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Simple & Pragmatic Problem Solving
#84Chapter 6: Group Creative Option Generation• Group Creative Optionscollaborative, hybrid and cultural (Harmonious Brainstorming) Thinkinggroup Mode60-120 Minutes(Moderate to time-consuming)

Mitsubishi Brainstorming Method

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

Sadami Aoki's structured approach at Mitsubishi Resin Company; Integrating individualized warm-up thinking, reading aloud, visual mapping, and applied sensitivity analysis for perfect equality of voices.

Operational Parameters & Specifications

Category
Group Creative Options
Dominant Thinking
collaborative, hybrid and cultural (Harmonious Brainstorming)
Participation
group
Estimated TimeModerate to time-consuming
60-120 Minutes
Workshop
Input Format
Need for innovative product Individual note cards Group mapping board
Output Format
Idea generation and relationship clustering
Key Application
Development of mobile applications and software products, design of household and industrial appliances, strategic organizational planning with team coordination.
Core Differentiator:

combining an initial individual silence period, formal turn-based reading of ideas, and graphic mapping of interrelationships of ideas on the whiteboard before entering into in-depth discussion.

Quick Field Example:

The software team first writes ideas for 15 minutes in silence to create a productivity app; Then they take a long turn and the team leader maps out the connection between calendar syncing, AI reminders and privacy.

Operational Benefits & Implementation Risks

Advantages & Value Creation:

Creating the perfect balance between quiet and talkative people, enhancing the depth of ideas through careful listening, turning ideas into a coherent communication map.

Risks & Potential Trade-offs:

Relatively time-consuming reading and mapping stages, requiring high team patience to avoid interrupting colleagues.

Real-World Organizational & Industry Scenarios

Development of software and SaaS products: design of task management platform with synchronization of calendar and automation services.
Industrial Equipment Design: Reengineering Assembly Lines with Equal Participation of Technicians and Mechanical Designers.
Improving the hospitality service chain: exploring solutions to improve the guest experience by creating an equal space for dialogue between service staff.

Strategic Rationale & Why to Apply

1Cultural Respect and Equality (Wa): In team cultures, hierarchy should not stifle the creative voice of younger people.
2Reinforce Weaker Ideas: Hearing a colleague's idea out loud is the best catalyst for awakening the minds of those who had no ideas.
3Visualization instead of stacking: Graphical mapping on the board allows ideas to be seen together and product holes to be revealed.
4Refinement of sensitivities: Consideration of privacy and user experience aspects ensures that the solution is not only attractive but also acceptable.

Conceptual Framework & Book Method Description

"Mitsubishi Brainstorming Method" was designed by Sadami Aoki at Mitsubishi Resin Company. This method was created with the aim of combining the spirit of Japanese collaboration with Western brainstorming. The session begins with 15 minutes of individual reflection in silence (Warm-up). Then each person reads their ideas out loud to inspire others. In the third phase, the facilitator links the ideas as a visual concept map on the whiteboard, and in the fourth phase, the group does an in-depth analysis of user sensitivities, privacy and feasibility.

Step-by-Step Real-World Implementation Scenario

Designing a mobile application for managing daily tasks and personal productivity
1
Step 1: Warm-up and individual writing session (15 minutes)Team members including the developer, UI designer, marketer, and product manager silently wrote their ideas on the cards.
2
Step 2: Take turns reading aloudMember 1 read the idea of ​​syncing with Google Calendar; Member 2 proposed location-based smart reminders; Member 3, inspired by those two, added sharing family duties.
3
Step 3: Visual whiteboard mappingfacilitated the communication between the calendar, the reminders AI engine and the task sharing module connected with graphical lines.
4
Step 4: Sensitivities Analysis and Deep FeedbackThe team looked into the concerns: Member 4 pointed out the necessity of an unsubscribe button for private events, and Member 5 suggested the possibility of temporarily turning off AI.
5
Step 5: Development of Key Product Features Document (PRD)The output of Mitsubishi's map was transformed into a coherent architecture that was a balanced combination of intelligence, privacy and teamwork.

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