Trigger method as the type of brainstorming

Types of Brainstorming

The trigger method is often used in conjunction with classical brainstorming (Bujake, 1969).
This method is based on repetition. One idea triggers another and another and so on until as many thoughts as possible are generated.

Procedure steps:

1. The leader defines the problem.
2. He asks each member of the group to generate and record as many ideas as possible. (In silence during 5-10 minutes).

Variation 1.

1. One member of the group is then asked to read out his or her ideas to the rest of the group.
2. The ideas readout are then discussed by the rest of the group for about ten minutes with the objective of developing variations on the ideas or new ideas.
3. The procedure continues until all ideas of each participant have been discussed.

Variation 2.

1. One member reads out his list – others silently cross out ideas repetitive ideas and write down their new ideas
2. The next member reads out his original list of ideas not already covered, and his new list induced by listened ideas.
3. The last member reads out his original list and the new list induced by listened ideas and procedure is repeated counter current (ie, if there are 6 folks, the order goes 1,2,3,4,5,6,5,4,3,2,1,2,3,4,5,6…)
Everyone’s paper is then collected and can be typed up into a single list of ideas – all duplicates should have been crossed out during the session.

Variation 3.

1. Participants select the best idea or are collected then 5 – 10 are randomly chosen and brainstorm on those ideas as ‘triggers’ for more new ideas.
2. The procedure is repeated until participants have found the best solution.

Advantage

Tigger sessions are a good way of getting lots of ideas down from untrained resources.