In our modern, fast-moving economy companies constantly need to stay at the forefront of innovation in order to stay competitive. According to The Economist‘s Innovation Survey, roughly half of the US economy’s current growth comes from companies that didn’t exist 10 years ago. As the saying goes, companies either innovate or die, and in order to keep up, great products are a necessity.
Ways to Brainstorm Product Development Ideas
The key to developing a great product is a great idea, but coming up with a great is easier said than done. When it comes time for a company-wide brainstorm session, keep the following tips and tricks in mind.
Get out of the office
When you are scheduling a brainstorming session, a meeting around the conference table might not be the way to go. A change of scenery can go a long way when you are trying to get your team’s creative juices flowing. Employees and bosses tend to adopt specific patterned behaviors according their roles when in the office. A change of location can help employees move out of their traditional roles and routinized behaviors and result in new patterns of interaction, perspectives, and ideas. Whether you take your team for a walk along the beach or to the park for a picnic, getting out of the office can be incredibly advantageous when it comes to brainstorming.
Make sure the decision makers are in the room
Steven Pritzker, a professor of psychology at Saybrook University and an expert on the creative process, contends that the brainstorming dynamic virtually always improves when key decision makers are in the room. Pritzker was actually a television comedy writer before he joined the ranks of academia. Episodes were always written in teams, and he explains that the brainstorming and development process was much more dynamic when the well-respected decision makers were in the room. “They were competent, and they weren’t afraid to go with something unusual if they liked it,” Pritzker says. “And if they didn’t, they weren’t afraid to say that it didn’t work for them.” This kind of quick, yay or nay approach to ideas can make the brainstorming process fast-paced, ensuring that it doesn’t lose momentum.
Always keep pen and paper nearby
Great ideas are elusive. You never when one might strike you. That’s why it’s always a good idea to be prepared. After all, great ideas are fleeting so it’s a good idea to write them down. There’s nothing worse than going out on a morning jog and having a great idea strike you while you’re three miles from home, only to not be able to remember it once you’re back. A good trick is to keep a couple of index cards and a pen in your pocket or purse so that they are always on hand whenever you might need them.
Pivot International is a product design, development, and manufacturing firm with extensive experience in the medtech industry. If you are interested in engineering a new product or updating an existing product, contact us at 1-877-206-5001 or request your free consultation today.
