Q & A Table of Contents
Brainstorming, Inventing Options, and Creativity
From: Miri, Malaysia
Question:
1. Brainstorming and Inventing Options in the negotiation arena - what is the difference? Having read the various versions it is a little confusing.
2. Is it true to say that Inventing Options is used after the Brainstorming process i.e. invent options for each action item from the outcome of the brainstorm?
Response: Sometimes you can view Brainstorms and Inventing Options as isotopes of each other. It may make most sense to say the two approaches can be grouped under the conceptual umbrella of Creativity. What you learn from brainstorming gives you the opportunity to be more creative, to invent more options.
Brainstorming serves a very distinct additional function as well: In negotiating it is important to separate the people from the problem. Brainstorming normally does not involve saying that "This is Bill's idea, that is Charlie's idea, and that idea over there came from Eloise." Rather, each idea stands by itself, may lead to others -- like the psychoanalytic tool of free association, but is not burdened with 'belonging' to any particular party.
This makes it somewhat easier to build consensus without being stuck with saying, "If we adopt Bill's idea, then he wins. . ."
Good luck and good negotiating, Steve.
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