Yet there is a definite process that maximizes the size and quality of the idea pool
While there are hundreds of valid techniques for doing this, below are just some of the important concepts leaders should consider.a)      The sum of ideas produced by individuals acting alone is greater than the sum of ideas produced by those individuals acting as a group
     Further, the diversity and novelty of ideas produced by individuals acting alone is greater than produced in a group
     This means that asking group members to think of a set number of diverse and novel ideas before the session and then repeat the process during the session results in greater total output
Be sure to insist that individuals think of new ideas in the group session.b)      Individuals are prone to competency traps and path dependency
     This means that it is hard for them to rapidly frame break unless new experience, stimuli or knowledge is introduced
     One solution is to import competencies
     Bring in new and dissimilar individuals
Try and ensure these new individuals score high on expression, tacit knowledge and status.c)      Brainstorming usually implies that the solution to a problem is being sought
     Thus one good principle is to break the session into three parts problem identification, idea generation and idea selection
     It is amazing how many different perceptions of a problem often exist
     Each problem definition generates its own set of ideas
     This stage-process allows the separation of creative from critical thinking
     Writing and editing are two very different processes
d)      Set incremental goals
Incremental goals produce more output than do your best.      Further, they force output and trigger prolific production; it can be said with great certainty that quality is closely connected with quantity the single best creative product tends to appear at that point in the career when the creator is being most prolific
There are at least two types of incremental goal: 1) short term this forces production of output and 2) long term this allows problems to incubate at various cognitive levels and results in the required insight.e)      Foster collaboration instead of competition
     Competition causes people to shut down, restricts the flow of information and creates core and peripheral groups
On the other hand, collaboration allows the intellectual cross-pollination that is the raw material for the idea generation process.f)      One of the top idea generation killers is slow or non-existent implementation
     People just will not take idea generation seriously if nothing tangible resulted from the last brainstorming session
     Ensure direct links to decision makers and visible progression through the innovation process idea selection, development and commercialisation
g) Dont rely on creative types.      Everyone can generate large numbers of diverse and novel ideas
     Whilst there are assertions that there are creativity traits such as lack tolerance for conformity and tolerance for ambiguity, these theories are questioned on the basis that traits are hard to identify, isolate and are not stable or transferable across situations
Further, other criteria such as motivation and competencies are critical.h)      Think beyond brainstorming
     The concept of brainstorming as the only effective method of good idea generation is questionable
     Some brainstorming negatives include: 1) dilution of ideas, 2) lower rates of participation from individuals who score low in expression and 3) evaluation apprehension
Idea boxes, idea intranets and knowledge bases are just some methods of maximising the contribution of every individual.************************************These and other topics are covered in depth in the MBA dissertation on Managing Creativity & Innovation, which can be purchased at http://www.managing-creativity.com, MBA, http://www.managing-creativity.com************************************You are free to reproduce this article as long as the author's name, web address and link to MBA dissertation is retained.