When does brainstorming work best?

A new study into brainstorming techniques and their effectiveness provides some useful information for business continuity managers. The study ‘The Effects of Problem Structure and Team Diversity on Brainstorming Effectiveness’ by Stylianos Kavadias of the Georgia Institute of Technology and Svenja C. Sommer of HEC Paris, found that brainstorming works best in cross-functional, less specialized efforts.

The researchers looked into brainstorming use in product development and found that applying brainstorming techniques to new product development works best when the collaboration employs participants from varied specialties gathering to develop a less complex product. When new products will be highly technical, a better way to develop them is for specialists to do their work in private and collaborate through ‘nominal’ groups.

The paper appears in ‘Management Insights’.

From a business continuity management perspective, the research could indicate that brain-storming by cross functional teams may be the best format to use to help develop the initial aspects of the business continuity plan and business continuity management system; but that business continuity strategies should be planned by business continuity specialists.

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•Date: 11th Dec 2009• Region: World •Type: Article •Topic: BC general
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