Each pair shares discusses the idea they selected.  Each group of 4 must then select 1 idea from their 2 favorite ideas.
5. Continue this until only a few or just 1 idea remains.

You can download a PDF version of this tool here: Brainwriting In A Bucket

Brainwriting In A Bucket

Divergent Tool for Problem Finding/Idea Finding/Ideation/Brainstorming
Works Best In Small Groups (Breakout Groups)

Introduction
Even the most fruitful ideation sessions can hit a stall.  When this happens, a new brainstorming technique is needed to stimulate thinking and keep the ideas flowing.  This technique is a variation of the Brainwriting technique, and is to be used when ideas are beginning to slow in an ideation/brainstorming session.

Items Needed

• 2 Buckets per group
• Post It Notes
• Pens/Markers
• Flip chart

Process

1. Break larger ground into groups of 4-10.
2. Write the group’s task or problem at the top of the flip chart.
3. Quietly begin brainstorming ideas for the group’s task or problem.  Each member of the group should write their ideas down on a Post-It Note.
4. Once an idea is written down, it should be tossed into the first bucket.
5. Each person should write down as many ideas as they can onto Post-It notes and toss them into the first bucket.  A good goal is about 10 ideas per person.  It’s okay to come up with less.
6. Once the first round of ideas is complete or begins to slow down, switch to the second round.
7. Each person should reach into the first bucket full of Post-It Notes and pull one out randomly.
8. The person reads the idea and builds off of it.  A build could be an addition to the existing idea, an option for the existing idea, or a whole new idea that’s sparked from the first idea.  Write this below the original idea on the Post-It Note.
9. The person then tosses the idea into the second bucket.
10. Repeat steps 6-8 until there are no ideas left in the first bucket.
11. Each Post-It Note should now have 2 ideas on it.
12. As time permits, repeat steps 6-8 for the ideas in the second bucket. After this, each Post-It Note should have 3 ideas on it.
13. Take the Post-It Notes from the buckets and place them on the flip chart in front of the group.
14. Have one person read each Post-It Note out loud.
15. Take any final builds people may have and write them on the Post-It Notes.

Optional Convergence Tool (feel free to use the tool you feel is the most effective)

1. As a group, cluster similar ideas together.
2. Vote for the ideas group members want to move forward with.  Each person should get enough votes to vote for 10% of the ideas, e.g. 50 ideas means each person gets 5 votes.
   • Each Post-It Note should be considered an idea.  An idea from within each Post-It Note can be voted on individually if the group agrees to separate that idea from the Post-It Note.  If this happens, write the idea on a separate Post-It Note.
3. After voting is completed, discuss each idea that received at least 1 vote.
4. As a group, select 3-5 ideas to move forward with based on the discussion.