Traditional Brainstorming Research Articles

Comparing AIGC and traditional idea generation methods: Evaluating their impact on creativity in the product design ideation phase

In the early stages of product design, generating creative ideas is crucial for designers as it lays the groundwork for innovative products. This study explores how different idea generation methods, including modern artificial intelligence-generated content (AIGC) and traditional approaches, affect designers' creativity. Using a mixed-methods approach, we conducted a detailed experiment with 38 s-year university students majoring in product design, comparing four methods: traditional brainstorming (with and without images) and AIGC (using DCGANs and PGGANs). Our findings indicate that while AIGC offers benefits, it does not consistently surpass traditional techniques in fostering creativity. The quality of AIGC-generated images significantly impacts creativity, with higher-quality images proving more inspirational. Additionally, gender differences were observed: male designers preferred traditional methods, while female designers favored AIGC for creative enhancement. Male designers generated more creative ideas when working with low-quality images, whereas female designers were more productive with high-quality stimuli. This study suggests that to optimize creativity in product design, it is essential to balance the benefits of both AIGC and traditional methods, choosing the approach that best fits the project's unique needs rather than focusing solely on the latest or most advanced methods. Moreover, maintaining a good balance between AIGC and traditional idea generation methods throughout the process should be considered.

BrainSwarming, blockchain, and bioethics: applying Innovation Enhancing Techniques to healthcare and research

Innovation in healthcare and biomedicine is in decline, yet there exist no widely-known alternatives to traditional brainstorming that can be employed for innovative idea generation. McCaffrey's Innovation Enhancing Techniques (IETs) were developed to enhance creative problem-solving by helping the solver to overcome common psychological obstacles to generating innovative ideas. These techniques were devised for engineering and design problems, which involve solving practical goals using physical materials. Healthcare and science problems however often involve solving abstract goals using intangible resources. Here we adapt two of McCaffrey’s IETs, BrainSwarming and the Generic Parts Technique, to effectively enhance idea generation for such problems. To demonstrate their potential, we apply these techniques to a case study involving the use of blockchain technologies to facilitate ethical goals in biomedicine, and successfully identify 100 potential solutions to this problem. Being simple to understand and easy to implement, these and other IETs have significant potential to improve innovation and idea generation in healthcare, scientific, and technological contexts. By catalysing idea generation in problem-solving, these techniques may be used to target the innovative stagnation currently facing the scientific world.

Realization of the students’ creative potential as a condition of forming competitive specialists

Problem. Development of creative abilities is one of the major problems of future engineers’ training as they provide for innovative activity, solving nonstandard professional situations, competitiveness. They are widely considered as a component of the future specialists’ professional competence. At present higher educational institutions almost lack systematized technologies to develop students’ creativity. The problem is also insufficiently studied for teaching foreign languages at technical universities. Goal. The article aims at analyzing and systematizing methods of realization of the technical university students’ creative potential in the course of leaning foreign languages and extracurricular activities in foreign languages. Methodology. The specific principles of training creative engineers are singled out. The major forms and methods of developing the creative activity of specialists of any profile are identified, among them being students’ scientific and research work, contests, conferences, project method, case-studies, trainings in creativity, etc. The leading ways of training creative engineers that provide for developing students’ engineering thinking are outlined. They include students’ technical societies, simulation games, workshops in rationalization activity, etc. Results. The methods to be used during teaching foreign languages are described in detail. Besides traditional brainstorming, synectics, project work, etc. they include designing computer presentations and video clips, round-table discussions, method of absurd, method of free associations, translation of original verses, contests of essays, mind-mapping based on fiction, etc. Originality. Methods that can be used for developing students’ creativity and engineering thinking while teaching foreign languages are analyzed and systematized. Practical value. The technology described can be used at technical universities to enhance students’ creative abilities and, hence, their professional competence and competitiveness.

Unstructured brainstorming is not enough: structured brainstorming based on four verification and validation questions yields better hazard identification in healthcare.

(1) To introduce the Methodical Hazard Identification Checklist (MHIC) for structured brainstorming and the four V&V categories on which it is based, and (2) to compare its efficacy with that of brainstorming (BS) in identifying hazards in healthcare. Comparative analysis of MHIC and team BS results. Baruch Padeh Medical Center, Poriya, Israel. Quality engineering students, facilitators, validation teams and hospital staff who were familiar with the specific processes. The number of hazards identified by team BS were compared with those deduced by applying the four V&V hazard categories to each step (the MHIC) of 10 medical and 12 administrative processes. The total number of hazards (1) identified by BS, (2) identified by MHIC, (3) validated by the validation team and (4) hazards identified by both methods that the validation team deemed unreasonable. MHIC was significantly more successful than BS in identifying all hazards for the 22 processes (P < 0.0001). The estimated probabilities of success for BS for administrative and medical processes were 0.4444, 95%CI = [0.3506, 0.5424] and 0.3080, 95%CI = [0.2199, 0.4127], respectively. The estimated probabilities of success for MHIC for administrative and medical processes were 0.9885, 95%CI = [0.9638, 0.9964] and 0.9911, 95%CI = [0.9635, 0.9979], respectively. Compared to traditional BS, MHIC performs much better in identifying prospective hazards in the healthcare system. We applied MHIC methodology to administrative and medical processes and believe it can also be used in other industries that require hazard identification.

A review of brainstorming techniques in higher education

Various Brainstorming (BS) techniques have been proposed specifically to develop individuals’ creativity and productivity during idea-generation sessions. Yet, the available knowledge about the potential of certain BS techniques seem very limited in higher education. Thus, a review of previous studies on some BS types such as the traditional brainstorming (TBS), nominal brainstorming (NBS), and electronic brainstorming (EBS) was conducted. A total of 42 well-grounded studies about the use of these techniques in a university context were reviewed. The classification of these studies was based on four key schemes related to the purpose of use, opportunities, challenges, and proposed solutions in a discipline-specific context. The review results revealed a set of evidences supporting the use of TBS, NBS, and EBS in specific areas. We also provided a comprehensive view of why certain interventions can be more effective in some contexts than others. The insights gained from this review can be used to guide educational decision makers to identify the best BS practices/conditions within a university setting. It also shed light on the potential opportunities and challenges that students may experience when using certain BS rules and techniques.

Comparing novelty of designs from biological-inspiration with those from brainstorming

ABSTRACTThis research aims to understand the significance of biological-analogies in fostering novelty by comparing biological-analogies with other design methods for idea generation. Among other design methods, brainstorming was chosen here as benchmark. Four studies were conducted to compare: (i) the levels of abstraction at which concepts were ideated using biological inspiration (represented using biocards) with that using traditional brainstorming; and (ii) the novelty of concepts produced by using these two design methods. Concepts produced in these studies were evaluated for levels of abstraction at which they were ideated, average novelty, and proportion of high-novelty concepts. Results suggest that concepts generated using biocards were ideated at higher abstraction levels than those using brainstorming, but neither were at the highest abstraction levels. The average novelty of concepts produced using biocards was found to be greater than that using brainstorming; however, no statistically significant difference was found in the proportion of high-novelty concepts. We suspect the lack of biological knowledge and cultural difference among the subjects involved in our studies as the two reasons behind the results. The results demonstrate that the design methods substantially influence the novelty of concepts generated, while indicating the need for better training in effective use of biological-analogies.

The effectiveness of an optimized EPMcreate as a creativity enhancement technique for Web site requirements elicitation

Creativity is often needed in requirements elicitation, i.e., requirement idea generation; and techniques to enhance creativity are believed to be useful. This paper describes two controlled experiments to compare the requirements-elicitation effectiveness of three creativity enhancement techniques (CET): (1) full EPMcreate; (2) Power-Only EPMcreate, an optimization of full EPMcreate; and (3) traditional brainstorming. In each experiment, one team of university students applied one of the two or three CETs under study in the experiment to generate ideas for requirements for enhancing a high school's public Web site. The results of the first experiment indicate that Power-Only EPMcreate is more effective, by the quantity and quality of the ideas generated, than the full EPMcreate, which is, in turn, more effective than brainstorming. The results of the second experiment confirm that Power-Only EPMcreate is more effective, by the same measures, than full EPMcreate. In each experiment, for the sake of uniform, reproducible evaluation, a requirement idea is considered high quality if it is both new and useful.

Collective intelligence with web-based information aggregation markets: The role of market facilitation in idea management

Communities within corporations can significantly contribute to innovation and the idea management process. The collection of ideas and aggregation of evaluation information from a community is a demanding task that requires the use of special methods. In this paper we explore the use of information aggregation markets (IAMs) in the fuzzy front-end of innovation. Furthermore, we identify and define a type of facilitation which we name ‘market facilitation’ and we assess its role in new idea generation at different levels of restrictiveness. The empirical results of a laboratory experiment indicate that IAMs enable the acquisition of more ideas than traditional brainstorming and of similar quality. Market facilitation forms entailing different levels of restrictiveness are found to affect the number and the quality of ideas acquired. As the level of market facilitation restrictiveness decreases, the number of acquired ideas increases and their quality deteriorates. To practitioners, our study provides empirical evidence on the advantages of IAMs over traditional electronic brainstorming as an alternative method for idea generation and evaluation.

Comparative Study of Idea Generation between Traditional Value Management Workshops and GDSS-Supported Workshops

Value management (VM) has been widely used to meet challenges arising from the construction industry. However, it has also encountered some problems such as passive participation in VM workshops and a lack of time and information to complete all tasks in the workshops. A group decision support system (GDSS), entitled interactive value management system (IVMS), has been developed by the writers to overcome these problems. This paper starts with an introduction to GDSS and a critical review of technologies used in the process of idea generation in VM workshops. This is followed by findings of a laboratory experiment designed to compare the productivity of traditional brainstorming and brainstorming with IVMS support in VM workshops. The results of the experiment showed that IVMS has a positive influence on idea generation in VM workshops. Finally, the implications of the study and directions for future research are discussed.

Failure modes and effects analysis through knowledge modelling

Failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) is a widely used quality improvement and risk assessment tool in manufacturing. Accumulated information about design and process failures recorded through FMEA provides very valuable knowledge for future product and process design. However, the way the knowledge is captured poses considerable difficulties for reuse. This research aims to contribute to the reuse of FMEA knowledge through a knowledge modelling approach. An attempt is made to shift FMEA activities to the conceptual design stage. The early warning about possible failures will enable designers to avoid costly and difficult design changes at later stages of the design process. An object-oriented approach has been used to create an FMEA model. Functional diagrams have been used for the conceptual model. The FMEA model is assisted by functional reasoning techniques to enable automatic FMEA generation from historical data. The reasoning technique also provides a means for the creation of new knowledge. The FMEA generation process has been discussed. The automatic generation replaces the traditional brainstorming process for FMEA report creation. Failure report is used as the data source for the FMEA generation. The proposed method has been evaluated with a prototype software and case studies.

Effective meetings through electronic brainstorming

Addresses the vital issue of effective meetings in today′s organizations. Compares and contrasts the differences between using traditional brainstorming and electronic brain‐storming (EBS) in meetings. An analysis of EBS and its uses will furnish organizations with an insight of this powerful technology. Groups usually meet in order to generate ideas, to share information, and to initiate action. These group meetings may not always be effective. Frequently the discussion will bypass the focal points of the meetings or members will be apprehensive as to how other members will perceive their ideas. Recommends that organizations utilize EBS, for this technology can improve group effectiveness and communication.

Traditionally-moderated versus computer supported brainstorming: a comparative study

The work reported here investigated the use of the computer in an Electronic Meeting Room (EMR). It can help by supporting creative tasks. We compared results using the EMR with traditional brainstorming, particularly with respect to efficiency and effectiveness. The latter was measured by assessing the quality and the quantity of contributions and the degree of satisfaction of the participants. Since moderated groups were used as the basis of comparison, the results diverge from those published by others.

The Technology of Creativity

Reviews the advances in creative thinking since De Bono′s Lateral Thinking, including work on brain hemispheres, with particular reference to practical techniques that can be applied in business. Outlines a general approach, largely concerned with how the creative right brain is best harnessed, and drawing, inter alia, on current research among top British business leaders. Describes a number of specific techniques, including what are termed Chunking, Sleight of Mouth, Reversals, Metaphors, the Meta Model, and different forms of Visualization. Some of these have been developed within Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP). A new technique, Chunked Reversals, has been developed by the author. These techniques allow, typically, hundreds of ideas to be generated and applied to strategic or operational business objectives, in a more focused way than traditional brainstorming or lateral thinking.