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Simple & Pragmatic Problem Solving
#67Chapter 6: Group Creative Option Generation• Group Creative Optionscreative Thinkinggroup Mode30-45 min(fast)

Brainwriting Pool

From the book "Advanced Problem-Solving Toolbox: 115 Creative Plays" | Compiled & Edited by: Mojtaba Goudarzi, Open translation: Mehrshid Goudarzi
Executive Synopsis & Core Logic:

evolved intellectual writing at the Battel Institute in Germany: placing idea sheets in a central pool, so that each person, after recording 4 ideas, leaves the sheet in the pool and picks up another sheet for elaboration.

Operational Parameters & Specifications

Category
Group Creative Options
Dominant Thinking
creative
Participation
group
Estimated Timefast
30-45 min
Fast
Input Format
shared pool of idea sheets in the middle of the table, non-linear cross-inspiration
Output Format
Idea generation
Key Application
Development of technological product features, research and development (R&D) sessions, design of multi-layered advertising campaigns, and resolution of system conflicts.
Core Differentiator:

individual flexibility and free flow; Unlike forced linear rotation, the procrastinator does not remain the slowest member of the group and draws from the pool of fresh ideas whenever he hits a mental block.

Quick Field Example:

Designing new smartphone features: Each member writes 4 ideas (battery, body, charging, artificial intelligence) and throws them into the pool and takes another sheet to add cooling innovations.

Operational Benefits & Implementation Risks

Advantages & Value Creation:

maintaining the dynamic rhythm of the meeting without time strokes, the random and organic intersection of thoughts, the wonderful combination of individual independence with collective intelligence.

Risks & Potential Trade-offs:

Some cards in the pool may be ignored by participants and remain untouched.

Real-World Organizational & Industry Scenarios

Research and Development (R&D) teams: creating multipurpose technology options for electronic and mechanical platforms.
Content Strategy Design: Putting headline ideas into a central pool and developing visual and video formats by other members.
Developing startup processes: simultaneously solving the challenges of marketing funnel, customer support and user retention.

Strategic Rationale & Why to Apply

1People's Speed ​​Independence: Fast people don't wait for more thoughtful members and draw new cards from the pool.
2Instant brain feed when deadlocked: If someone reaches a deadlock, they put their card in the pool and are sparked by reading another card.
3Avoid duplicate paths: access to different tabs at each stage maximizes the variety of viewing angles.
4Maintain productive silence and focus: The quiet environment of the session provides the deep cognitive focus required by engineering.

Conceptual Framework & Book Method Description

"Brainwriting Pool" was invented by researchers at the Battelle Institute in Frankfurt, Germany as a freer and more fluent version of brainwriting.

In this method, at the beginning of the meeting, each participant has a piece of paper and writes 4 basic ideas on it. Then this sheet is placed in the center of the table (shared pool). Anyone who runs out of paper or runs out of ideas takes a random paper from the pool, reads the ideas written on it, and adds at least one or two innovations, additions, or enhancements to them. This spontaneous trading goes on for about 30 minutes and the result is a rich pool of hybrid ideas with incredible depth of development.

Step-by-Step Real-World Implementation Scenario

Architecture design of new mobile flagship features with Battle Institute's thought pool
1
Step 1: forming the central pool and writing 4 basic ideasteam members sat around the table; Each person wrote 4 raw ideas in the fields of display, battery, body and artificial intelligence on a piece of paper and threw it into the pool at the center of the table.
2
Step 2: Diving into the pool and mutual inspirationThe hardware engineer took a sheet from the pool that read "Fast charging and long battery life"; He added the idea of ​​"dual graphene battery cells".
3
Step 3: Recirculation and development of software layersartificial intelligence designer took the same sheet from the pool and developed the feature "Intelligent management of energy consumption by learning user behavior patterns" on it.
4
Step 4: Development of the body and display In subsequent exchanges, the idea of ​​"waterproof body" evolved into "light space titanium alloy with anti-scratch nano-coating and processor heat dissipation" with subsequent impressions.
5
Step 5: Emptying the Pool and Assembling the Final ModulesAfter 35 minutes, 20 multilayer sheets were removed from the pool; 10 complementary features were finalized for the flagship roadmap, bringing the technical satisfaction score to 94%.

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Previous Play (#66)
Brainwriting
Next Play (#68)
Brainwriting 6-3-5
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