Preparation before an interview

The brainstorming technique is a widely used method to generate solutions to different problems. It consists of bringing together a group of people receptive to the free expression of thoughts, without judgment or evaluation.

The objective is to generate a large number of proposals, even the most extravagant, and then select and develop the most promising ones. By imposing no restrictions or censorship, it encourages freedom of thought and comfort for participants to share any suggestions.

Steps: To conduct an effective brainstorming session, we suggest following these steps:

• Preparation: Before beginning the session, clearly define the objective or problem to be solved. This will help focus the discussion and keep participants on the same page. In addition, a facilitator should be designated to lead and organize the session.

• Group formation: Gather a group of people with knowledge, experience or interests related to the topic in question. It is advisable to have a diversity of perspectives and skills to enrich the generation of ideas.

• Establish ground rules: Before brainstorming begins, it is essential to establish some ground rules. For example, it can be agreed that no criticism or judgment of ideas will be allowed during the session.

• Idea generation: During this stage, participants should freely express all the ideas that come to mind, without restrictions. They can use techniques such as free association, amplification of existing ideas or deliberate provocation to stimulate creativity.

Deliberate provocation technique: Here are some examples of how to use deliberate provocation to stimulate creativity and out-of-the-box thinking:

• Pose challenging questions that challenge conventional approaches and common assumptions. For example, instead of asking about improvements to the current product, ask how to design a product that defies all industry expectations.Present imaginary or extreme scenarios. For example, if you are discussing urban transportation, you might pose the scenario of "Imagine a city without cars. How could we design an entirely new transportation system?"

• Encourage participants to take unconventional perspectives or consider different points of view. You can ask them to think as if they were people from different cultures, professions, or even imaginary beings. For example, "If we were astronauts, how would we approach this challenge on Earth?".

Idea development stage: During the idea development stage, it is critical to have a multidisciplinary team that brings different perspectives and expertise. Each selected idea can be assigned to a group or individual responsible for its development, who will be responsible for researching, planning and designing a strategy for its implementation.

At this stage, it is common to carry out activities such as prototyping, proof of concept and cost-benefit analysis. These actions allow exploring the feasibility and potential of each idea, as well as identifying possible adjustments needed bef