Preventing Identity Theft in Your Business

APPENDIX CSTRUCTURED AND FORMAL BRAINSTORMING: STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS

The quality management literatures use a common definition with standardized instructions for conducting brainstorming, sometimes called “structured” or “formal” brainstorming. The following paraphrased definition and instructions are borrowed, in parts, from several different quality management authorities.¹

DEFINITION OF FORMAL BRAINSTORMING

Brainstorming: (1) is a problem-solving method (2) used to generate ideas by (3) using the creative process of employees working together as a team (4) whereby each team member capitalizes on the synergy created by the group process, for the goal of (5) developing a large list of specific ideas.

Brainstorming is used to investigate, analyze, and identify causes and also solutions to problems. To be effective, brainstorming requires disciplined participation in a process that follows a particular structure, which the quality management literature refers to as “structured” and “formal.”

The benefits of brainstorming are that a large list of ideas can be generated in a short time period by a team of members who are involved in this process. The process also promotes group participation, cohesion, and unity.

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS

Use these structured guidelines for your brainstorming session:

• Create a team, or teams, of three to five employees, including at least one manager. The ideal group size is five.
• Use a round or rectangular table so that each team member ...