The origin of Computer-Assisted Brainstorming (CAB)
The field of Computer-Assisted Brainstorming (CAB) is still relatively young. It all
started in 1984 with the Master of Science thesis "Computer-Assisted Creativity and
the Policy Process." written by Seth Hollander, then a student at the Thayer School
of Engineering of Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, U.S.A.
In his thesis, Hollander envisaged "an interactive computer program designed to
enhance creative thinking." Just one year later, in 1985, such a program, "The
Idea Generator," for which Hollander's thesis served as a blueprint, appeared on the
market.
The advantages of CAB
CAB programs don't just enhance creative thinking because of their built-in Creativity
techniques, they also offer a well-defined, goal-oriented structure.
This structure is basically as follows: Problem Statement
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Idea Generation
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Evaluation
Furthermore, significant time gains are achieved. It is not necessary to attend courses
in Creativity or Creative Problem Solving (CPS) or even to read books on these subjects,
for in every genuine CAB-program one or more Creativity techniques are used. Moreover,
they are employed in such a way that they enable the user to apply them instantly, thus
acquiring "Instant Creativity"!
Since the computer takes the initiative by asking questions, the much-dreaded
"Mental Blocks" are removed right away, so that the user does not lose time in
idle procrastination.
As the computer urges the user to go on, the incubation time for new ideas and creative
problem solutions tends to become much shorter than usual, so that more ideas are produced
in a shorter time span. Since, in the world of Creativity, quantity usually means quality,
higher quality ideas are likely to emerge in a CAB-session.
The computer also takes care of all note-taking and reporting, thus freeing the user
from these mundane and often time-consuming tasks. Another important plus point of CAB is
that "solo brain- storming" is possible, in which the user can brainstorm alone,
using the computer as a partner and "mind mirror." No ego trips are involved,
since the only ego present at a solitary CAB-session is the user's own. Disruption of
brainstorming sessions by ego trips of dominant, ego- wielding participants is thus
effectively prevented.
Finally, every CAB program worth its salt produces so- called "workfiles"
that not only enable the user to stop and resume a brainstorming session at any time and
place, but that also permit asynchronous brainstorming between individuals.
Asynchronous brainstorming is fundamentally different from the usual, synchronous group
brainstorming, because the participants don't have to be physically present at a certain
place and time, but can brainstorm individually and interactively with the computer at
times and places that suit them. For the first time in the history of creative thinking,
asynchronous brainstorming has become possible through the use and electronic transfer of
CAB workfiles. This truly revolutionary development also forms the basis of the Global
Think Tank.
What is the Global Think Tank (GTT)?
The GTT consists of a group of creative, well-trained generalists from all over the
world, living in such diverse countries as Russia and the U.S.A., who:
- can operate a Personal Computer and a modem
- are connected to a global electronic network such as CompuServe or InterNet
- are ready to solve a variety of problems, using the official GTT brainstorming program
Operation BrainStorm (OBS) that has become the world standard in brain- storming software
How did the GTT come about?
The GTT has been made possible by:
- heavy, ever-increasing investments in, and use of global electronic networks such as
CompuServe and InterNet
- a significant increase in the popular use of both PCs and modems
- the development of modern brainstorming software such as the Operation BrainStorm (OBS)
program. OBS was written with the GTT in mind, offering telecommunications and password
facilities to name but two
- modern, global means of payment (of course, the GTT participants must be paid for their
brainstorming services) such as the Credit Card and electronic banking
How does the GTT operate?
A GTT project consists of one or more ROUNDS. Each round in its turn consists of a
number of individual SESSIONS. Let us see how this works.
The Operation BrainStorm program produces a so-called "workfile," in which
everything that has been done in a brainstorming session is saved for future use, namely
when one wants to continue that particular session. It is this workfile that can be
exchanged with another person, using a disk or electronic mail, no matter where that
person happens to live. Since OBS keeps this workfile as small as possible, it can be
transferred quite swiftly and there- fore inexpensively.
Suppose a company has a problem for which it seeks fast, creative, multicultural
solutions. It might then want to contact a GTT Project Leader (one of the GTT participants
who will handle that company's problem as a GTT PROJECT). This Project Leader, who will
act as a GTT coordinator, will prepare an OBS workfile, containing that company's problem
and goal, then email this workfile to the first participant, who will spend 1-2 hours
(which is called a SESSION) adding ideas to that workfile, and who will then return this
"ideas enriched" workfile to the Project Leader. This person will then send the
"enriched" workfile to the second participant, who will in turn add further
ideas to it and return it to the Project Leader, etc., until all those participating in
that particular GTT PROJECT have handled the workfile once. Then the first ROUND will have
been completed.
Since experience has shown that just one ROUND with, say, 7 participants produces
hundreds of ideas, it will in most cases be sufficient to get many viable solutions to the
client's problem, but in some cases it may be necessary to have more Rounds before the
client is fully satisfied.
What are the advantages offered by the GTT?
The GTT offers the following unique advantages to interested clients:
- multicultural input of ideas and problem solutions. For example, a Russian GTT
participant looks at problems from quite a different cultural perspective than an American
one. This ensures a rich, multicultural variety of ideas and creative problem solutions.
- fast "around the world, around the clock" brainstorming, because clever use is
made of the world's time zones. While a GTT participant is brainstorming, a colleague at
the opposite end of the world is sleeping, and vice versa. This means that the results can
be available in a very short time.
- using the GTT is very cost-effective, because the participants don't have to be flown
over to, and housed and fed at a particular central location, but can stay and brainstorm
wherever they happen to be.
Leave a message with Robert L.A. Trost
for more information about the Global Think Tank and Operation BrainStorm software. |
