Page 170 - 100 Great Business Ideas: From Leading Companies Around the World (100 Great Ideas)

90/26. PIN CARD I LCHNIQUE

This is another to lwi&iue developed at the Battelle Institute

of Frankfurt, ( perniany. This German adaptation of
brainwriting is based on another German creativity technique
known as the metaphor technique. This process is similar to
the NHK method and TKJ method which are described as
processes 11 and 13 in this chapter. This version of
brainwriting allows for structuring of the ideas quickly. 53

SUMMARY OF STEPS

1. A group of five to eight people sit around a table.
2. Each member writes his or her thoughts about a given problem

on cards (one idea per card) using colored magic markers, a dif-
ferent color for each contributor.
3. All completed cards are passed in the same direction.
4. Each participant reads the cards that have been passed to him or
her and passes them on to the next person if the ideas seem worth-
while. ideas that do not appear useful are set aside.
5. The moderator sorts out the cards that make it all the way around
the table.
6. These cards are sorted into categories and pinned to a large sur-
face.

91/27. SCENARIO WRITING 101
CREATIVE
Scenario writing involves analyzing information, thinking PROBLEM
and writing about scenarios discussing the company's (or SOLVING
an individual's) potential future. An important part of this TECHNIQUES
exercise begins with identifying problems and opportuni-
ties that may result from any of the scenarios envisioned and 155
then solving the problems or taking advantage of the oppor-
tunities. It is believed that creating scenarios will lead to
many suggested solutions.

Scenario writing is a sophisticated technique that requires
considerable time and effort. It is the thinking about future
possibilities that is important. The scenarios themselves are
somewhat secondary. Few managers, professionals, or other
employees think they have time to think about the future,
but such activity is vital to success.