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
- Break larger ground into groups of 4-10.
- Write the group’s task or problem at the top of the flip chart.
- 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.
- Once an idea is written down, it should be tossed into the first bucket.
- 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.
- 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.
- Each person should reach into the other team’s bucket full of Post-It Notes and pull one out randomly.
- 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.
- The person then tosses the idea back into the bucket.
- Repeat steps 6-8 until there are all ideas have been built on.
- Each Post-It Note should now have 2 ideas on it.
- 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.
- 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.
- Take the Post-It Notes from the buckets and place them on the flip chart in front of the group.
- Have one person read each Post-It Note out loud.
- 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)
- As a group, cluster similar ideas together.
- 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.
- After voting is completed, discuss each idea that received at least 1 vote.
- As a group, select 3-5 ideas to move forward with based on the discussion.