The articles and papers in these archives were been written between 1996 and
2013, with most of them from the eight year period of 2004-2012. Over the years
of working with, studying and writing about creativity and innovation, I leaned
a great deal about the subject. Not surprisingly, I learned that much of what
I wrote about years ago is no longer valid (in February, 2013, as I write this).
For instance, I used to be a strong proponent of brainstorming. Now, I realise
that it is not a very good way to generate creative ideas (this is part of why
I developed anticonventional thinking or ACT).
Rather than sift through, update and delete old articles, some of which people
still find useful, I have taken the lazy-person's approach. I have archived
all of my writings from the period. Current writings, together with a very few
favourites from older days, are now in the Thoughts section of the web site.
Because these are archived, they may be out of date, wrong and include bad
links. I apologise for that. Of course, a lot of the articles are also valid
and up to date. I don't apologise for that!
When Brainstorming Works
Brainstorming has righly come under a lot of criticism lately. But it does have its uses...
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
Training in CPS Without A Training Session?
Training in CPS Without A Training Session? The fourth in a series of articles by Fernando de Sousa on Creative Problem Solving.
by de Sousa Fernando Cardosa
The Two Meanings of Brainstorming
The word brainstorming has two meanings. It is important to know the difference.
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
Best Ideas Are Never Very Creative
A truly creative idea, the kind of idea that has the potential to become a breakthrough innovation is seldom the best solution to the problem or the best path to achieving a goal.
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
Problem-Free, Idea-Free Creative Thinking
Think in an Anticonventional Way: Stop Searching for the “Idea” and the “Problem” as the Backbones of Team Creative Thinking
by Fernando Cardoso de Sousa
What if you change IWWMI into WASNT?
Traditional creative problem solving (CPS) tells you to formulate problem statements with
by Fernando Cardoso de Sousa
Let’s Bounce a Few Ideas Off Each Other
The way that highly creative people generate ideas to solve problems or achieve goals is very different to brainstorming rules. But I also reckon the former is a better way.
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
Become the Problem Innovation
When you want real insight into problems that you are trying to solve through creativity, try becoming the problem. It's fun and effective!
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
Conceptual Conversations
Sometimes, a simple conversation to thrash out ideas and develop solutions into concepts can be a far more effective approach to creativity and kicking off innovation.
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
Feel Good Pseudo-Innovation
Some innovation initiatives are more about making people feel good than they are about innovation. But that is ok!
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
Threatstorming
Threatstorming is a creative approach to identifying potential threats and risks to your business.
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
Video: Boring Problems
Video: Let's Get Creative: Boring Problems. Jeffrey Baumgartner talks about why boring problem statements in brainstorms lead to boring ideas and explains how you can get better results with provocative probelms/challenge statements
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
Turning Problems into Innovation Challenges
Whether you are planning a brainstorming session, an ideas campaign in an idea management system or innovation process management system or simply need innovative solutions to business problems, you need to start with an innovation challenge.
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
Visual Brainstorming
Traditional verbal brainstorming is being increasingly seen as ineffective. Visual brainstorming, that is brainstorming using objects, images and actions, is usually highly effective.
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
The Adventures of Brainstorm Man and the Boring Pushchairs
The first Brainstorm Man adventure. Learn how Brainstorm Man helps a German manufacturers of Pushchairs get creative.
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
The complete guide to managing traditional brainstorming events (PDF document; 584kb)
This 18 page pdf document will tell you everything you need to know in order to set up and manage a traditional brainstorming session, from setting up, to idea generation to evaluating the ideas.
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
Key factors of successful brainstorming
No matter what approach you take to brainstorming, there are several key factors which are critical to a successful brainstorming session.
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
Evaluating ideas
Learn how to quickly determine whether an idea is likely to work
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
The care and framing of strategic innovation challenges (PDF document: 338 kb)
Before you begin to brainstorm or launch an ideas campaign, be sure you frame your challenge in the right way. Learn how to frame challenges that bring in the best ideas.
by Dr. Authur Van Gundy
BrainStorming
A quick, concise guide on how to run a traditional brainstorming session.
by Jeffrey Baumgartner
