Generating Ideas

Everything begins with an Idea

Raza Sarwar – GM (Talent Acquisition & Outsourced Services)

Why Don’t I See Myself As An Idea Person?

 You stifled your creative juice with doubt

 You are afraid of being rejected
 Nobody asked you about your ideas
 You have an unrealistic view on great ideas
 You never really put an effort into
systematically generating ideas
Idea Generation Process

1 Identity shift 2 Idea generation 3 Creativity triggers

4 Idea prioritization 5 Development of ideas

1 Identity Shift
If you don’t do the identity shift….
….. You murder every single one of your brilliant ideas
Become an Idea Person
• have the skills to come up with unique solutions
• see the potential for how things could be improved
• live in the future
• stop doubting your ideas
• see problems as opportunities
• have framework in your mind
2 Idea Generation
Idea generation is described as the process of creating, developing and communicating
abstract, concrete or visual ideas.

It’s the front end part of

the idea management
funnel and it focuses on
coming up with possible
solutions to perceived or
actual problems and
opportunities.
Types of Ideas

Organic ideas
Start noticing ideas based
on observing what is Made-up Ideas
happening around you
Search for triggers that
push you into the
brainstorming phase
Organic Ideas
• Most often way is the Organic way
• You notice things and idea comes to your mind
• You have to do nothing to come up with idea
• Be little more observant of your environment

• Always have a place to write down your ideas

• Start with the goal of noticing five ideas during the day.
• Having some kind of domain expertise

Be attentive to what  Under the shower

goes through your  Taking a walk, going for a jog or any other exercise
mind during the
 Driving, cooking
times when the
 Finding yourself in new environments
diffused mode of
 Playing (with kids, games etc.)
thinking is active.
Like:  Thinking about two different topics at the same time
Made-up Ideas
• Sit down and brainstorm ideas
• Need a lot of discipline to brainstorm hundreds of shitty
to get a few good ones.
• Most of the ideas are crap and that is hard to accept.

• Timebox 30 minutes on a daily basis for brainstorming

• Take a piece of paper & a pen, and brainstorm at least 100 ideas.
• Do it as a 30-day challenge and your life will never be the same.

 Encounter a problem: sit down and brainstorm ideas

Triggers are the  Alone and bored: take a piece of paper and start brainstorming ideas
ones that can really
 Someone beats me in a competition: Start thinking how I can improve
help you become
 Get rejected: Think how to become even more awesome
more disciplined
 Travel to a new country: Always write down at least 10 new ideas
with brainstorming.
 Watching an inspiring movie: Sit down and brainstorm a few ideas
Solutions to
problems

Fulfillments of
needs

What really are

Creations that
arouse certain great ideas?
feelings
 3 Creativity Triggers

Convergences
Modeling Curiosity

Debating & listening to other people Competition research & clever copying

Rejections and conflicts Knowledge transfer

The skyscraper technique Traveling into the future

Playing with attributes Validated learning

Reverse assumptions Changing surroundings

30 Creative Techniques to Generate Ideas

1. Brainstorming 16. Attribute listing

2. Reverse brainstorming 17. Morphological box
3. 6-3-5 Brain writing 18. Bad2Good
4. Challenge assumptions 19. Participatory ideas
5. Mind Mapping 20. Forced relationships
6. Crowd-Storming 21. Free associations
7. Vision Boards 22. Visualizing & daydreaming
8. Story Board 23. Idea borrowing
9. Role Playing 24. Biomimicry
10. 5W1H method 25. Excursion technique
11. 5-Whys 26. More inspiration
12. SCAMPER 27. Random Input
13. Osborn checklist 28. Redefinition
14. Harvey cards 29. Wishing
15. The six thinking hats 30. Walt Disney Technique
Morphological Box : Example

Alternatives
Parameters
Cookie A Cookie B Cookie C Cookie D

Texture Smooth Soft Chunky Soft

Consistency Chewy Goowy Crunchy Chewy

Size Medium Small Large Huge

Base Plain Plain Chocolate Oatmeal

Topping Sugar None Icing Chocolate

Stuffing Chocolate Dates & Harda Macadamia Chocolate

SCAMPER : Idea Generation Technique

replacing a part of your combine two ideas into a

product, concept or process single, more effective
with another solution

make the process more change the shape, look, or

flexible and focuses on other feel of your product to make
similar incremental overall improvements
improvements

finding ways to use the idea possible outcomes if one or

or existing solution for more parts of the concept
another purpose were eliminated.

reverse the order of

interchangeable elements of
an idea
Example of SCAMPER : Telephone Sets
Substitute:
• What other material could be used to make the product?
• Would it be possible to substitute the use of this product in another place?
For example: change the industry where it is used.

Substitute the rotatory dial pad

with push button key bad for
convenient usage
Example of SCAMPER : Telephone Sets
Combine:
• How would you combine this product with another to create a new offering?
• What if you could combine 2 objectives with just one product?
For example: the suitcase with wheels for convenience of travelers.

Separate speaker & mic are

combined one handle bar for
convenience
Example of SCAMPER : Telephone Sets
Adapt:
• How could you adapt or readjust this product to serve another purpose or use?
• What adjustments may be needed in a process to provide more flexibility?
For example: a monthly payment option for those who prefer buying this way.

LCD adapted for information

display like Called ID, Call History,
Dialed number etc
Example of SCAMPER : Telephone Sets
Modify:
• How could you change the shape, look, or feel of your product?
• What could you emphasize or highlight to create more value?
For example: a new kind of packaging to make the offering look more attractive.

Convenience of use significantly

magnified by adding wireless
handset to fixed line phone
Example of SCAMPER : Telephone Sets
Put to Another Use:
• Can you use this product somewhere else, perhaps in another industry?
• How would this product behave differently in another setting?
For example: changing geographic location or industry.

Telephony Network, which was designed for

communication between two persons, has
been now put to many other usages like
railway bookings, online food ordering and
many other automated voice response (IVR)
based applications
Example of SCAMPER : Telephone Sets
Eliminate:
• What features, parts, or rules could you eliminate?
• How could you make it smaller, faster, lighter, or more fun?
For example: a computer screen without a separate CPU with the processing built into the screen.

Eliminate external antenna with

improved technology eliminate
base station dial pad as it is not
useful
Example of SCAMPER : Telephone Sets
Reverse or Rearrange:
• What would happen if you reversed an assumption?
• What roles could you reverse or swap?
For example: Mc Donald's reverse the restaurant model like Pay First, no waiters, help yourself

Reverse base station for usability

and style. Overall rearranged
shape and styling
Protect your ideas from idea murderer

• Doubt
• Criticism
• Fear
• Status quo
• Predicting feasibility
• Predicting limitations
4 Idea Prioritization

• Risks and potentials

• Passion
• Skills
• Market feedback
• Technological feasibility
• Economic feasibility
• Timing
5 Bringing Ideas to life

Build a vision around your idea

Create a business canvas
Do customer interviews
Build minimum viable products
Define a set of metrics
https://www.ideo.com
Thank You!