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Stop Brainstorming

matthewstrom.com

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Re: Stop Brainstorming

#91

Post by Xcelerate »

codeflo wrote: post #29

I think the article’s missing an important trick: Brainstorming establishes a shared understanding (depending on the group dynamics, you might call it a fiction) that the group , not any individual, came up with the idea. That sense of ownership is psychologically important for aligning the group during the execution phase: People are usually a lot more motivated to implement a plan that they came up with, and if any…

Yep, I’ve got plenty of ideas ready to go. But if I just start implementing them in a silo without the rest of my team, that’s not good for my job or the company. Brainstorming sessions are to get buy-in and validate that things I’ve already thought of are viable and will be considered a group effort.

Re: Stop Brainstorming

#92

Post by Kaotique »

I always get my best ideas in the shower. Somehow the complete lack of distraction helps a lot with free thinking, but I think suggesting showerstorming in my office would result in a quick trip to HR.

Re: Stop Brainstorming

#93

Post by blowski »

laserbeam wrote: post #66
jvanderbot wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, the article almost perfectly misses the point of brainstorming. The studies quoted were for groups solving puzzles, not groups designing tools or products. Puzzles have solutions, products can be entirely abandoned. Almost zero of the brainstorming meetings I've ever attended were of the kind "How do we solve the well-defined problem X", and were almost exclusively of the kind "What do we want to do in the area…

It's actually unclear what type of puzzles we are talking about. One paragraph later mentions a jury judging puzzle solutions and creativity. We could be talking about open ended puzzles. Think "the marshmallow callenge", LEGO building challenges, or Zachtronics style puzzle games (programming puzzles where you can optimize as much as you want, and the game scores you on multiple competing metrics such as code size a…

Those with enough experience can anecdotally measure the success of brainstorming on projects where they've used it. I'd contribute the un-revolutionary idea that brainstorming works well for some teams trying to solve some problems. The trick is knowing when to use it, not to use it all the time, or rule it out entirely.

Re: Stop Brainstorming

#95

Post by [deleted] »

jvanderbot wrote: post #49
codeflo wrote: post #29

I think the article’s missing an important trick: Brainstorming establishes a shared understanding (depending on the group dynamics, you might call it a fiction) that the group , not any individual, came up with the idea. That sense of ownership is psychologically important for aligning the group during the execution phase: People are usually a lot more motivated to implement a plan that they came up with, and if any…

Yes, the article almost perfectly misses the point of brainstorming. The studies quoted were for groups solving puzzles, not groups designing tools or products. Puzzles have solutions, products can be entirely abandoned. Almost zero of the brainstorming meetings I've ever attended were of the kind "How do we solve the well-defined problem X", and were almost exclusively of the kind "What do we want to do in the area…

[deleted]

Re: Stop Brainstorming

#96

Post by fatnoah »

bmitc wrote: post #76

> At its best, a brainstorming group comes up with the same ideas as the group’s members would when working alone That's not true. That would be brainstorming at its average. Has this person ever sat in a writer's room? > at its worst, it perpetuates negative cultural habits, reinforces hierarchies, stunts productivity, and severely limits creativity. Well yeah, anything at its worst is going to be counterproductive.…

> At its best, a brainstorming group comes up with the same ideas as the group’s members would when working alone

I picked up on this as well. In 20+ years of a Software Career, the ideas that come out of a brainstorm are usually ones that started with one person, and then got amplified, enhanced, and generally made even "better" by others in the group.

So yes, if we think brainstorming provides nothing new, then there's no reason to do it, but I think the whole point is that it is a fairly efficient way to bring many ideas to the forefront and allow others to add their own refinements to them. Many times what appears to not be the best idea turns into that best idea with some refinement.

Re: Stop Brainstorming

#97

Post by rdtwo »

jvanderbot wrote: post #49
codeflo wrote: post #29

I think the article’s missing an important trick: Brainstorming establishes a shared understanding (depending on the group dynamics, you might call it a fiction) that the group , not any individual, came up with the idea. That sense of ownership is psychologically important for aligning the group during the execution phase: People are usually a lot more motivated to implement a plan that they came up with, and if any…

Yes, the article almost perfectly misses the point of brainstorming. The studies quoted were for groups solving puzzles, not groups designing tools or products. Puzzles have solutions, products can be entirely abandoned. Almost zero of the brainstorming meetings I've ever attended were of the kind "How do we solve the well-defined problem X", and were almost exclusively of the kind "What do we want to do in the area…

Yeah we usually brainstorm to figure out an solution that can integrate multiple groups. You can’t decide these kinds of issues solo

Re: Stop Brainstorming

#98

Post by borski »

zoomablemind wrote: post #64
borski wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Those people aren't brainstorming; the rules should be that ideas get evaluated later, and that no idea is too outlandish, even if it "won't work". You write every idea down, and cull later, at which point people have had time to think about how something might get done, rather than simply to cancel it off the cuff.

+1. Brainstorming is a way to generate leads by leveraging diverse group of minds/experiences/skills. In a healthy environment, such experience may be even bonding for the team, as long as ranks and seniority are left at the door (which is not easy). Just clearly write out the scope and purpose, timebox it, and collect/record the ideas, no judgement, not even attribution. Then the next time, see if anything converges…

“as long as ranks and seniority are left at the door.”

100%. We had anyone who wanted to join, and nobody’s ideas were better than others. One of our most beloved features was one that our EA came up with in such a session, because she didn’t have the context to think it was hard to do. A few days later, we found an easier way to do it, but we’d never even have looked if it weren’t for the humility and collaboration in that room that day.

Re: Stop Brainstorming

#99

Post by Terretta »

kerblang wrote: post #14

In my experience it is best to explain the problem today , and ask about ideas tomorrow . Most people tend to think up ideas on their own time rather than on-demand as if they're some kind of ideas slot machine you can just yank on. I think it helps to have weekly-or-so discussions about The Problems We're Having Lately, not so much as "brainstorming" but giving people a chance to offer their latest ideas and explain…

Underrated! Yes, prime the 'shower thoughts' pump.

Re: Stop Brainstorming

#100

Post by env123 »

Brainstorming is just a means for discussing ideas. Whether it works is irrelevant, it helps to keep projects moving, rather than being stuck in analysis paralysis
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