ToolstoEncourageDivergenceBeforeyoubeginthe“open,focus,close”frameworkofthemeeting,itisoftenagoodideatobreakdownbarriersinordertobeginthinkingcreativelyanddivergently.Divergentthinkingmeansthingofideasinanopen,nonqualified,nonevaluativemannerthatoftenresultsinideasthatgoinoppositeandmanydirections.Divergentandcreativethinkingisoftenachievedthroughicebreakersandmind-teaserexercises.Usethetoolsinthissectiontoencouragedivergentthinkandtomoveparticipantsintothe“open”stage.·Squares·CreditCards·PerceptionBias·TakingOffBinders·LogicBoxSquaresoPurposeUsethisexercisetodemonstratethatthereisoftenmorebehindanissueorideathanweinitiallyperceive.oMaterials·Flipchart·Markers·Squaresdiagramforeachparticipant·Pencilforeachparticipant__NumberoSolution·Therearesixteen1x1boxes.·Therearenine2x2boxes.·Therearefour3x3boxes.·Thereisone4x4box.Totalnumberofboxesequal30.oProcess1.Distributediagramstogroupmembers,andaskthemtowritedownthenumberofsquarestheysee.Givethegroupafewminutestowork.Askthemtoturnthesheetsfacedownwhentheyarefinished.2.3.Askpeopletoraisetheirhandsiftheysawatleastonesquare.Askthemtokeeptheirhandsupiftheysawatleasttwosquares,thenthreesquares.Continueuntilyougettothepointwhereallhandsaredown.4.5.Itislikelythatmostpeoplesawatleastsixteen“1x1”squares.Somepeoplemayhavesentheone“fourbyfour”squareandthefour“3x3squares.Thereare30squarestotal.Onlyafewindividualsarelikelytoseeall30squares.6.7.Drawthediagramonaflipchartandasksomeonewhosawmorethan16squarestopointoutwheretheothersquaresare.Thenasksomeonewhosaw30squarestoshowwheretheyare.8.9.Discusstheimplicationsofthisexerciseforideageneration,problemsolving,anddecisionmaking.CreditCardsoPurposeUsethisactivitytogetagroupwarmedupandthinkingbeyondtraditionalideasandsolutions.oMaterials·Flipchart·MarketsoProcess10.Dividethegroupintoteamsofthreetosixparticipantsperitem.Handoutaflipchartpageandmarkertoeachteam.Readthefollowingscenariototheteams:·Asspace-travelingcapitalist,youandyourteammembershavecontractedwiththeIntergalacticUniversalBanktodeliverashipmentofcreditcardstoahumancolonyinagalaxyfar,faraway.·Enrouteyoureceiveworkthatthebank’sassetshavebeenfrozenandthebankwillsoonbedismantled,renderingthecreditcardssomewhatuseless.·Ascapitalists,andbecauseyouneedtopayforfuelonthereturntrip,youdecidetosellthe8.4millioncardsonthecolony,eventhoughtheycannotbeusedascreditcards.·Takethenext10minutestogeneratealistofasmanypotentialusesforthecardsaspossible.Encouragethegroupstobeverycreativeandfree-wheeling.Writeideasonaflipchartpage.11.Askeachitemtopresentitsideastothegroup.Discusstheeffectsofworkinginanever-changingenvironmentonhowandtowhomwesellourservices.Pointourthat“gettingoutofourlogicbox”toseebeyondtraditionalusescanleadtoinnovativeideas.oHints·Therearemanyvariationsonthisexercise.Insteadofcreditcards,thegroupcanbrainstormotherusesforatoothbrush,coathanger,slinky,jello,etc.·Youcanalsoaskthegroupstoexchangetheirbestideaandworstideaandthendevelopmarketingstrategiestoimplementthesenewproductuses.Often,theworstideasbecomethebest!PerceptionBiasoPurposeUsethisexercisetodemonstratethattwopeoplecanlookatthesamethinkandseesomethingdifferent.oMaterials·Flipchart·Markers·Paperforeachparticipant·Pencilforeachparticipant·Overheadprojector(optional)oProcess12.Askhalfofthegrouptofaceawayfromtheflipchartoroverheadprojectorscre...
