Brainstorm Exercise: Random Object Problem Solving

From time to time the Innovate or Die Blog will present brainstorming exercises you can use in your organization to get the creative and entrepreneurial juices flowing. The following exercise is one our own methods for getting Innovation Week participants to look differently at common objects.

Random Object Problem Solving

1. Divide participants into small teams of 3 or 4 persons (2 if the main group is less than 12, individuals if the group is less than 6). Give each team a note card.
2. Each team selects one person to find a random nearby object (ie. stapler, mop from janitor’s closet, credit card, dollar bill, etc.).

   Example: Team selects a potted plant from the entry area

3. Teams have 5 minutes to identify a problem associated with the object (real or imaginary). Once defined, they should write what their object is and below that define the problem they’ve devised in a simple, easy to understand way. This should be one or two sentences.

   Example: The potted plant either gets under-watered or over-watered, causing it to die. How do we make sure the plant gets the right amount of water and grows?

4. Collect the cards and shuffle them. A member of each team will draw a card and pick up the object mentioned on their card. Teams cannot draw their own card.
5. Notify each group that they have 10 minutes to solve the problem – either by improving the existing object or communicating a process in which to remove the problem.  Start your timer or stopwatch. Shout out as 5 minutes, 2 minutes, 1 minute, 30 seconds, and 10 seconds remain. At the “stop” all conversations must cease.
6. One member of each team presents their object, the problem and the solution to the group in 3 minutes or less.

   Example: Team shows the plan, reads what the problem is on their card, then presents a new process for watering the plant involving a checklist, a rotating list of those responsible and a method to confirm the plan received water when it was supposed to. Alternatively, the team presents their idea for a new device that automatically gives the plant a predetermined amount of water on a schedule using a time and then sets off an alarm when it is low and needs refilled.

7. Group votes for who had the most well thought-out plan by a round of applause.

Lesson & Outcome: This brainstorming exercise is designed to be able to quickly identify problems of objects we come into contact with frequently. Successful businesses are always looking at making their products or services better and seeking to find solutions or improvements, no matter how insignificant.