Activity 1a

Ideation (Methods of Creating Ideas)

Everyone has ideas. They have them all the time. What is so special, then, about ideation techniques?

The difference is relevance. Ideation is about generating ideas with the express purpose of developing a solution to an opportunity or problem—the ideas that we are concerned about are relevant to the issue at hand. Doing this is a learned behaviour. Just as you can learn to ski, or learn to drive, you can learn to generate ideas. Just because it is a learned behaviour, however, does not always make it easy to do, or make it a successful operation, but it does increase the chances of success significantly.

There are literally hundreds of techniques for generating ideas. A search of the internet for "ideation techniques" results in lots of different ones. Try searching with Altavista, WebCrawler, Search, Google, or many others. A few results sites are listed at the bottom of this page. Regardless of technique, there is a common purpose—to generate new ideas. A few techniques are described below.

The purpose of each technique is to generate lots of ideas. In most techniques there are two steps.

Generate ideas. The idea generation step is conducted in a set time, and ideas are created without judging them.
Evaluate the ideas. After the idea generating step is over, the ideas are then evaluated and further action is taken.

Sketching and Doodling

This is a technique that requires making sketches. Although not dependant on skill at sketching technical drawings, having some knowledge and skill with technical drawings does make the process easier, especially for interpreting the drawings afterwards. Sketching lets you make a rough drawing of an idea in 20-30 seconds, or a more detailed and accurate drawing in 3-5 minutes.

Different approaches to sketching and doodling to generate ideas are possible, for example

Make sketches of ideas for 3 minutes
Compete with others for the maximum number of sketches (ideas) in a given time (usually less than 5 minutes). This can be an individual or team-based activity.
Sketch 3 ideas in 3 minutes, and switch drawings with others, look at the sketches for 2 minutes, and then sketch 3 more ideas in about 3 minutes.

After the initial ideation/sketching activity, take all the sketches, discuss the ideas, select the best ideas and draw more detailed sketches for later analysis.

Brainstorming

Brainstorming is a widely used technique, perhaps the most widely used one. It is useful, but so are many of the others. The technique has these general rules

Each brainstorming session should last a limited time, for example 20 minutes
Create as many ideas as possible in the allotted time—the goal is have as many ideas as possible.
Do not judge any ideas when they are identified, regardless of how silly they sound
Record all ideas

After the session is over, discuss the ideas and rate them. Some ideas may lead to new, better ones during this process.

Brainstorming sessions may be conducted in several different ways. Here are three methods

Individuals write down as many ideas as they can in a set time, and then compare them to make a larger list.
Small groups work together to build a list of ideas. A moderator is needed to manage the discussion and record the ideas.
With a group of people, have each one in turn give one idea, then the next person give one idea, and so on. Repeat the process for 10 minutes. Each person can give one idea, but must keep quiet for the remainder of the time, and cannot help the others. The moderator controls the process. As with other methods, the purpose is to get as many ideas as possible in a fixed time.

Concept Fan

A concept fan is a way of thinking about something by identifying all the things that relate to it. The technique is sometimes called concept mapping, or even concept analysis. To complete the process, you put the issue under study (the problem or opportunity in this case in a circle in the middle of a sheet of paper. Then you draw lines out from the circle to other circles. In those other circles, you place words or phrases that describe things related to the item in the center.

A concept fan can be used to broaden the problem issue, to narrow it, to identify other problems, or to identify ideas for a solution to the problem. The technique can be done quickly by sketching on paper, or a whiteboard, a chalkboard, or using software.

Here is a typical concept fan sketch.

Figure Concept Fan Sketch

A free concept mapping software tool called CMapTools is available. A concept fan from that program is shown below.

Figure Concept Fan in CMapTools

When you are done, complete the activities in Your Turn

Purpose