Software Engineering
Brainstorming

Agenda

Brainstorming Rules

  1. Collect as many ideas as possible from all participants with no criticisms or judgments made while ideas are being generated.
  2. All ideas are welcome no matter how silly or far out they seem. Be creative. The more ideas the better because at this point you don't know what might work.
  3. Absolutely no discussion takes place during the brainstorming activity. Talking about the ideas will take place after brainstorming is complete.
  4. Do not criticize or judge. Don't even groan, frown, or laugh. All ideas are equally valid at this point.
  5. Do build on others' ideas.
  6. Do collect all ideas on a flipchart or board so the whole group can easily see them.
  7. Set a time limit (i.e., 30 minutes) for the brainstorming.

 

CRC Brainstorming Sequence

  1. One team member or external mediator should review the topic of the brainstorm using "why", "how", or "what" questions.
    Example:
    The topic for the brainstorm is developing an analysis object model. Name the "things" that operate in ...; What should we focus on as the content?
  2. Everyone should think about the question silently for a few moments. Each person might want to jot down his/her ideas on a sheet of paper.
    Example:
    (1) Types of courses; (2) Course credits; (3) Course instructors; (4) Semesters; (5) Grades.
  3. Everyone writes ideas on sticky notes. Another way is to go around the room and have each person read an idea from his/her list until all ideas have been written on the board or flipchart. (Note: The team member in charge of the brainstorming session should be enforcing the rules.)
  4. Stick the note on a wall or whiteboard.
     
  5. Group notes into categories (classes vs. attributes) - identify classes.
     
  6. Ask the team to state responsibilities that those things might have - record these responsibilities in the responsibilities compartment of the note.
     
  7. Identify classes that might work together.  Rearrange the notes on the whiteboard to reflect this organization and draw lines between them. Record collaborators in the collaborators compartment of the note.