The following methods were published on The Balance website.
"Who, what, why, when, where, how"
This method is based on asking six key questions: who, what, why, when, where and how. Select a problem and, together with your team, write down answers to the following questions on a whiteboard:
- Who is involved in the problem and whom does it concern?
- What is happening and what is at the core of the issue?
- Why is the situation occurring?
- When does it happen and when does it need to be addressed?
- Where and in which area?
- How can the problem be resolved?
Answering these questions helps the team better understand the situation and generate potential solutions.
SWOT analysis
The name is an acronym of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. In practice, a SWOT analysis might involve dividing a board into four sections, each corresponding to one of the categories above. Team members then suggest points that are added to the relevant sections. This form of brainstorming helps identify potential shortcomings to a proposed solution and enables the team to consider the issue from different angles.
Word map
A highly open-ended form of brainstorming, the word map relies on subconscious associations between words and meanings. The team records words connected to the main topic. In practice, this means writing a key word in the centre of a board or paper, then individually or collectively adding words associated with the central and surrounding terms. The goal is to expand the team’s perspective through a free flow of words and thoughts.
Mind map
The mind map is like the word map but more structured. Together with your team, write the main idea in the centre of a board or paper. Then draw lines and branches leading to subtopics with additional details. Mind maps help people visualise complex problems and the relationships between different elements.
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