SRI SAI RAM ENGINEERING
COLLEGE
An Autonomous Institution
Sai Leo Nagar, West Tambaram,
Chennai - 600044, Tamil Nadu, India.
Module 1.3: Brainstorming – Class Notes Jeevan Kaushal 2.0 – Team
Skills and Life Skills
1. What is an Idea?
● An idea is a plan, opinion, thought, or suggestion for doing something.
● It is the result of thinking and helps in successfully completing
actions.
● Example:
o Dia and Isha discuss their Sunday:
▪ Isha suggests: “Let’s complete our assignment and go to
the beach.”
o This is an example of how ideas originate from needs or desires.
2. Strategies to Promote Idea Generation
● Ideas are essential in any institution or organization.
● Fresh ideas:
o Improve systems and processes
o Enable innovation and collaboration
o Support growth and efficiency
● Generating new ideas helps solve problems in new ways.
● It opens up opportunities for progress and brings fresh perspectives.
● To generate useful ideas, individuals need to:
o Clearly understand the problem
o Think creatively without self-restriction
o Work in an environment that supports free thinking and sharing
● Group settings often lead to better ideas due to diverse viewpoints.
● Among many methods, Brainstorming is one of the most effective for
groups.
3. Brainstorming: A Technique to Promote Idea Generation
● Brainstorming is vital for creative thinking and problem-solving.
● Encourages multiple people to contribute diverse ideas.
● All ideas are recorded without judgment.
● Later, best ideas are evaluated and selected collaboratively.
Mini Case Challenge Example:
● Chennai traffic congestion
o Group of urban planners brainstorm to:
▪ Improve infrastructure
▪ Upgrade transportation systems
▪ Use technology
▪ Implement policy changes
4. Brainstorming: Meaning and the Process
Meaning:
● A technique for generating innovative ideas.
● Works well in both group and individual settings.
● Ideas are freely suggested and recorded.
Process Steps:
1. Prepare
o Identify the topic or problem clearly.
o Choose a comfortable space and time.
o Select participants and tools (like charts, sticky notes, etc.).
2. Encourage Participation
o Set ground rules: no judging, all ideas are welcome.
o Motivate everyone to speak up and be open-minded.
3. Generate Ideas
o Let participants think and write down ideas silently first.
o Encourage even unusual or “wild” ideas.
4. Record Ideas
o Write every idea visibly (e.g., on a board or shared document).
o Avoid filtering or commenting at this stage.
5. Review & Narrow the Ideas
o Discuss the list, combine similar points.
o Select the most practical or creative ideas.
6. Implement the Best Ones
o Make an action plan.
o Assign roles and responsibilities to take the idea forward.
5. Procedure for Conducting Brainstorming
Step-by-step Method:
1. Create a safe and unbiased environment
o Small group (~10 people)
o No criticism or judgment
o Comfortable setting
2. Define the problem clearly
o Align all participants on the objective
3. Individual idea generation
o Silent, personal thinking and writing of ideas
4. Group discussion and sharing
o Open exchange of ideas
o Build upon each other’s suggestions
5. Evaluation and prioritization
o Select 2-3 best ideas
6. Create action plan
o Assign tasks and start implementation
6. Importance of Using Brainstorming Technique
● Encourages creativity
● Fosters collaboration
● Helps generate innovative solutions
● Breaks routine thinking
● Builds on diverse ideas
● Improves communication
● Reduces fear of criticism
7. Types of Brainstorming
1. Classic / Free Brainstorming
o Open discussion, all ideas welcome, no criticism
2. Mind Mapping
o Visual layout of ideas branching from a central theme
3. Brainwriting
o Ideas written individually, then shared and discussed
4. Starbursting
o Uses questions (Who, What, When, Where, Why, How) around a
central idea to explore it deeply
5. Reverse Brainstorming
o Flip the problem (e.g., “how to decrease sales”) to find opposite
solutions, then reverse them back for innovation
6. SCAMPER Technique
o A creative checklist that prompts new ways to think about a
problem:
▪ S - Substitute: Replace parts of the process or product
(e.g., materials, people, rules)
▪ C - Combine: Merge two or more elements to improve the
idea
▪ A - Adapt: Change a function or process to suit a new
purpose
▪ M - Modify: Alter size, shape, or appearance to improve
functionality
▪ P - Put to another use: Use the idea or item differently
or in a new way
▪ E - Eliminate: Remove unnecessary parts or features
▪ R - Reverse: Flip the order, roles, or direction to explore
new possibilities
Example:
o Product: Paper cup
o Substitute: Use bamboo instead of paper
o Combine: Add a lid to make it spill-proof
o Adapt: Add insulation to keep drinks warm
o Modify: Change the shape to fit car cup holders
o Put to another use: Use as seed-starter pots
o Eliminate: Remove the plastic coating to make it eco-friendly
o Reverse: Sell the cup as a DIY kit for custom decoration
This technique encourages thinking from many directions and is
especially useful for product improvement and innovation.
Conclusion
Brainstorming is a dynamic method to unlock creativity, enhance group
collaboration, and find practical solutions. By applying it effectively using a
proper process and supportive environment, individuals and teams can
contribute meaningfully to problem-solving and innovation.
