Abstract

Brainstorming can be a great way to generate new ideas for just about anything. However, there are some drawbacks with brainstorming in a group, such as group members not participating as much or certain members blocking others from contributing. Sticky storms, which are brainstorming sessions using sticky notes, add all the benefits of brainstorming while minimizing the drawbacks. Individuals are encouraged to generate ideas on their own using sticky notes, and the notes are placed on a shared board as a group. Sticky storms can then be arranged into affinity diagrams, where ideas are lumped into general categories. Affinity diagrams can then feed into cause and effect diagrams, which ultimately lead to a few good ideas that rise to the top for further refinement.