Brainstorming with cannyboard

With cannyboard you have all the necessary tools at your disposal to find creative solutions for problems together. The big advantage compared to brainstorming with pen and paper: You can start flexibly, without additional materials and the participants can connect with their own device on site or remotely. In addition, you can access what has been worked out from anywhere and at any time and continue the brainstorming process as needed.

CONTENT

• Brainstorming variants
  
  • Classic Brainstorming
  • Brainwriting
  • Optimized Brainstorming
• Basic rules
• Procedure
  
  • 1. Ideation
  • 2. Evaluation of the ideas
  • 3. Follow-up

Brainstorming variants

There are several ways to brainstorm with cannyboard. This results in three different brainstorming variants:

Classic Brainstorming

In a classic brainstorming session, the participants express their ideas directly. The moderator takes them up and notes them down. A creative storm of ideas is created - this creates dynamism and inspiration. On the other hand, it can lead to an inequality of opportunity, as participants may not be able to speak. The moderator may also forget to write down some ideas in the heat of the moment. 

Brainwriting

In brainwriting, the collection of ideas takes place anonymously. The ideas are not spoken out, but are written down quietly, for themselves. Only after the time has elapsed, all ideas are collected. The big advantage of this method is that every participant has his or her say, so even shy colleagues can get involved and the results cannot be assigned to any one person. However, spontaneity and team dynamics are lost.

Optimized Brainstorming

With cannyboard you can also take a middle course between the two methods and thus optimize classic brainstorming. The participants do not speak out their ideas, but send you a note directly to the Sessionboard. This way, the ideas remain anonymous, but the dynamic brainstorming process is maintained, since the ideas are contributed immediately and are thus immediately visible to everyone.

Basic rules

The following rules apply to all brainstorming methods:

• Clear question - clearly define the problem
• Time frame - set a time frame
• Moderation - is neutral, guides and captures the ideas
• Quantity instead of quality - the more ideas, the better
• No criticism - there are no bad ideas
• Creative thinking - creative, thinking outside the box desirable

Procedure

For brainstorming and brainwriting with cannyboard, the host acts on the Sessionboard, while the participants participate in the brainstorming process from their own devices (laptop / PC, smartphone or tablet). In classic brainstorming, the participants sitting on site do not need their own device.

Proceed as follows:

1. Ideation

Ideation - classic brainstorming

1. The host creates a Session or opens an existing Session on the Sessionboard.
2. If there are participants who are not on site, the host invites them to a video call and the participants join in. Make sure that the microphone is switched on. 
3. The host opens the timer and sets the specified time. The brainstorming can start now!
4. The participants express their ideas directly. If possible, all participants should have their say.
5. The host takes the ideas and writes them with the cannyboard pen - without evaluating them - on one or more Sheets until the timer expires.
   

   

Ideation - optimized brainstorming

1. The host creates a Session or opens an existing Session on the Sessionboard.
2. The participants connect to their own devices with the open Session on the Sessionboard. They are now in the "Send your input" area and can create Notes and contribute to the Session.
3. The host opens the timer and sets the specified time. The brainstorming can start now!
4. The participants create Notes with their ideas and send them immediately via the outbox into the open Session on the Sessionboard.
   

   

   Tip: Participants can choose a Note color at the beginning to make the results completely anonymous, or choose a different color for each person.

5. The host pulls the Notes directly from the inbox and distributes them - without rating them - randomly on the workspace. All participants can see the results during the ideation process.
   

   

Ideation - brainwriting

1. The host creates a Session or opens an existing Session on the Sessionboard.
2. The participants connect to their own devices with the open Session on the Sessionboard. They are now in the "Send your input" area and can create Notes and contribute to the Session.
3. The host opens the timer and sets the specified time. The brainwriting can start now!
4. The participants create Notes with their ideas and collect them first in the "Send your input" area.
   

   

   Tip: Participants can choose a Note color at the beginning in order to keep the results completely anonymous.

5. After the timer expires, the participants send their ideas via the outbox into the open Session on the Sessionboard.
   

   

6. The host pulls the Notes from the inbox and distributes them - without rating them - randomly on the workspace.
   

   

2. Evaluation of the ideas

After the time is up, the ideas are evaluated together. The results are objectively evaluated and discussed, whereby it is important that all participants are involved. You can, for example, proceed according to the exclusion procedure and sort out the ideas one by one. Using a prioritization matrix can also help you to filter out ideas that should be pursued further.

Tip: During the discussion round, make sketches or notes on Sheets to better visualize or record thoughts.

3. Follow-up

In the follow-up, you will jointly determine which ideas you want to look at more closely and which steps are necessary to achieve this. You can also create a mind map afterwards to help you develop good ideas. With cannyboard, your results are always well documented and can be accessed at any time after closing the Session.