Innovation Tools, Anyone Have Any?
Editor | On 01, Jan 2010
Message: 3Posted by: TD
Posted on: Friday, 20th October 2006
Can anyone recommend some tools that would be good to use for a small team who has the objective to redesign ordinary kitchen utensils? What can I use to get my team “creative”? Thanks for your input.
Message: 7
Posted by: Gwj
Posted on: Monday, 6th November 2006
its obvious but have you tried brainstorming
Message: 9
Posted by: Td
Posted on: Wednesday, 8th November 2006
yeah. we all spent some time b-storming but one guy always cuts off everyone so we didn't really get anywhere. thats why i'm looking for something new.
Message: 12
Posted by: Michael S. Slocum
Posted on: Wednesday, 15th November 2006
There are many ideation techniques that are available for you and your team.ÊFundamental methods ofÊidea generation focus on: expanding the solution space, creating derivitivesÊfrom current ideas or designs, or hybridization. Each main focal point will achieve your desired impact–being innovative and creating ideas. Each approach will develop different responses though and couldÊpossibly all be required. Expanding the solution space is analogous to open source innovation. A powerful technique for thisÊtype of ideation is the TRIZ methodology (https://the-trizjournal.com). Derivative ideation may be accomplished using morphological modeling. Hybridization is a technique by which heterogeneous and/or homogeneous functions are integrated to the existing system to form new bi- or poly-systems. This technique may be effectiveyl applied using the Patterns and Lines of Evolution from the TRIZ methodology or by technology forecasting. Some more fundamental approaches would be brainstorming, brainwriting, the TILMAG methodology, or the Heuristic Redefinition Process.Ê
If you could be more specific I would be able to do the same. I hope these remarks provide some benefit to you and your team.
Michael S. SlocumÊ
Message: 19
Posted by: Marina Brown
Posted on: Tuesday, 21st November 2006
If you have a person who shuts down everyone during a brainstorm session, I highly recommend using De Bono's Six Thinking Hats methodology. It is a parallel brainstorm method where all participants use their optimistic voice at one time, their pessimistic voice at another and discussion/evaluation can happen only at very specific points of time. That way you have a lot of (crazy) ideas flying around and no one can shut them down (until it is time to evaluate all the ideas). I have used it on numerous occasions and it has never failed to produce marvelous results. We used a consultant out of Iowa at the beginning, but the you can learn more on http://www.debonoonline.com or just type Six Thinking Hats in Google. Let me know if it works for you.
Thank you!
Marina Brown
Message: 21
Posted by: Trev
Posted on: Tuesday, 21st November 2006
What is the purpose of the kitchen tool redesign? Is it to actually come up with a new “mouse trap” for, say, opening cans more easily? Or are you trying to make them more “kitchy” such that everyone who comes over for dinner will say “I gotta have one of those!”
Message: 22
Posted by: Steven R.
Posted on: Wednesday, 22nd November 2006
Does it matter what type of result is needed? Would you be suggesting different ideas for different tool redesign purposes?
Message: 23
Posted by: Vito
Posted on: Wednesday, 22nd November 2006
How about using the same communication tool you used to post your question?
Use this forum, as your means of communicating with the rest of your organization's team. Organize the group to come on this forum, at a specified time. It can be from home computers, using screen names (not actual names), so as to remain annonyms, with the goal that “When you need a great idea, start with lots of ideas.”
Advantages:
Create a safe enviornment for idea generation!
Open for input from other practioners on this forum. (Most great ideas are generated from the outside!) Deming.
Disadvantages:
Your ideas are out in the open, but if you believe in the abundance vs. scarcity mentality, that should not concern you.
Interesting:
Thinking outside the box.
“The only thing more important than knowledge is imagination!” Einstein