Computer-Assisted Brainstorming and An Application Through the Global Think Tank

By Robert L. A. Trost

Originally appeared in the International Creativity Network Newsletter, volume 4, number 1, 1994, pages 2-3.

Editor's Note: The following contribution is adapted from a paper presented at the Annual Conference of the International Society for Professional Innovation Management at the Technical University of Eindhoven, Holland in the fall of 1993 and a description of the author's use of Computer-Assisted Brainstorming (CAB) technology.

The field of CAB is still relatively young. It began in 1984 with the Master of Science thesis "Computer-Assisted Creativity and the Policy process," written by Seth Hollander, then a student at the Thayer School of Engineering of Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, U. S. A. In his thesis, Hollander envisaged "an interactive computer program designed to enhance creative thinking. " Just one year later in 1985 such a program, The Idea Generator, for which Hollander's thesis served as a blueprint, appeared on the market.

Advantages of CAB Programs

CAB programs don't just enhance creative thinking with their built-in creativity techniques, they also offer a well-defined, goal-oriented structure including: (a) problem statement; (b) idea generation; and (c) evaluation. Use of CAB programs result in significant time gains because the computer takes the initiative by asking questions to remove "mental blocks" immediately.

Because the computer urges the user to go on, incubation time for new ideas and creative problem solutions tend to become much shorter than usual; thus, more ideas are produced in a shorter time span. Since, in the world of creativity, quantity usually means quality, higher quality ideas are likely to emerge in a CAB session. The computer also takes care of all note-taking and reporting, thus freeing the user from these tasks.

Another important plus point of CAB programs is that ideas can be generated by single individuals using the computer as a partner and "mind mirror. " Finally, every CAB program worth its salt produces "workfiles" that not only will enable the user to stop and resume a brainstorming session at any time and place, but that also permit asychronous brainstorming where participants don't have to be physically present at any certain time or place, but can operate individually and interactively with the computer at times and places that suit them.

Development of CAB technology can be used commercially to help clients. The Global Think Tank (see below) is an example of such an application.

Global Think Tank (GTT) Application

• Can operate a personal computer and modem;
• Are connected to a global electronic network such as CompuServe or InterNet; and
• Are ready to solve a variety of problems, using the official GTT brainstorming program, Operation BrainStorm (OBS).

• Ever-increasing use of global electronic networks such as CompuServe and InterNet;
• A significant increase in the popular use of both PCs and modems; and
• The development of modern brainstorming software such as the OBS program, written specifically with GTT in mind.

• The OBS program produces a "workfile" with everything in a brainstorming session that can be exchanged with another person, using a disk or electronic mail (e-mail);
• A company seeking fast, creative, multicultural solutions to a problem contacts a GTT Project Leader who prepares an OBS workfile containing the company's problem and goal and then e-mail's this workfile to the first participant;
• Each participant adds ideas to the workfile and returns an "ideas enriched" workfile to a Project Leader who sends it to a second participant etc. until all have contributed ideas; and
• In most cases one ROUND with perhaps seven participants will be sufficient to get many viable solutions to the client's problem, but many ROUNDS may be necessary before the client is fully satisfied.

• Multicultural input of ideas and problem solutions;
• Fast, "around the world, around the clock" brainstorming; and Cost-effectiveness, since participants don't have any travel expenses.

Contact information: Robert L. A. TrostIdea Management Consultant, Centre for Commercial Innovation, Ltd. Arnhem, Holland; CompuServe 70431, 3525 or InterNet 70431.3525@compuserve. com.