6-3-5 Brainwriting
6-3-5 Brainwriting is a structured brainstorming activity designed to generate a wide array of ideas in a short amount of time. In this method, 6 participants are asked to write down 3 ideas on a specific topic within 5 minutes. These ideas are then passed on to the next participant who builds upon them, and the process repeats.
Goal
The primary goal of 6-3-5 Brainwriting is to leverage the collective creativity of the team to generate a large number of ideas, solutions, or improvements for a given challenge or opportunity, promoting diverse thinking and innovation.
Context
We have a bias towards solutions. This means we often jump to the first solution we hear which is often not the best. The other way that this bias manifests is in groupthink, where we rally around the first idea that we hear about during a brainstorming session.
Inputs
| Artifact | Description |
|---|---|
| Prioritised Opportunities | The most pressing problems or opportunities that the team is seeking to address, along with any relevant user research or insights. |
Outputs
| Artifact | Description |
|---|---|
| Unvalidated Solutions | A list of potential solutions generated during the ideation session which can be further explored and validated. |
Anti-patterns
- Dominance by Vocal Individuals: Allowing louder voices to overshadow quieter participants.
- Convergence Too Early: Rushing to narrow down ideas before fully exploring them.
- Off-Topic Divergence: Straying too far from the initial problem statement or topic.