Q. 94  Brainstorming is one of the most common tools used in problem solving. What are some of the limitations in brainstorming and how can one overcome these? Highlight with relevant examples. 

 

 

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Brainstorming is one of the most basic and effective tool which is used to understand any given problem and find all possible solution with the the help of a focused group/team. Though it is highly used in mostly all the project, it does have some critical limitations which compels project team to use different tools.

1. Brainstorming lists all possible causes/solutions for a problem but outcome is generally not comes out category wise which make it difficult to undertake next possible steps to proceed ahead/focused areas to work on.

2. Prioritization: It is one the most critical gap which is noticed in brainstorming, all causes/solutions are not prioritized in any given way which makes it very difficult for us to prioritize the actions.   

BRAINSTORMING, is a group technique in which efforts are made to reach a conclusion for a specific problem by gathering a lot ideas which are contributed by group members. In this, a cross functional team efforts required because of different creativity at different level of management for finishing the project. it widens the scope of the issue as participants cme from different disciplines. 

 

Before discussing about the limitations of brainstorming and its solution first we discuss brief about types of brainstorming session for more clarification.Below is types of brainstorming :

1. De. Bono Six Thinking Hats      This technique developed by Dr. Edword de Bono.He introduced six different hats which represents different thought of group members.
   • WHITE HAT:  in this participants considers only data and information whatever they have with them
   • RED HAT:  in this tema members gets the opportunities to present their feelings.
   • BLACK HAT:  in this teams avoids group thinking and calls for critical judgement.
   • BLUE HAT: this is used to control the whole brainstorming session
   • GREEN HAT:  in this team members will have sufficient time and space for creative thinking.
   • YELLOW HAT: in this team members looks logically to reach out a solution for any given problem.
2. Multivoting:                 In this team members has points to allocate to the ideas as he or she feels . by doing this whichever idea gets the higher  points , will be worked first.
3. Nominal Group Technique: NGT is used to prioritize the list of items. in this all team members writing down their ideas on a slip of paper and after some time when all members have run out of theri ideas the facilitator selects one idea from each team member and records it on a board which is visible to all. the process goes until all ideas written on board and during this no discussion will be done.Now the ideas will be prioritize which will be decided by team members by giving ranking to individual
4. Force -Field Analysis:  this technique is used for analysing the forces that hinder the organization in reaching its objective. in this driving and restraining forces are used. these forces may be many to one in any direction. 
5. Delphi Technique:  developed by Dalkey and Helmer and is a widely used and accepted method. In this a secret ballot process is used for giving responses by team members. and all participants are encouraged to revise their answers after getting replied from experts. This is used to gather data from participants within their domain of expert. 

    limitations and solution with example of brainstorming :

1.    A person or group dominates the session    
   •  for example a person or a group in the session is dominating and not allowing the other members to put their idea's. 
     • Solution:  
       • go around the team and ask each person for one comment
       • Speak to the dominating people between team meetings, and requesting theri assistance.
2.  A person or group is reluctant o participate: 
   •  for example during discussion, a person or a group is not responding or not contributing in the session even he or all are the doamin expert.
     • Solution:
       •  Form small subgroups that report to full team
       • be sure to welcome and express appriciation
       • speak to the reluctant people between team meetings and requesting their assiatance.
3.  Accept opinion without data:
   • for example if all group members are accepting any decision without sufficient data discussed in th group.
     •  Solution:
       • Raise question like how do we know that? 
         • is there any sufficient data?
         • how can we verify that.
4.  Groupthink:
   •  all group members thinking in one direction and reach a solution very early and members are more concerning about to avoid any conflict.
     • Solution:
       •  provide full opportunity for teh expression
       • be sure fro a written conclusion
       • ask individuals to play by opposing early consensus.
5.  Disputes: 
   • sometimes dispute starts instead of any discussion and everyone tries to make himself right. 
     • Solution: 
       • assign team members the job of collecting data regarding the issue
       • have a printed agenda
       • make sure grund rule satte teh need of fresh start
6.  Floundering: 
   • sometimes team has lost its goals and objectives during session and start discuss on thing which are not relevant to the problem which is decided to discuss.
     • Solution:
       •  make goals and objectives clear in starting 
       • start team meeting by revisiting goals and objectives.
       • consider facilitator
7. Rushing to meet its milestones:
   •  in this team is taking risk of suboptimization and solving one problem by creating other problem and rushing to meet its target without benefit of a throughout study, just to finish it early.
     • Solution: 
       • encourage the team to study approaches and its solutions.
       • any change should be clearly communicated.
8.  Trouble over issue of attribution:
   •  sometimes issue of attribution comes in team members that who should get credit for an accomplishment.
     •  Solution:
       • acknowledgment should be there if there is any idea from outside also.
       • if any person or group was responsible for the source of ideas that should be acknowledged.

 

Limitations of brainstorming session is that it can confuse people with so many ideas flooding into. We might not get the right resolution to the problem and moght get carried away with the idea provided by the most influential person or group. The way to overcome this issue is to note down the points and then prioritise them. Then filter the most relevant solution.

Brainstorming is an individual or group method for generating ideas and solutions to problems.

 

Limitations in Brainstorming / How to overcome:

1. The focus on the quantity of ideas can be derailed easily by criticism or poor facilitation. In such case requires an experienced facilitator who is sensitive to group dynamics and social pressures and not afraid to note violations of the ground rules.

2. Group with a large numbers will not effective. In such case use group size 3 - 10, not more than that.

3. Extroverts or the senior people tend to dominate group work. In such case stop the involvement of senior people in the initial brainstorming session.

4. Some participants will not express their ideas “because of the belief that they will be seen as inarticulate or suggest ideas that have little or no values". In such case use brainwriting.  "brainwriting refers to a group of methods that emphasize the silent generation of ideas in writing”

5. Participants social anxiousness or feeling that their ideas will be negatively evaluated by other team members. In such case use nominal group than the interactive brainstorming group.

6. Some participants stay quite during the brainstorm session. In such case use Round Robin method of brainstorming, which allows everyone to pitch in and contribute.

7. The quantity of ideas will suffer when one participant is speaking and blocking the idea generation of the other members. So it is better allow only one group member to speak at a time.

Brainstorming is most likely used in FMEA ,which is the tool being used in "Measure" & "Analysis" phase. Potential failure of design or processes are pre-determined and it's imact on design or function with respect to severity , occurrence & detection.

The best answer for this question is provided by Bheemannadora Sappa. The answer is the chosen best answer due to its sharpness, brevity and writing acuity.

 

The details provided in Vastupal's answers are good to read, too.