Brainstorming makes every member of the organization feel important,
Dr Abe V Rotor
Living with Nature School on Blog
Paaralang Bayan sa Himpapawid (People's School-on-Air) with Ms Melly C Tenorio
738 DZRB AM Band, 8 to 9 evening class, Monday to Friday
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Brainstorming (Geistesblitz in German). Class in Developmental Communication, UST
Dr Abe V Rotor
Living with Nature School on Blog
Paaralang Bayan sa Himpapawid (People's School-on-Air) with Ms Melly C Tenorio
738 DZRB AM Band, 8 to 9 evening class, Monday to Friday
Brainstorming (Geistesblitz in German). Class in Developmental Communication, USTBrainstorming is a popular group interaction in various settings - community, academic and business - in a workshop style. It is a group creativity technique designed to generate a large number of ideas for the solution of a problem, or analysis of a situation.
Four Rules in Brainstorming
1. Encourage freewheeling expression.
2. Reserve criticism on anyone’s ideas.
3. Generate good, workable, profitable ideas.
4. Combine ideas for strength.
Code of Conduct
1. Encourage the ideas of others.
2. Make positive constructive comments.
3. Encourage the participation of all members.
4. Solicit input from others in the department.
5. Ensure that credit is given to those to whom it is due.
6. Maintain a friendly and enthusiastic atmosphere.
7. Attend all scheduled meetings.
8. Rotate tasks on a voluntary basis.
9. Mail the minutes of the meeting within a reasonable time.
10. Assist other group members as necessary.
11. Follow the rules of brainstorming.
12. Follow Robert’s Rules of Order.
13. Maintain equality among all members of the group.
14. Accept the decision of the majority.
Conduct of Session
1. A warm-up session, to expose novice participants to the criticism-free environment. A simple problem is brainstormed, for example, Prevent Dengue in the Community.
2. The facilitator presents the problem and gives a further explanation if needed.
3. The facilitator asks the brainstorming group for their ideas.
4. If no ideas are forthcoming, the facilitator suggests a lead to encourage creativity.
5. All participants present their ideas, and the idea collector records them.
6. To ensure clarity, participants may elaborate on their ideas.
7. When time is up, the facilitator organizes the ideas based on the topic goal and encourages discussion.
8. Ideas are categorized.
9. The whole list is reviewed to ensure that everyone understands the ideas.
10. Duplicate ideas and obviously infeasible solutions are removed.
11. The facilitator thanks all participants and gives each a token of appreciation.
The role of the rapporteur is vital. He is in charge of the proceedings, noting the salient points. Electronic recording may make the work easier. In either case, it is important that the proceedings are properly transcribed, edited and presented as minutes. This may serve as agenda material for follow-up meetings, or presented as reference for project development, and even policy formulation.
Now the most important thing. Things are easier said than done. Implementation is the proof of the success of the brainstorming. Ideas are translated to action.
Brainstorming is key to group decision and action, and collective responsibility, irrespective of whoever thought of the idea, or who did not agree with it.
In all its practicality, brainstorming makes every member of the organization feel important, although the process may not necessarily arrive at the best solution to a problem.~
References: The New Publicity Kit by J Smith; Philippine Journalism by J Luna Castro; Principles of Extension (Moshav and Kibbutz); Journalism for Filipinos, by A Malinao; Brainstorming, Wikipedia~