How to brainstorm effectively?

A few weeks ago, I took part in a brainstorming session (or talkoot in Suomi) on resting-state networks. The gathering was of academics from Finland at various levels of seniority.

Now, I am just back from a brainstorming session organized by Nokia Research. The group consisted of predominantly NRC engineers, designers, and a few outsiders. Since my lips are sealed by the IPR police, I am not at liberty to tell you what it was about. However, I was paying attention to the creative-argumentative process of each and every participant.

Obviously, the sessions were very different in character, participants, participation, format of discussion, and goals. However, let me attempt to take away some universals, and propose some recommendations on how to brainstorm effectively. Obviously, my impressions are fresh, superficial and open to critique.

How to brainstorm effectively

1. Agree in the first 5 minutes on:
a) What you are talking about
b) What you expect the discussion to lead to

2. Spend the next 5-10 minutes on defining the keywords. Usually, in an "interdisciplinary" (the bunny ears have a deep meaning) setting, for each participant, each keyword has a different set of association-keywords (keywords that are triggered by said keyword). If possible, go around the room once and ask people to suggest a few association-keywords. Organize them into a venn diagram if necessary, with each set representing a single participant or their background. If appropriate, brainstorm a tagline (in the advertising, or elevator-pitch sense: the key idea in 5 words or less) consisting of these keywords. Mutliple taglines representing multiple views of the idea enrich the ensuing discussion.

3. Be aware of
a) bounded rationality (there is not enough time and capacity to examine ALL the facts and derive opinions from first principles)
b) bounded comprehension (you may have to repeat yourself in different words, a different style, or pause to explain keywords)
c) bounded empathy (do not expect each participant to agree with a personal opinion dear to you, such as: come on, let's face it, X is bullshit, right?)

4. As an orchestrator, maintain a sense of balance between
a) obviously contradictory viewpoints due to prior biases of participants (an effective strategy to deal with this is what I'd like to call continuum mapping [1]).
b) the need to not idea-kill (let all flowers bloom) and the need to be precise (about definitions, goals of the session etc.).
c) creativity (btw, it strikes me that this can be applied to XYZ) vs. focus (is this strictly relevant?).

5. Accept beforehand, and expect that your stand on an issue may be contradicted, modified, fleshed out etc.

6. At the end of the session (or even through the session), go back and revise keywords, definitions, venn diagrams and taglines. These can finally be wrapped up cutely, as a take home message.

Any other points?

[1] Continuum mapping (own coinage, open for revision) is a technique that may be used by an arbitrator during a debate, or conflict resolution when parties or people explicitly, and diametrically disagree. The arbitrator simply maps each (polemic) viewpoint at two ends of a continuum, and opens the house for examples/suggestions/parameters/viewpoints that fit somewhere in between the continuum, thus defusing the tension. Continuum mapping may be used to visualize various trade-offs and cost-benefit charts.

Hindustani Classical Music

Training and innate talent, both in harmony, produce stellar musical performances.

I realize today years later that I was in the audience during one such performance when I had just finished high school. Between juggling through the notes and lecture material for university entrance, my otherwise troublesome landlord offered me tickets to attend a classical Indian music concert, to which they were themselves not too keen. The event was at Siri fort Auditorium in New Delhi. It was probably my only 'out of studies' experience for a long time (Hindustani music on wiki).

Frankly, I wasnt too keen since classical Hindustani music was always boring according to pop taste of my age group. Prior to that day the most impressionable exposure about this art had come from a government promoted video on teli in 80's - Baje Sargam (Video 6:36). But being the only opportunity for a change, I also remember wearing my best clothes to this event.

The performances of,

Shiv Kumar Sharma on Santoor 5:05,

Hari Prasad Chaurasia on Flute 3:14,

Ustad Bismillah Khan (recently deceased) on Shehnai 9:14

actually mesmerised me. For some readers the links may do the same, and since then I have heard recordings of many other performers who are masters of their arts in Hindustani Music-

Pandit Ravi Shankar (on Sitar 8:22 , a lesson 8:24), Ustad Zakir Hussain (on Tabla 4:24), Pandit Bhim Sen Joshi (Vocals, english subs 9:59, male) and Shubha Mudgal (Vocals, female, other commercial piece 3:35).

Also try an amazing roadside performance of a melancholic sounding instrument called the Tanpura ( Roadside Tanpura 2:08).

The links are of some personally liked pieces.

Another realm which is commercially more popular is the semi classical form. It originated from the inclination of kings towards music being played in their courts during Kathak (meaning story telling. Derived from "Katha", sanskrit story. A popular dance form which today perhaps unknowingly forms the basis of most commercial bollywood dance videos, ofcourse the western influence is unquestioned nowadays, here is a mixture 5:47, also the wiki link).

Tansen (wiki), is legendary in hindustani music folklore, who is believed to have invoked rains and thunder and lit the wick of a lamp by his singing in the court of Akbar.

For educational purpose - 3 very humble videos on youtube

Part 1 (6:09)

Part 2 (6:22)

Part 3 (5:00)

Unique text material from introduction to ellaborate databse of videos and mp3 regarding Hindustani Music can be found by a Patrick Moutal here .

For events, concerts, education and other programs related to Hindustani Classical Music visit

ITC Sangeet Research Academy Sammelan (official website), Kolkata, Hyderabad, Annual

Gunitas Sangeet Sammelan, Mumbai-Delhi-Kolkata, Nov -Dec, Annual

Saptak Music Festival (institute's official website), Ahmedabad, Gujarat, January, Annual

Sawai Gandharwa Music festival (wiki) , Pune, Maharashtra, December, Annual

Tansen Music Festival (MP tourism info), Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, Nov-Dec, Annual

Dover lane Music Festival (official website), Kolkata, Dec-Jan, Annual

Week long, all night classical music and dance is also on show by the most illustrious performers of India at Khajuraho Dance Festival which is organized at the erotic temples of Khajuraho (MP Tourism info) usually around end of February, annually.

Mission impossible?

Arthur C. Clarke formulated the following three "laws" of prediction:

1. When a distinguished but elderly scientist states that something is possible, he is almost certainly right. When he states that something is impossible, he is very probably wrong.
2. The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible.
3. Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.

-from wikipedia