1. Gather Ideas – Open – divergent thinking

Structured Brain Storming

• Participants are asked to think about a particular issue and come up with possible solutions or ideas.
• Participants are given time for individual reflection (talking to yourself on paper) and asked to generate their list.
• Participants are asked to share, one idea at a time in round robin format.
• All items are numbered and written on a flip chart just as presented.
• Everyone has the option to pass on any round and join in on a later round.
• The round robin continues until everyone’s ideas are on the flip chart.
• The next step is clarification so everyone in the group has a common level of understanding of each statement.

 Structured Brainwriting

• Distribute a piece of paper with 21 squares (seven rows of squares with 3 per column – see handout) to each participant.
• Have each person write down three ideas and put the paper in a center pile.
• Ask each person to draw a new paper from the pool and add three more ideas that are either new or expansions of ideas someone has already put on the form.
• Keep exchanging papers until each form is nearly full.
• Have members read aloud in a round robin the ideas on the forms. Participants should cross out ideas that are repeated on their own form.

Mind Mapping

• Begin with a word or issue you want to think about
• Place in the center of paper/flip chart
• Add one or two word descriptions of the ideas on lines moving from the center

2. Prioritizing Ideas – Narrow – select from alternatives

Prioritizing

Each person reviews the list and identifies their top three items by number.

• The facilitator goes around again round robin and collects the numbers and the group hears the reasons.
• As numbers are called they are circled on the sheet.  Each number is circled only once no matter how often it is selected.
• At this point there may be some combining if items sound similar.

3. Close

Multivoting

From a generated list of ideas each person votes for as many ideas as he or she likes.

• The ideas that get the most votes are circled.
• The remaining ideas are consolidated where possible.
• Each person votes again, but this time for only half the number of ideas that are circled.
• Multivoting continues until the list is down to at least three but no more than five ideas.

Dots

To prioritize participants can receive colored dots (3) and place them next to the circled items that they support.  Each dot is one vote and they can be placed individually and collectively next to the circled items.

10/4 Rule

Another method of prioritizing is called the 10/4 rule.  Each participant has 10 votes and can use them in favor of any circled items, but can place a maximum of 4 votes on any one item.

In both of the above, the dots or votes are counted and the highest numbers become the top priority.