Brainstorming

A method of generating ideas within a group that was originated in the 1940s by Boston advertising Executive Alex Osborn.

Although everyone has 'done it', surprisingly few know the four main rules: 

• No judgment or criticism
• Quantity over quality
• Freewheel
• Mutate and combine

Brainstorming is useful but relatively dated method and there are many ways of sprucing it up

There are a number vocal of critics of Brainstorming, including Edward de Bono, who have concluded that individual thinking is just as good, if not better. The trick is to learn a whole raft of techniques that you can use by yourself.

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