Page 58 - 100 Great Business Ideas: From Leading Companies Around the World (100 Great Ideas)

1 4/1. BOUNCE IT OFF SOMEONE I_ I. SE

Simply talking to someone else about a problem

employs the idea that "two heads are better than
one." Suggest what you think the problem is
and elicit the other person's reaction. Each of

you can offer definitions and defend them un-
til you find one that you can agree on.

15/2. CONSENSUS BUILDING

A large number of techniques for consensus
building exist,. Among these are voting in a
democratic manner and sitting in a circle
and discussing the problem until a consen-
sus is reached. Creativity circles, described
in Chapter 5, often begin by reaching a consen-
sus definition of the problem.

1613. DRAW A PICTURE OF THE
PROBLEM

One way to make certain that you are identifying the real
problem is to draw a picture of it. This process can also be
used in generating alternatives. Because creativity is largely
a right-brain function (in right-handed people, the opposite
in left-handed people), and the right brain is more visually
oriented than the left brain, (opposite for left-handers) draw-
ing pictures seems to aid the creative process. If you can
"see" the problem, you have a better chance of making cer-
tain that you are solving the real problem. So take out a pen
and a piece of paper and draw a picture of your problem.
What insights do you gain?

17/4. EXPERIENCE KIT

The experience kit was developed by IdeaScope of Cam-
bridge, Massachusetts. It involves putting problem solvers
through an experience that causes them to understand the
problem better and therefore generate more and better solu-
tions. It is a sort of combination of role playing and idea
triggers. The experience kit involves participants in the prob-
lem. For example, IdeaScope provided detergent brand

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