Process Gestures

The following reflections arose as a result of the workshop from discussions following a Research Workshop between participants from the universities of Brighton and Ljubljana. On a first reading they may seem simplistic and abstract. However, further thought, we believe, will lead to some practical insights into change and innovation. Processes contain within them inherent…

The Not Problem

This is an interesting creativity tool. It’s called the Not Problem. The Process Think of a problem you have. For example: How to diet successfully. Then ask yourself. What is NOT causing this problem? Start broad and big: For example: The current world political situation is NOT causing this problem. The weather in Africa is…

Cave Story

A traveler walks a long way and comes upon a cave. He walks into the cave for its coolness, to be out of the hot sun. There, in the centre of the cave sits child beside a clear round rock pool of water. The traveler approaches the child who smiles back at him. The child…

A Critique of Brainstorming

Brainstorming is a minimally structured group process for collectively generating ideas on a given theme, question, challenge or problem. One of the most patronising and patently silly assumptions of brainstorming is that, in the space of five minutes, you can harvest the contents of someone’s head, like a field of wheat. Even where this might…

WATCH: Why do we collude with each other?

Why do we collude with each other? Do we settle for mediocrity because we fear the discomfort of being truly honest ? And does it affect our ability to be creative and innovative?

Sleeping on Decisions

A Wise Approach to Group Decision Making I know we’re all supposed to be busy. Somehow busyness has become equated with effectiveness which has an Alice-in-Wonderland feel to it, yet too many people have still bought this pup. We need to get to decisions “quickly”; an effective meeting is one where decisions are reached, where…

Involutionary Brainstorming

What is it? Brainstorming is the rapid pooling of all and any ideas that a group of people can come up with before any discussion or judgement takes place. Every idea is recorded no matter how bizarre or irrational. Enable individuals and groups to: · Problem Solve · Evaluate How to Brainstorm 1.      Keep a…

Ideas that are too bright for their own good

A friend of mine once set me a riddle. He asked “What do you do if someone you really care about is about to make a big mistake?” I remember a range of answers popping into my head: Stop him? Warn him? Try to talk him out of it? Point out the risks? And so…

DAWAW panels

Purpose of the Activity A DAWAW panel is a panel of Devil’s Advocates With Angels’ Wings. They can be used within any workshop or away-day process, especially when ideas, proposals and suggestions need testing out. They can be run quote formally, or as part of a much more informal exercise. Process A DAWAW panel operates…

The Three Tests for an Innovative Idea

I use this little model in workshops oninnovation and change sometimes. I usually draw or ask someone to draw an eagle, a lion and a bull on the board and then we explore the model which, essentially, explores the “head, heart, guts” view of change, where we usually, depending on our personality, feel more open…

A Checklist for Workshop Activities

I developed this  checklist of questions  for designing a workshop activity. There are loads of questions one could ask and there’s a danger of over-preparing and over-analysing. So, I’d suggest, focusing on the questions which feel intuitively most relevant, which make you most creatively “restless”. PURPOSE what are the aims of the activity ? what…

Gazing, Process Gestures and Innovation

This article applies concepts derived from artistic discipline and applies them to process innovation. Two process innovation techniques emerge from this unique application which are described. Firstly, the concept of “gazing” is discussed and its use as a method for observing and analysing manufacturing and business process is outlined. A second concept, “process gestures”, is…