brainstorming
Spontaneous idea generation
Brainstorming is generating ideas freely and spontaneously, usually in a group, without immediately judging their merit.
The goal is quantity over quality—criticism comes later.
We spent an hour brainstorming solutions to the budget problem.
The term applies both to the activity and the session itself: Let's schedule a brainstorming for Tuesday.
Place for making or learning
- meetingGathering for discussion
- whiteboardErasable marker writing surface
- flipchartBound presentation paper display
- post-itsAdhesive-backed memo slips
sticky-notes · markers · agenda · facilitator · timeboxing · warm-up · icebreaker · breakout
Mental creations or plans
- ideateForm mental concepts
- mindmapRadial idea diagram
- creativityCapacity for original thought
- imaginationFaculty for forming ideas
inspiration · thinking · concepts · originality · invention · ingenuity · visualization · divergent
Joint effort toward shared aim
- synergyCombined effect exceeding components
- partnershipShared business arrangement
- cooperationJoint action toward shared aims
- groupworkCollaborative task completion
coordination · dialogue · communication · co-creation · collective · input · feedback · contribution
Radial idea diagram
- clusteringForming concentrated groups
- freewritingContinuous unedited composition
- round-robinFormat ensuring universal matchups
- prioritizationRanking by importance
Answers to problems
- challengeTest of ability
- analysisMethodical study of parts
- approachWay of handling something
- methodologyFormal procedural framework
strategy · synthesis · reframing · root-cause · constraints · criteria · objectives · alternatives
Forceful interruption of process
- breakthroughSudden important advance
- prototypeFirst functional specimen
- startupNew business enterprise
- entrepreneurshipCreating and managing ventures
incubator · venture · R&D · proof-of-concept · MVP · iteration · experimentation · moonshot
workshop
Place for making or learning
- meetingGathering for discussion
- whiteboardErasable marker writing surface
- flipchartBound presentation paper display
post-its · sticky-notes · markers · agenda · facilitator · timeboxing · warm-up · icebreaker · breakout · huddle
ideas
Mental creations or plans
- ideateForm mental concepts
- mindmapRadial idea diagram
- creativityCapacity for original thought
imagination · inspiration · thinking · concepts · originality · invention · ingenuity · visualization · divergent · novelty
teamwork
Joint effort toward shared aim
- synergyCombined effect exceeding components
- partnershipShared business arrangement
- cooperationJoint action toward shared aims
groupwork · coordination · dialogue · communication · co-creation · collective · input · feedback · contribution · sharing
mindmap
Radial idea diagram
- clusteringForming concentrated groups
- freewritingContinuous unedited composition
- round-robinFormat ensuring universal matchups
solutions
Answers to problems
methodology · strategy · synthesis · reframing · root-cause · constraints · criteria · objectives · alternatives · evaluation
disruption
Forceful interruption of process
- breakthroughSudden important advance
- prototypeFirst functional specimen
- startupNew business enterprise
entrepreneurship · incubator · venture · R&D · proof-of-concept · MVP · iteration · experimentation · moonshot · game-changer
- creativityimagination, creativity, unique voice, inspiration, intuition
- group activitiesgroup games, voting, protest, group dance, group project
- cognitionthinking, reasoning, thought, cognition, remembering
- classroom activitiesclass discussion, group work, class participation, hand raising, reading aloud
- collaborationteamwork, partnership, co-creation, alliance, sharing
- cooperationteamwork, collaboration, joint effort, mutual aid, mutual support
brainstorminganalysis
Methodical study of parts
evaluation · critical thinking · criticism · judgment · decision-making
brainstormingidle chatter
Trivial, aimless conversation
small talk · rambling · chinwag · twaddle · maunder
brainstormingnitpicking
Excessive focus on trivialities
fault-finding · shooting down · dismissing · rejecting · censoring
- brainstorming sessionGroup idea-generating discussion
brain, brainy, brainless, brainchild, brained, brainwave, braininess, brainstormed, braining