Knowledge

Management Tools
Prof. Rajlaxmi Bhosale
Knowledge Management
Tools
Onsite observation
Brainstorming
The Delphi Method
Decision Tree
Protocol Analysis
Decision making technique
Consensus Decision Making
Nominal Group Technique
Concept mapping
Black boarding
Problem solving
Impl;ications of knowledge Management
Onsite observation
 Brainstorming
Brainstorming - Creative Problem
Solving Method
What is brainstorming
The best way how to have a good idea is to
have many ideas

Alex F. Osborne, 1939

method of thinking up solutions, concepts, ideas
in problem solving
using the brain to storm new ideas in groups
It is easier to tone down a wild idea than to think
up a new one
Why and When Use It
the creative process is not always easy
(problems of fear, criticism, no existing solutions
yet)
one person has a limited capacity
people tend to judge new ideas immediately (a
change is difficult for a human being)

Creative thinking require appropriate

tools !
How does it work
in a group of people
free associations to the topic given
relaxed and friendly atmosphere
deferred judgements release the
human mind, lateral thinking

As many ideas as possible, no

matter how crazy they are
 The key rules
Relaxed atmosphere - completely free
No criticism or judgements
Quantity matters
All ideas legitimate
All ideas put on the sheet of paper
Evaluation only after the session
 BENEFITS of
brainstorming
WIDER PICTURE

FUN QUICK

CHEAP TEAM BUILDING

GREATER ACCEPTANCE
Why and When Use It
Specific questions:
How can we promote our products?
What can our company do in 5 years hence?
What can we do to solve the problem XY?
How can we improve co-operation of A and B?
What do our customers really want?

What opportunities do we have this

year?
How can we have more fun at work?
 BRAINSTORMING
CONSTRAINTS
does not rank the ideas
cannot help you select the important ones
does not suggest the best solutions
must be amended by other
methods
Organising a session?
1. PREPARATION PHASE

3. EVALUATION

2. CONDUCT THE SESSION

 1. PREPARATION PHASE

Specify the problem

What do we really want?

Invite people
Select the right people
make sure they
up to 10 12
have time
different positions

Decide when and where

place and time matters
U layout of the room
 2. CONDUCT THE SESSION

1. Specify the objectives make sure that everybody is

happy with the central question.
2. Decide the roles: - leader, recorder, panel.
3. Explain the rules (or make sure that everybody knows
them. Eventually a warm-up exercise for fun). You can
let people to jot down a few ideas before starting.
4. Begin by going around, after some rounds, open the
floor.
5. Record the ideas exactly, clarify only in the end.
6. Suspend judgements !
7. Encourage the ideas, even the most radical and far-
fetched. Allow the late coming ideas, do not hurry.
8. At the end eliminate duplicates, clarify, thank the
participants.
 3. EVALUATION PHASE

Put the evaluation off / next day

Add newly born ideas to the list

Group similar ideas together

Select the best or most interesting

suggestions

Create teams which will work on them

further

Inform people about the results

Mistakes to be avoided
people are
negative in
advance (it will not
work anyway)
too many bad experience
brainstormings in with the method
the company judgements occur
bad atmosphere during the session
in the beginning any criticism and
personal attacks
Additional creative
problem-solving methods

INDIVIDUAL BRAINWRITING

COLOURFUL CARDS

MIND MAPS
 INDIVIDUAL BRAINWRITING

When?
When you need to solve some problem alone, and
you do not have a group to work with

How?
A piece of paper (can be big and colourful to stimulate your
thinking).
Jot down all ideas linked with the issue.
!! Do not judge yourself !!
further steps as in brainstorming
 COLOURFUL CARDS

When?
in a group of people, sensitive topic (eg. What do we like /
dislike about our managers, company?)
How?
a set of papers / person (smaller pieces, A4/3 or 3M),
colours as needed, for example yellow and green
people individually note their opinions on the cards,
one idea per card, yellow positive, green negative
glue the cards on the flip chart, grouping immediately
similar opinions together, negative on the left, positive on
the right
let people see and discuss the result
brainstorming on What can we do about it? can follow
 MIND MAPS*

WHAT is it?
alternative way of making notes and mapping any
issue
many well-known thinkers used some form of it
(Leonardo da Vinci)
does not use linear form of notes, but EXPLOSIVE
using colours, pictures and symbols

WHY? explosive
uses natural brain processes form
stimulate thinking, fun, joy
linear
* eg. Tony Buzan, The Creative form
Intelligence
 How to use MIND MAPS

architecture
history

capital city PRAGUE

culture

transport restaurants and

good food
 When to use MIND MAPS

to make a daily schedule

notes of the lesson, books, articles
holiday planning
shopping list
to do list

every day, as often as possible, be

creative, develop your own style with
time, have fun
also in groups after brainstorming
session
 SUMMARY
creativity is not born by itself
creative methods must be consciously
introduced and developed in
organisations
people must be encouraged to use
them, with no fear to make mistakes,
prized for new ideas
support from top management needed
good preparation and patience

Have fun and all the best !