(opinions from the Wikipedia)
Brainstorming is a group creativity technique designed to generate a large number of ideas for the solution to a problem. The method was first popularized in the late 1930s by Alex Faickney Osborn, an advertising executive and one of the founders of BBDO, in a book called Applied Imagination. Osborn proposed that groups could double their creative output by using the method of brainstorming.
Although brainstorming has become a popular group technique, researchers have generally failed to find evidence of its effectiveness for enhancing either quantity or quality of ideas generated. Because of such problems as distraction, social loafing, evaluation apprehension, and production blocking, brainstorming groups are little more effective than other types of groups, and they are actually less effective than individuals working independently. For this reason, there have been numerous attempts to improve brainstorming or replace it with more effective variations of the basic technique.
Although traditional brainstorming may not increase the productivity of groups, it has other potential benefits, such as enhancing the enjoyment of group work and improving morale. It may also serve as a useful exercise for team building.
A mind map is a diagram used to represent words, ideas, tasks or other items linked to and arranged radially around a central key word or idea. It is used to generate, visualize, structure and classify ideas, and as an aid in studying, organization, problem solving, decision making, and writing.
It is an image-centered diagram that represents semantic or other connections between portions of information. By presenting these connections in a radial, non-linear graphical manner, it encourages a brainstorming approach to any given organizational task, eliminating the hurdle of initially establishing an intrinsically appropriate or relevant conceptual framework to work within.
Mind maps have many applications in personal, family, educational, and business situations, including notetaking, brainstorming (wherein ideas are inserted into the map radially around the center node, without the implicit prioritization that comes from hierarchy or sequential arrangements, and wherein grouping and organizing is reserved for later stages), summarizing, revising and general clarifying of thoughts. For example, one could listen to a lecture and take down notes using mind maps for the most important points or keywords. One can also use mind maps as a mnemonic technique or to sort out a complicated idea. Mind maps are also promoted as a way to collaborate in colour pen creativity sessions.
Tony Buzan suggests using the following foundation structures for Mind Mapping:
XMIND is a cutting-edge mind mapping program that leverages advanced techniques to provide unparalleled support for brainstorming sessions. With a robust design and powerful features, XMIND allows users to quickly capture ideas, without disrupting the brainstorming process to define their precise working or position, and instantly incorporate them into mind maps.
As ideas are presented, they can be rapidly added to maps by simpy using the 'Enter' and 'Tab' keys. Collected ideas and related subtopics can then be moved to the appropriate position via an intuitive "drag and drop" interface. Filters, drill-downs, or temporary collapsing of branches allow users to focus on a particular set of topics, while labels, pictures, and rich text notes can be added to illustrate or expand on specific points. Visual connections can also be created between two or more branches highlighting their conceptual relationships. And boundaries make it easier for users to identify those topics with similar concepts or attributes.
But XMIND offers more than just the ability to record brainstorming data and generate mind maps. It enables comprehensive, unhindered analysis through the use of Fishbone Chart.
Fishbone Charts(also known as Ishikawa diagram, or cause and effect diagrams) are the brainchild of Kaoru Ishikawa, who, as one of the founding fathers of modern managerment, pioneered quality management processes in the Kawasaki shipyards. Named after its shape, a fishbone chart is a simply diagram that shows the causes of a certain event. It was first used in the 1960s, and is considered one of the seven basic tools of quality management, along with the histogram, Pareto chart, check sheet, control chart, flowchart, and scatter diagram.
The primary advantage of a fishbone chart is that it helps users to visually organize the causal relationships within a complex idea or event. It also helps to increase awareness of cause and effect, and gives users the ability to better organize material they have learned.
With XMIND, companies can participate in real, highly effective brainstorming-encouraging the flow and output of ideas, and organizing them logically into useful and valuable results!
