Technology & Engineering
Ideation Techniques
Ideation techniques are methods used to generate and develop new ideas. These techniques often involve brainstorming, mind mapping, SCAMPER (Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to another use, Eliminate, Reverse), and design thinking processes. By using these techniques, engineers and technologists can effectively explore and develop innovative solutions to complex problems.
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5 Key excerpts on "Ideation Techniques"
- Patrick J. Driscoll, Gregory S. Parnell, Dale L. Henderson(Authors)
- 2022(Publication Date)
- Wiley(Publisher)
Specialty skills that primarily focus on systems projects have always been in high demand, so gen- erally making them available to the systems team requires careful budgeting. Figure 7.2 shows a Solution design Concept Map that illustrates the role of the system design teams within the context of ideation. Problem definition Systems engineers Brainstorm combine organize Search benchmark adapt create Screen experiment model simulate analyze Ideas Alternatives Candidate solutions Decision making Risk Values Provide direction Provide Use Use Use Form Guide Constrain Mitigate Feed Feed Feed Generate Generate Generate Stakeholders Design teams Figure 7.2 Concept map for the Solution design phase. Ideation Techniques 267 7.2 Ideation Techniques Innovative thinking is essential for successful solution design, but should not be confused with haphazard design, which more often leads to observations like Thomas Edison’s: “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” There is no single correct way to generate alternatives during a solution design effort. Much of the art of solution design is in knowing which tools to draw upon and who to include for a specific problem. However, all methods follow the basic model shown in Figure 7.3. The circular arrows indicate feedback and iteration loops, as necessary. 7.2.1 Brainstorming Brainstorming capitalizes on the idea that a panel of creative thinkers can create a pool of ideas that will include the nucleus of a solution. It embraces the adage that two heads are better than one, or in what early operations researchers proclaimed as the n-heads rule [1]: n heads are better than n heads minus 1. The sole product of a brainstorming session is a comprehensive and inclusive list of ideas that are collected without judgment. No attempt at analysis is made except to reduce the total list of ideas to general categories by using techniques such as affinity diagramming, described later in this chapter.
eBook - PDF- Michael Laverty, Colorado State University Global, Chris Littel, North Carolina State University(Authors)
- 2020(Publication Date)
- Openstax(Publisher)
The process uses “spaces” and not “phases” because multiple spaces can happen simultaneously. Nevertheless, inspiration usually occurs first. This entails identifying a problem or opportunity that motivates someone to search for solutions. Ideation is the process of generating ideas and solutions through various techniques such as brainstorming and sketching sessions. There are hundreds of Ideation Techniques available. A few examples of ideation exercises include Top Five, How Might We, Mash-up, and Co-Creation Session. In Top Five, everyone on the team writes down their top five ideas, shares them, and clusters similar ideas. In How Might We, the team looks at insight statements and reframes them as “How Might We” questions by adding that phrase at the beginning. The goal is to find opportunities for design that also allows for a variety of solutions. Mash-up involves combining existing brands or concepts to create something new. The team identifies those brands or concepts that represent a quality they desire in their solution, and they “mash up” those ideas to create a new idea. A co-creation session incorporates the desired market into the creation process by recruiting a group of people from the market to work on the design with the team. The goal is to capture the feedback the group provides by treating them as designers, not as interview subjects. Implemented solutions evolve from interactions with users and from the ongoing creation and refinement of possible solutions. Design thinking incorporates experience-based insights, judgments, and intuition from the end users’ perspectives, while in a rational analytic approach, the solution process often becomes formalized into a set of rules. Chapter 6 Problem Solving and Need Recognition Techniques 239 Nesta is a UK-based innovation foundation that offers many design thinking tools and resources similar to IDEO.
eBook - PDFDesigning Engineers
An Introductory Text
- Susan McCahan, Phil Anderson, Mark Kortschot, Peter E. Weiss, Kimberly A. Woodhouse(Authors)
- 2015(Publication Date)
- Wiley(Publisher)
The idea generation process will inevitably continue even as you converge on a single solution that will be implemented. This is the reality of the design process. Of course, like any activity that has commercial and practical significance, there have been many books, articles, and software programs written to promote and facili- tate creative idea generation. Some of the methods that are widely used in professional engineering design for creative solution generation include free and structured brain- storming, lateral thinking, SCAMPER, morphological charts, analogy, and TRIZ. These methods are used not only for generating creative solutions to the design prob- lem, but can also be used for other parts of the design process, such as for generating the design requirements. We encourage you to try using several of these methods to fully populate the design solution space. Introduction to Idea Generation 127 D E S I G N P R O C E S S > I D E A G E N E R AT I O N > 1 3. Leaving This Process Module After working through this module you should have: - A long list of design solution ideas - Documentation of the idea generation activities you have used: Documentation of the creativity methods your team used to generate solutions A much longer list that includes all of the ideas you generated before you elimi- nated duplicates and combined ideas KEY TERMS divergent process creativity methods SCAMPER TRIZ design space brainstorming morphological charts idea generation optimal solution lateral thinking analogy 4. Questions and activities 1. Explain the role of idea generation in the design process. 2. Explain three methods that can be used for idea generation. 3. Pick a design problem and try using a variety of creativity methods to generate a large number of potential solutions. 4. Generate potential solution ideas for the design project you are working on cur- rently. Document your thinking process and results in your engineering notebook.
eBook - PDF- Z.T. Bieniawski(Author)
- 2020(Publication Date)
- CRC Press(Publisher)
His study indicated that an innovative product design is a creative undertaking requiring sensitivity and intellect. Creative design is stimulated by interest and curiosity. The designer must be fascinated by the design job and see it as an intellectual challenge. Creativity in the design process is needed not only at the conceptual stage, but right through to the detailing phase. Moreover, the designer needs to be aware of the historical development of the subject to see the current problem in perspective and as a source of creative ideas. There are a number of techniques which may be used by designers to improve their creativity. Some of the most common ones are: Brainstorming. Probably the most popular creativity technique, brainstorming involves a session where members of a group (or individuals working alone) are encouraged to create freely as many solutions to a problem as they can. Although participants are encouraged to suggest how their own ideas and those of others can be joined together to form a solution, no criticism or evaluation of their own or other ideas is allowed. The assumption under brainstorming is that the greater the number of ideas produced, the greater the probability of achieving an effective solution to a problem. Without criticism or evaluation, participants can concen- trate more on determining and shaping solutions than defending their ideas. Furthermore, because brainstorming excludes factors which tend to induce emo- tion, it not only breeds self-confidence but stimulates creative thinking as well. Brainstorming works because it helps solve problems, encourages participation, promotes teamwork, and evokes a sense of purpose. Most of all, however, brainstorming makes creativity contagious. A single word can fire up the whole Linking creativity, design and innovation 19 group or a single phrase can release a flood of associated thoughts and concepts. Examples of brainstorming sessions are given in Chapter 7.
- Ralph L. Kliem(Author)
- 2013(Publication Date)
- Auerbach Publications(Publisher)
Common Creativity Tools and Techniques • 137 3. Try to use imagineering to generate different versions of an idea. Perhaps, for example, change a component’s size or purpose or alter some of the relationships and see the effects. 4. As a creative idea is placed into the real world, compare the actual results with the anticipated ones using imagineering. Such action may reveal that an idea was erroneous to some degree or completely out of touch with reality. Modifications may then be necessary. 5. Remember that imagineering works with other techniques. These techniques include modeling, such as prototyping. 17 The other tech-niques enable using the imagination and churning the vision into something tangible. Some ways to use imagineering on a project include: • Capturing the to-be state of a process • Formulating an ideal response strategy to a high-probability and high-impact risk, should it occur • Picturing what a deliverable should ideally look like • Visualizing the outcome of an executive-level status presentation Lateral Thinking Edward de Bono is the creator of this approach. It is predicated on the notion that people normally use patterned thinking, which is linear and analytical in orientation. In contrast, lateral thinking encourages the breaking of patterns through synthesis (e.g., combining and recombining to determine different alternatives). Keep the following in mind when employing lateral thinking: 1. Look for evidence of patterned thinking, such as assumptions treated as facts and adherence to a paradigm or model already in use. Such evidence reveals a person’s preferences on how he or she interprets and responds in the real world. 2. Identify any shortcomings. These are opportunities to generate creative solutions. They are usually gaps in patterned thinking. 3. Look at a problem from different angles or perspectives.
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