Brainstorming

Brainstorming is a technique for idea generation in which the focus is on generating as many ideas as possible on a topic in a noncritical fashion. The term is often used for any interaction that involves sharing of ideas, but formal brainstorming typically follows a set of guidelines or procedures. Research on brainstorming has focused on comparing the effectiveness of group brainstorming and individual brainstorming. This has led to the development of theoretical models of the social and cognitive processes involved in group idea generation. These models have relevance for an understanding of creative processes in a wide range of groups and teams. Research has also provided much useful information for improving the practice of brainstorming in organizations.

Brainstorming provides an interesting example of the various ...