Ideation and Brainstorming

Team MembersMeeting Times : Tuesdays 7pm

Kate Gory › Researcher

Lauren Johnson › Project Manager

Munib Rizvi › Webmaster

Olufadekemi Teriba › Presentation Lead

Agenda

What is Ideation? Why Ideation tools are needed Benefits of ideation tools Disadvantages of ideation tools Dimensions matrix Tool evaluation Software list Use Case #1 Use Case #2 Wiki Page Q/A

What is Ideation?

› Ideation is the process of creating new ideas. It is the process of generating, developing and communicating ideas.

› Ideation software includes: Mind maps Flow charts Word association programs Generative idea creation programs

Why Ideation is Needed

Uncovers/discovers new high-potential products, markets, needs, and features.

Provides a mechanism for the discussion and building of all known possibilities

Businesses Students Individuals

Benefits of Ideation Tools

Advantages of Ideation Tools› Virtual Synchronous Collaboration› Asynchronous Collaboration› Efficiency in idea generation› Ideas are captured in a structured fashion› Condensing material into a concise and

memorable format. Encourages those involved to submit

their ideas. Team building/synergy creating activity

Disadvantages of Ideation Tools

Isolation Unprofessional Image Unclear communication (no source of

reference) Lack of follow through Repetition Issues communicating meaning of the

output to those not involved in the creation of it

Security

Dimension Matrix

Tool Evaluation Accessibility:

› Web based› Accessible anywhere › Compatible with all web browsers

Cost:› Cost per user/license

Ease of Use: › User friendly; easy to understand/use› Intuitive GUI

Storage Capacity:› Sufficient storage space

Functions: › Tool should accommodate a wide range of users and functions. 

Brainstorm/generate ideas Organize & plan projects Share files Manage tasks Create and plan presentations.

User scope Security

Software List

28 tools were evaluated› Each member looked at 7› A wide scope of tools were looked at

Tools for businesses/students/individuals Main differences between the tools

› Web based vs. desktop application› Tools geared towards businesses vs.

individuals

Use Case #1 Background

Kari Peters - Program Manager, Verity Inc. Verity Inc. is a financial services firm headquartered in San Francisco with

satellite offices in London, Berlin, Hong Kong and Bombay.  Offering a wide range of U.S. and international stock, options and mutual funds, Verity has maintained average revenue over the past 3 years of 1 billion US dollars. 

Given their strong revenues and desire for control, Verity has decided to become its own clearing agent for all of its business. 

Kari wants a tool that will allow for collaboration among project targets as well as allowing the project managers to collaborate with the program manager and identify interdependencies of the various projects.  The tool will be used to allow the 174 employees of each functional area to submit, view, associate/link and rank requirements for the project/program. 

When a submitted requirement is included within the scope of the project, the facilitators (project managers) must be able to mark the idea as an open task.  Tasks ideally, but not mandatorily, will be able to be indicated and tracked with visual representations or ancillary information available as appropriate (comments, associated documents, screenshots).

Use Case #1 Requirements & Affordances

Affordances (Nice to Haves & Must Haves)

Use Case #1 Tool Selection

Criteria used to select tool Why this tool was selected over other

options (might want to pick 3 tools that you considered then compare your pick to the other two)

For tool selected : Pricing, Feasibility, Pros & Cons

Use Case #2 Background

Nick Jones – IT Manager, Fortune 500 Company, Skokie, IL Nick manages a 30 person international project team that consists

of software developers, project managers, and analysts from the US, Ireland, and India.

All team members have regular access to the internet as well as tools used to conduct international conference calls but Nick is finding it difficult to work collaboratively.

The team wants to start an internal project to improve international working relations across all of Nick’s teams but they need a tool to assist them in this effort. Some of the internal projects Nicks plans to conduct include brainstorming activities to provide direction for tactical and strategic planning for the upcoming year, methods on how his team can work together more efficiently, and a forum to share ideas about prototyping new technologies among other efforts.

Use Case #2 Requirements & Affordances

The overall goal in using any tool is the shared development of a collaboration strategy, possibly displayed through diagrams and other graphical displays.

Must haves:› Team members must be able meet virtually synchronously

and/or asynchronously› Low cost tool› Support no less than 75 users

Nice to haves: › Video conference and e-mail notifications› Document storage› Message Boards

Use Case #2Tool Selection

This tool was selected based on the must have needs of the client.

Other tools considered included Buzan's iMind Map, Mapmyself (Mapul), and Mind Genius. Of the three Mind Genius offered the best options but it was among the most expensive and therefore was not selected but should be considered as an option in the future.

Bubbl was selected because it's a free web application that allows users to synchronously or asynchronously brainstorm online regardless of location, operating systems, or browser.

Wiki Page

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mind_mapping_software

Q/A