Page 196 - 100 Great Business Ideas: From Leading Companies Around the World (100 Great Ideas)

II. Problem Solution

I l'articipants write down possible solutions to the problem on I x 5

cards. These ideas may or may not be related to any that have
preceded.
2. The leader collects the cards and redistributes them as in part I.
The leader then reads one idea aloud. As before, participants find
cards that are related to it. These are read aloud and a named
solution set emerges.
3. As before, all cards are eventually placed in named solution sets.
4. As before, an all-inclusive solution set is derived and named.

Variations: Rather than following Step 7 of Part I Problem
Definition and combining sets into one overall definition, I
like to use Step II for each of the named sets identified in
Step 6 of Part I. I find this gives us a better handle on the
problem than recombining. This approach makes TKJ simi-
lar to the storyboarding technique.

A graphical representation of the group's ideas may emerge
as the leader/recorder, when soliciting the ideas, draws a
conceptual picture of them on a writing surface in front of
the group. New ideas are then generated and written down
by participants. These may be derived from the conceptual
picture itself or from a discussion of it. Eventually these ideas
may also be shared.

Like many of the Japanese creativity techniques, the TKJ
method, which is extremely popular in Japan, uses cards,
visual maps, and association of thoughts to generate new
ideas. Some U.S. participants feel that it is too complicated
and that it restricts creativity. Others like the fact that it guar-
antees anonymity.

A FINAL NOTE

Thirty-two techniques are described in this chapter. You may
find five to ten that you feel comfortable with. But try them
all, and revisit them all occasionally to avoid getting in a rut.

180