Page 90 - DMGT521_PROJECT_MANAGEMENT

Unit 6: Generation and Screening of Project Ideas

Then one consultant defined the problem differently. He said the problem the industry should Notes
consider was “how can we reduce cost?” The new problem statement generated new ideas.
All aspects of shipping, including storage of cargo and loading time, were considered. The
outcome of this shift in focus resulted in the container ship and the roll-on/roll-off freighter.
(c) Think in reverse: If you feel you cannot think of anything new, try turning things
upside-down. Instead of focusing on how you could solve a problem/improve
operations/enhance a product, consider how could you create the problem/worsen
operations/downgrade the product. The reverse ideas will come flowing in. Consider
these ideas – once you’ve reversed them again – as possible solutions for the original
challenge.
(d) Express yourself through different media: We have multiple intelligences but somehow,
when faced with workplace challenges we just tend to use our verbal reasoning
ability. How about expressing the challenge through different media? Clay, music,
word association games, paint, there are several ways you can express the challenge.
Don’t bother about solving the challenge at this point. Just express it. Different
expression might spark off different thought patterns. And these new thought patterns
may yield new ideas.
3. Connect the Unconnected: Some of the best ideas seem to occur just by chance. You see
something or you hear someone, often totally unconnected to the situation you are trying
to resolve, and the penny drops in place. Newton and the apple, Archimedes in the bath
tub; examples abound.
Why does this happen? The random element provides a new stimulus and gets our brain
cells ticking. You can capitalize on this knowledge by consciously trying to connect the
unconnected.
Actively seek stimuli from unexpected places and then see if you can use these stimuli to
build a connection with your situation. Some techniques you could use are:
(a) Use random input: Choose a word from the dictionary and look for novel connections
between the word and your problem.
(b) Mind map possible ideas: Put a key word or phrase in the middle of the page. Write
whatever else comes in your mind on the same page. See if you can make any
connections.
(c) Pick up a picture: Consider how you can relate it to your situation.
(d) Take an item: Ask yourself questions such as “How could this item help in addressing
the challenge?”, or “What attributes of this item could help us solve our challenge?”

Did u know? Seeking stimuli and building connection between the stimuli seeked and the
situation can help in generating better ideas.
4. Shift Perspective: Over the years we all build a certain type of perspective and this
perspective yields a certain type of idea. If you want different ideas, you will have to shift
your perspective. To do so:
(a) Get someone else’s perspective: Ask different people what they would do if faced with
your challenge. You could approach friends engaged in different kind of work, your
spouse, a nine-year old child, customers, suppliers, senior citizens, someone from a
different culture; in essence anyone who might see things differently.

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