Active brainstorming: A systemic and systematic approach for idea generation

Abstract

Many systems engineers and other problem solvers practice some aspects of idea generation when problem solving but tend not to practice it systemically and systematically. This paper addresses that aspect of problem solving and introduces a systemic and systematic way of idea generation via four new problem solving idea storage templates similar in concept to the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) template using a combination of: 1. Three new problem solving templates which have been successfully used in several iterations of a postgraduate introductory course on systems enginee ring (Kasser, et al., 2008) and several one-day workshops on applying systems thinking to problem solving and managing research. 2. A standard set of system thinking perspectives (STP) (Kasser and Mackley, 2008) arranged around a perspectives perimeter which provide anchor points for viewing and discussing issues noting that combinations of the STPs are also useful. 3. A fourth template in the form of a work sheet for triggering ideas based on a combination of the STPS and the six questions "who", "what", "where", when, "why" and "how" introduced by (Kipling, 1912). © 2009 by Joseph E. Kasser.