Idea generating intelligence lacking…study

Posted on Jul 20, 2010 in creativity professional, creativity research | Comments Off

Smartstorming, another creativity consulting firm, released study findings showing their network of contacts are unfamiliar with techniques used for idea generating.

InnovationTools author Chuck Frey reports on in like this:

Respondents agreed with the idea that “knowing and using different ideation techniques is beneficial to brainstorming,” but when provided with a list of well-known ideation techniques, a surprisingly small percentage of respondents knew about them. Mind mapping was the most memorable, at 23% of respondents, followed by SWOT analysis (strengths/weaknesses/opportunities/threats) at 20% and Six Thinking Hats garnered a 19% response. After that, awareness of other ideation techniques dropped off precipitously, to 8% or less for the rest of the techniques.

Makes me wonder.

  • Would people say as much for tools used for accounting or strategic planning? If a similar study of techniques were done with people in those areas of discipline would the percentages be as low?
  • Is idea generating worthy of being considered a business process? (many schools are using it within their curricula…)
  • How might organizational life be influenced if idea generating techniques were known and used regularly?
  • How might widespread knowledge and use of idea generating tools influence  mood and motivation for innovation?
  • With all the focus on generating new ideas, wouldn’t it be nice to also include creativity techniques for making new decisions?

Here is the full the list of ideation techniques mentioned by survey respondents.

  • Mind Mapping
  • S.W.O.T. Analysis
  • Six Thinking Hats
  • 180-Degree Thinking/Reversal
  • SCAMPER
  • Worst Idea
  • In Their Shoes
  • 3-D Ideation (SmartStorming)
  • Brainwalking
  • Group Graffitti
  • Freewriting
  • Divergent/Convergent Thinking
  • Process & Task Orientation
  • Role Reversal (similar to “In Their Shoes”)
  • Working Backwards
  • Analografiti by Vera F. Birkenbihl
  • Subconscious Ideation
  • Delphi Method
  • Synectics
  • Zero Draft
  • Rapid Writing
  • Random Input/Analogy
  • Alter Ego
  • What If?
  • Parallel Design
  • How Might Be?
  • Facilitated Creative Visualization
  • Socratic Questioning
  • Kills the Sacred Cows (similar to 180-Degree Thinking)
  • Random Stimulation
  • Forced Connection
  • Ask a Stranger

SmartStorming’s blog shows the research and recommends a great site to use to brush up on your idea generating intelligence http://www.mycoted.com/Category:Creativity_Techniques.

I often used the mycoted site as a menu selection for clients to choose from, to identify which they are curious to learn and apply to create exciting new futures. Yes, this is part of the service a creativity professional provides.

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