6.9.1 Brainstorming (continued)

O) Its Uses

To avoid unrealizable expectations it is necessary to recall Osborn's assessment of brainstorming as "only one of the phases of idea‑finding which, in turn, is only one of the phases of the creative problem‑solving process”. He adds:

"Let's bear in mind that group brainstorming is meant to be used - not as a substitute ‑ but as a supplement, and especially in these three ways:

1.    As a supplement to individual ideation: Individual effort is an indispensable factor in creative problem solving. Brainstorming sessions should never be considered as a substitute for such effort. Group brainstorming serves solely as a supplemental source ‑ a means of generating a maximum number of potentially usable ideas in a minimum of time.

2.    As a supplement to conventional conferences: The usual conference is necessarily judicial, both in spirit and in function, and therefore relatively unproductive of ideas. This does not mean that brainstorming sessions should supplant conventional conferences. It merely means that conventional conferences can be profitably supplemented by an occasional brainstorming session ‑ if and when creative thinking is the primary purpose.

3.    As a supplement to creative training: In over 1,000 courses in creative thinking, group brainstorming has been used as one of the teaching methods. This type of self‑demonstration does much to induce a more creative attitude and to develop fluency of ideas. By the same token, participation in brainstorming sessions can help improve the average person's creative ability, not only in group effort, but also in individual effort.

By way of emphasizing the nature of the relative contributions of both individual and group brainstorming, it should be noted that Osborn said, "Despite the many virtues of group brainstorming, individual ideation is usually more usable and can be just as productive. In fact, the ideal methodology for idea finding is a triple attack: (1) Individual ideation. (2) Group brainstorming. (3) Individual ideation”.

This then is a summary of the theory and assumptions underlying brainstorming, the factors to be considered in setting up a brainstorming session, and the factors to keep in mind to maximize the benefits to be reaped from its proper use. Needless to say, many more details may be obtained from reading Osborn's and Parnes' basic works.