Stimulus word analysis

Activities

• Activity 3: Searching for solution principles and their solutions

Necessary tools

• Board or similar to display the ideas found

Description

The stimulus word analysis serves to stimulate the flow of ideas in the search for new solution ideas and thus promote the development of new ideas.

Procedure

1. The moderator confronts the team members with around six to ten (stimulating) words, objective terms that seem to have nothing to do with the problem
2. Collect spontaneously striking relevant structural features for each of these terms (analysis)
3. Building on this, form further associations from which conclusions can be drawn about the actual problem
4. These feedbacks can now provide approaches for alternative solutions to the problem
5. To provide support, the moderator can ask specific questions about the stimulus word or the first associations

Sources

• Lindemann 2009, p. 300