brainstorming

name	brainstorming
description	Generate and organize ideas through structured brainstorming techniques. Use when starting a project, exploring new directions, or breaking through creative blocks.
metadata	{"author":"specialist-team","version":"1.0.0"}

Brainstorming

Your Task

When facilitating brainstorming, guide the process to:

1. Generate many ideas without judgment
2. Organize ideas into meaningful categories
3. Evaluate ideas against criteria
4. Select the most promising directions
5. Document decisions and rationale

---

Brainstorming Phases

Phase 1: Divergent Thinking (Generate)

Goal: Maximize quantity and variety of ideas.

Rules:

• Defer judgment - no criticism yet
• Encourage wild ideas
• Build on others' ideas
• Stay focused on the topic
• One idea at a time
• Aim for quantity

Techniques:

Mind Mapping

Start with central concept, branch out:

                 [Sub-idea 1a]
                /
    [Idea 1] -- [Sub-idea 1b]
   /            \
[TOPIC]          [Sub-idea 1c]
   \
    [Idea 2] -- [Sub-idea 2a]
                \
                 [Sub-idea 2b]

SCAMPER

Apply each prompt to your topic:

• Substitute - What can be replaced?
• Combine - What can be merged?
• Adapt - What can be adjusted?
• Modify - What can be changed?
• Put to other uses - Other applications?
• Eliminate - What can be removed?
• Reverse/Rearrange - Flip or reorder?

Random Stimulus

Pick a random word/image, force connections to your topic.

Reverse Brainstorming

Ask: "How could we make this worse?" Then reverse solutions.

Six Thinking Hats

Rotate perspectives:

• 🎩 White: Facts only
• 🎩 Red: Emotions/intuition
• 🎩 Black: Problems/risks
• 🎩 Yellow: Benefits/optimism
• 🎩 Green: Creativity/alternatives
• 🎩 Blue: Process/meta-thinking

---

Phase 2: Convergent Thinking (Organize)

Goal: Structure ideas for evaluation.

Techniques:

Affinity Grouping

1. Write each idea on a virtual sticky note
2. Silently group similar ideas
3. Name each group
4. Identify relationships between groups

Thematic Clustering

## Theme: [Name]
- Idea 1
- Idea 2
- Idea 3

## Theme: [Name]
- Idea 4
- Idea 5

Priority Matrix

         | Low Effort | High Effort |
---------|------------|-------------|
High     | Quick Wins | Major       |
Impact   |            | Projects    |
---------|------------|-------------|
Low      | Fill-ins   | Avoid       |
Impact   |            |             |

---

Phase 3: Evaluation

Goal: Assess ideas against criteria.

Evaluation Criteria (customize per project):

Criterion	Weight	Description
Feasibility	25%	Can we actually do this?
Impact	25%	How significant is the outcome?
Effort	20%	Resources required?
Risk	15%	What could go wrong?
Alignment	15%	Fits our goals?

Scoring Template:

| Idea | Feasibility | Impact | Effort | Risk | Align | Total |
|------|-------------|--------|--------|------|-------|-------|
| A    | 4/5         | 5/5    | 3/5    | 4/5  | 5/5   | 4.15  |
| B    | 3/5         | 4/5    | 4/5    | 3/5  | 4/5   | 3.60  |

---

Phase 4: Selection

Goal: Choose which ideas to pursue.

Decision Criteria:

• Highest weighted score?
• Best fit for current constraints?
• Most innovative?
• Fastest to implement?

Output Template:

## Selected Ideas

### Primary Choice: [Idea Name]
- **Score**: 4.15/5
- **Rationale**: Best balance of impact and feasibility
- **Next Steps**: [Action items]

### Backup Options:
1. [Alternative 1] - if primary fails because...
2. [Alternative 2] - if constraints change...

### Parking Lot (future consideration):
- [Idea X] - revisit when Y is resolved
- [Idea Z] - interesting but premature

---

Session Structure

Standard 30-Minute Session

Time	Phase	Activity
0-5	Setup	Define topic, rules, goals
5-15	Generate	Divergent brainstorming
15-20	Organize	Cluster and group
20-25	Evaluate	Score top ideas
25-30	Select	Choose direction, next steps

Extended 60-Minute Session

Time	Phase	Activity
0-10	Setup	Define topic, warm-up exercise
10-25	Generate	Multiple techniques
25-35	Organize	Affinity grouping
35-45	Evaluate	Detailed scoring
45-55	Select	Discussion, consensus
55-60	Close	Document, assign actions

---

Facilitation Tips

Starting a Session

1. State the challenge clearly

   "How might we [achieve X] while [constraint Y]?"

2. Set expectations

   "We'll generate ideas for 10 minutes, then organize and evaluate."

3. Warm up (optional)

   "Quick warm-up: What are 10 uses for a paperclip?"

Keeping Momentum

• Use timers to create urgency
• Call out when energy drops
• Switch techniques if stuck
• Capture every idea, even duplicates

Handling Blockers

Blocker	Solution
Premature criticism	Remind: "Save evaluation for later"
Dominant voice	Round-robin contributions
Silence	Use brainwriting (write first, share second)
Off-topic	Note it, redirect gently
Analysis paralysis	Set time limits, force decisions

---

Documentation Template

# Brainstorm Session: [Topic]

**Date**: YYYY-MM-DD
**Participants**: [Names or "solo"]
**Duration**: [X minutes]
**Goal**: [What we're trying to achieve]

## Ideas Generated

### Category 1: [Theme]
- Idea 1
- Idea 2

### Category 2: [Theme]
- Idea 3
- Idea 4

## Evaluation Summary

| Idea | Score | Notes |
|------|-------|-------|
| ... | ... | ... |

## Decisions

### Selected: [Idea]
**Rationale**: [Why this one]
**Next Steps**:
- [ ] Action 1
- [ ] Action 2

### Deferred: [Ideas]
- [Idea X] - Revisit when...

## Session Notes
[Any other observations, insights, or process notes]

---

For Academic Writing

When brainstorming for papers:

Research Questions

• What interests you about the topic?
• What gap exists in the literature?
• What would be valuable to know?
• What's counterintuitive or surprising?

Paper Structure

• What's the logical flow?
• What arguments support the thesis?
• What evidence is needed?
• What objections must be addressed?

Thesis Development

• What's your core claim?
• Why does it matter?
• What's the scope?
• What's NOT included?

---

Quick Reference

Need	Technique
Lots of ideas fast	SCAMPER, Random stimulus
Deep exploration	Mind mapping
Different perspectives	Six Thinking Hats
Problem-focused	Reverse brainstorming
Organizing chaos	Affinity grouping
Making decisions	Priority matrix