BrainSwarming: Because Brainstorming Doesn’t Work
Featuring Dr. Tony McCaffrey, innovation researcher and expert
JUNE 24, 2014Sponsored by
Questions?
OCTOBER 17, 2012
To ask a question … click on the “question icon” in the lower-right corner of your screen.
Presentation Download Link
OCTOBER 17, 2012
Click on the double links icon here to download the presentation materials.
Dr. Tony McCaffreyInnovation Researcher and ExpertInnovation Accelerator, Inc.www.innovationaccelerator.com
BrainSwarming: Because Brainstorming Doesn’t Work
Today’s Speaker
JUNE 24, 2014
Copyright © 2014 Innovation Accelerator 6
What is your biggest challenge to group innovation?
1. Someone dominates
2. The right people are not at the meeting
3. Don’t have the time
4. Don’t know the problem that needs fixing
Copyright © 2014 Innovation Accelerator 7
BrainSwarming solves all of these!
brainstorming struggles with these!
1. Someone dominates
2. The right people are not at the meeting
3. Don’t have the time
4. Don’t know the problem that needs fixing
Copyright © 2014 Innovation Accelerator 8
Scientific Results on brainstorming Does NOT
produce more ideas
• Failed every test since 1958
Does NOT produce higher quality ideas
• Mixed results
Copyright © 2014 Innovation Accelerator 9
Core Problem: TALKING
Sharing one at a time is inefficient
Extroverts tend to take over
Requires a facilitator
Requires presence
Too unstructured
Copyright © 2014 Innovation Accelerator 11
BrainSwarming works for…
Technical/Engineering
Marketing/Advertising
Strategic Planning
New Product Development
Business Process Coordination (Lean, Six Sigma, TRIZ, Theory of Constraints, etc.)
Any problem that has a Goal
Copyright © 2014 Innovation Accelerator 12
Stuck Truck
A UPS driver got the truck stuck beneath the underpass.
How can the driver alone free the the truck while doing minimal damage to both the truck and the underpass?
Copyright © 2014 Innovation Accelerator 14truck road underpass
liberate truck from underpass
lower truck
lower road
elevate underpass
slide truck
Copyright © 2014 Innovation Accelerator 15truck road underpass
liberate truck from underpass
lower truck
lower road
elevate underpass
slide truck
shouldersurface
debris
Copyright © 2014 Innovation Accelerator 16truck road underpass
liberate truck from underpass
concrete slabs
wall
lower truck
lower road
elevate underpass
slide truck
cab cargobay
suspension
engine
wheels
oil
shouldersurface
debris
Copyright © 2014 Innovation Accelerator 17truck road underpass
liberate truck from underpass
concrete slabs
wall
lower truck
lower road
elevate underpass
slide truck
cab cargobay
engine oil
shouldersurface
debris
deflatetires
suspensionwheels
Copyright © 2014 Innovation Accelerator 18truck road underpass
liberate truck from underpass
concrete slabs
wall
lower truck
lower road
elevate underpass
slide truck
cab cargobay
engine oil
shouldersurface
debris
deflatetires
suspensionwheels
stresssuspension
rocks
7 solutions found!(Only 2 shown)
Copyright © 2014 Innovation Accelerator 19
BrainSwarming Benefits
• Silence—No one dominates
• Extroverts & Introverts work well together
• Visual History of Activity—No more scribe
• More Ideas Faster—Work in Parallel
• Work on problem at different times
Copyright © 2014 Innovation Accelerator 20
When to talk again…• After contributions wane
• Or, when time is up—esp. if not together
What to do then? Options.a) Vote with small post-its to rank paths
b) Form small groups around promising paths
c) Discuss paths as a whole group
Tip
Tip
Copyright © 2014 Innovation Accelerator 21
NO Facilitator Required• But one can help keep graph orderly
• Or, can help people place their notes
Expert Facilitator (Requires Training)• Reveals what is being overlooked
• Finds “similar” solutions from past problems
Tip
Tip
Copyright © 2014 Innovation Accelerator 23
Expert Facilitator
orIA Software
(1) suggestswhat has been overlooked
Copyright © 2014 Innovation Accelerator 24
Expert Facilitator
orIA Software
(1) suggestswhat has been overlooked
(2) Finds problems “similar” to this one
Copyright © 2014 Innovation Accelerator 25
Analogy Finder Software: Finds problems “similar to” (analogous to) the current problem
Technical Problem: Q: Get rid of chatter in skis?A: Reduce vibrations in a violin
Makes Cross‐Domain Discoveries
Copyright © 2014 Innovation Accelerator 28
save or generate money for the college
Equipment BuildingsVehicles Land Labs Students Admin Staff Faculty
Copyright © 2014 Innovation Accelerator 29
save or generate money for the college
Equipment BuildingsVehicles Land Labs Students Admin Staff Faculty
Verb Phrases toward Top
Noun Phrases toward Bottom
Tip
Copyright © 2014 Innovation Accelerator 31
What type of problem occupies most of your time?
1. Technical/Engineering
2. Marketing/Advertising
3. Strategic Planning
4. New Product Development
5. Business Process Coordination (Lean, Six Sigma, TRIZ, Theory of Constraints, etc.)
Copyright © 2014 Innovation Accelerator 32
Marketing Problem
Overcome obstacles to customer acceptance of a product
Copyright © 2014 Innovation Accelerator 34
remove known obstacle to customer acceptance
changeproduct change
customer’s associationschangecontainer
changeproductname
Copyright © 2014 Innovation Accelerator 35
shape texture aroma
remove known obstacle to customer acceptance
changeproduct change
customer’s associationschangecontainer
size color
50 Viewing Lenses Softwarefor a Physical Product
changeproductname
Copyright © 2014 Innovation Accelerator 36
shape texture aroma
remove known obstacle to customer acceptance
changeproduct change
customer’s associationschangecontainer
size color
50 Viewing Lenses Softwarefor a Physical Product
current associations
opposite, desirable associations
Things with Desirable Associations
IA Association Software
changeproductname
Copyright © 2014 Innovation Accelerator 38
PackagingCustomer
Associations Product
Health concerns Growing Competition Etc.
chemicals toppingsOtherSnacks
PoppedPopcorn
Problems
RefinedProblems
Not aSnack
Improve Sales of Microwave Popcorn
Not Just for Movies
Resources
Use of Resources
Copyright © 2014 Innovation Accelerator 39
Advertising:
TransferringGood Feelings about the Known
to Your Unknown Product
Variation on Our Graph
Copyright © 2014 Innovation Accelerator 41
Hampshire College
Thing to Advertise
Qualities Desired
by Customers
Freedom
EnthusiasticProfessors
Student RunOrganizations
Copyright © 2014 Innovation Accelerator 42
Hampshire College
Thing to Advertise
Qualities Desired
by Customers
Concrete Things Associated with
Qualities
Freedom
EnthusiasticProfessors
Student RunOrganizations
IA Association Software
Copyright © 2014 Innovation Accelerator 43
Hampshire College
Thing to Advertise
Qualities Desired
by Customers
Concrete Things Associated with
Qualities
Freedom
EnthusiasticProfessors
Student RunOrganizations
Declaration ofIndependence
surfingsnowboardinggraduation
barefoot
improvjazz
ConstitutionIA Association
Software
Copyright © 2014 Innovation Accelerator 44
Hampshire College
Thing to Advertise
Qualities Desired
by Customers
Concrete Things Associated with
Qualities
Freedom
EnthusiasticProfessors
Student RunOrganizations
Declaration ofIndependence
surfingsnowboardinggraduation
barefoot
improvjazz
Constitution
Concrete Resources & Associations
Art
BeautifulGrounds
Copyright © 2014 Innovation Accelerator 45
Hampshire College
Thing to Advertise
Qualities Desired
by Customers
Concrete Things Associated with
Qualities
Freedom
EnthusiasticProfessors
Student RunOrganizations
Declaration ofIndependence
surfingsnowboardinggraduation
barefoot
improvjazz
Constitution
Concrete Resources & Associations
Art
BeautifulGrounds
Copyright © 2014 Innovation Accelerator 47
Hampshire College
Thing to Advertise
Qualities Desired
by Customers
Concrete Things Associated with
Qualities
Freedom
EnthusiasticProfessors
Student RunOrganizations
Declaration ofIndependence
surfingsnowboardinggraduation
barefoot
improvjazz
Constitution
Concrete Resources & Associations
Art
BeautifulGroundsBlend!
Copyright © 2014 Innovation Accelerator 49
New Uses for a Product
Focus on Product & Move Outward
Variation on Our Graph(Circular Graph)
Copyright © 2014 Innovation Accelerator 51
PouchPackaging
Create New Uses for Pouch Packaging
shape texture aromasize color
50 Viewing Lensesfor a Physical Product
Copyright © 2014 Innovation Accelerator 52
PouchPackaging
shape texture aromasize color
50 Viewing Lenses
Copyright © 2014 Innovation Accelerator 55
Coordination of Business Processes
o Lean
o TRIZ
o Six Hats
o Lateral Thinking
o Six Sigma
o Theory of Constraints
Copyright © 2014 Innovation Accelerator 56
TRIZ
Lean
Six Sigma
Theory of Constraints
Group Creative Process
Copyright © 2014 Innovation Accelerator 57
Structured Innovation Through BrainSwarming
Insourcing Innovation, Silverstein, DeCarlo, Slocum, p16 with Modifications
BrainSwarmingDr. McCaffrey
Copyright © 2014 Innovation Accelerator 59
Football Concussion Problem
BrainSwarming Identified A Novel Promising Solution
Copyright © 2014 Innovation Accelerator 60
Online BrainSwarming
• Software organizes graph
• People work remotely across the globe
• Software uncovers the overlooked
• Software finds “similar” problems
Copyright © 2014 Innovation Accelerator 61
Conclusions on BrainSwarming
• Brings Science to the Art of Innovation
• Structures your creative process
• Facilitates Parallel Problem Solving
• Visualization method reveals novel ideas
Available Now
Copyright © 2014 Innovation Accelerator 62
Jim Pearson – [email protected](508) 429-4823
Tony McCaffrey – CTO [email protected](508) 340-2655
Innovation Accelerator
BrainSwarming
Resources
Consulting: Call Us Today!
Questions?
OCTOBER 17, 2012
To ask a question … click on the “question icon” in the lower-right corner of your screen.