methodatlas
Session Builder

Plan my session

Plan a concrete work block with agenda, roles, preparation, and a copyable result artifact.

Method session30-60 minWorkshopIdea pool

Session: Brainstorming

The plan translates the method into a concrete facilitated work block. Your inputs flow directly into the session brief and work artifact.

Derived automatically

Method session with 4-12. The plan uses the existing method logic and the runsheet.

Runsheet
Participation logic
Team round, shared work and alignment

Use the session for shared understanding. Contributions are collected visibly, assumptions are aligned, and open differences remain traceable in the artifact.

Outcome logic
Finish artifact

The session works directly toward Idea pool. After the session, the artifact should be shareable, reviewable, or reusable.

  1. 1

    Phase 1: Briefing and rules

    5-10 min

    Read the challenge aloud and recap the context (3-5 min). Explain the four brainstorming rules and post them on the wall. Show example stickies. Hint: Simply reading the rules is not enough. If someone breaks them (criticism, veto), redirect to the rule immediately. Otherwise the method tips over.

    FacilitatorIdea pool
  2. 2

    Phase 2: Solo warm-up

    5 min

    Each person writes first ideas alone on sticky notes (at least 5). Silence. Do not share yet. Hint: Starting solo avoids anchor bias from loud voices. If you start in plenary right away, you get groupthink.

    FacilitatorTheme clusters
  3. 3

    Phase 3: Group ideation

    15-25 min

    Place stickies on the wall and briefly describe them. Others build on them ('Yes-and' stickies). The facilitator keeps the pace high and pushes for wild variants. Hint: If energy drops, offer a new prompt variant ('How would Apple solve this?', 'What would be the most absurd solution?'). Provocations create leaps.

    FacilitatorShortlist
  4. 4

    Phase 4: Cluster and review

    10-15 min

    Group similar ideas. Consolidate duplicates. Add a label per cluster. If there are too many clusters, narrow them down to 5-8 main themes. Hint: Affinity mapping is for condensation, not evaluation. Evaluation comes in the next phase.

    FacilitatorIdea pool
  5. 5

    Phase 5: Converge (voting or shortlist)

    10-15 min

    Use dot voting (3-5 dots per person) or a structured discussion. Mark the top 5 or top 3 ideas. Name an owner per top idea for follow-up detail work. Hint: Voting is not a decision. It is a preselection for detailing. The final decision comes later from the decider with criteria.

    OwnerTheme clusters
  6. 6

    Publish artifact

    10 min

    Check the artifact for completeness, define location, set version or status, and name review recipients.

    OwnerIdea pool
Usable artifact

Session Brief

For invitations, boards, tickets, PR descriptions, or workshop notes.

session-brief.md

Session Brief: Brainstorming

Goal

Artifact: Idea pool

Working Question

What range of solution ideas can we generate for the challenge before we converge and choose?

Context

Challenge question; domain context (1-2 slides or briefing document); examples of good and bad idea stickies; constraints that ideas must not violate.

Setup

  • Format: Method session
  • Duration: 30-60 min
  • Mode: Workshop
  • Participants: One facilitator to hold the rules and timer; 4-12 participants from different functions; optionally a scribe for notes or combinations.
  • Owner: One facilitator to hold the rules and timer
  • Participation mode: Team round, shared work and alignment
  • Outcome logic: Finish artifact

Participation Logic

Use the session for shared understanding. Contributions are collected visibly, assumptions are aligned, and open differences remain traceable in the artifact.

Outcome Logic

The session works directly toward Idea pool. After the session, the artifact should be shareable, reviewable, or reusable.

Input

Whiteboard or digital board (Miro, FigJam); sticky notes in one color for ideas; markers; timer; challenge question clearly visible.

Preparation

Put the challenge at the top of the wall. Make the rules visible: 1) quantity before quality, 2) wild ideas welcome, 3) build on ideas, 4) no criticism. Set the timer to 15 min ideation. Lay out the sticky notes.

Agenda

  1. Phase 1: Briefing and rules (5-10 min) Owner: Facilitator Action: Read the challenge aloud and recap the context (3-5 min). Explain the four brainstorming rules and post them on the wall. Show example stickies. Hint: Simply reading the rules is not enough. If someone breaks them (criticism, veto), redirect to the rule immediately. Otherwise the method tips over. Output: Idea pool

  2. Phase 2: Solo warm-up (5 min) Owner: Facilitator Action: Each person writes first ideas alone on sticky notes (at least 5). Silence. Do not share yet. Hint: Starting solo avoids anchor bias from loud voices. If you start in plenary right away, you get groupthink. Output: Theme clusters

  3. Phase 3: Group ideation (15-25 min) Owner: Facilitator Action: Place stickies on the wall and briefly describe them. Others build on them ('Yes-and' stickies). The facilitator keeps the pace high and pushes for wild variants. Hint: If energy drops, offer a new prompt variant ('How would Apple solve this?', 'What would be the most absurd solution?'). Provocations create leaps. Output: Shortlist

  4. Phase 4: Cluster and review (10-15 min) Owner: Facilitator Action: Group similar ideas. Consolidate duplicates. Add a label per cluster. If there are too many clusters, narrow them down to 5-8 main themes. Hint: Affinity mapping is for condensation, not evaluation. Evaluation comes in the next phase. Output: Idea pool

  5. Phase 5: Converge (voting or shortlist) (10-15 min) Owner: Owner Action: Use dot voting (3-5 dots per person) or a structured discussion. Mark the top 5 or top 3 ideas. Name an owner per top idea for follow-up detail work. Hint: Voting is not a decision. It is a preselection for detailing. The final decision comes later from the decider with criteria. Output: Theme clusters

  6. Publish artifact (10 min) Owner: Owner Action: Check the artifact for completeness, define location, set version or status, and name review recipients. Output: Idea pool

Closeout

  • Update result artifact: Idea pool
  • Define location, version, and review recipients.
  • Define owner, next step, and review date.
Usable artifact

Work artifact

Pre-filled starting point based on the matching template.

work-artifact.md

Idea pool: Brainstorming

Working Question

What range of solution ideas can we generate for the challenge before we converge and choose?

Context

Challenge question; domain context (1-2 slides or briefing document); examples of good and bad idea stickies; constraints that ideas must not violate.

Participants

  • Owner: One facilitator to hold the rules and timer
  • Participants: One facilitator to hold the rules and timer; 4-12 participants from different functions; optionally a scribe for notes or combinations.

Input

Whiteboard or digital board (Miro, FigJam); sticky notes in one color for ideas; markers; timer; challenge question clearly visible.

Template

Brainstorming Working Template

Goal

Generates many ideas quickly in a judgment-free space.

Context

When and for what do we use this method?

Input

Which data, observations, decisions, or materials are available?

Execution

Short notes along the runsheet.

Output artifacts

  • Idea Pool:
  • Theme Clusters:
  • Shortlist:

Assumptions and open questions

  • ...

Decision / Next step

Owner, date, and success signal.

Completion Check

  • Idea pool is complete enough for review:
  • Location:
  • Version / status:
  • Review by:
  • Next step:

Next Step

  • Review result
  • Mark open questions
  • Schedule review or decision
Template base

Brainstorming Working Template

View templateCompact working template for Brainstorming with context, input, output artifacts, and next step.
markdown

brainstorming-working-template.md

Compact working template for Brainstorming with context, input, output artifacts, and next step.

Brainstorming Working Template

Goal

Generates many ideas quickly in a judgment-free space.

Context

When and for what do we use this method?

Input

Which data, observations, decisions, or materials are available?

Execution

Short notes along the runsheet.

Output artifacts

  • Idea Pool:
  • Theme Clusters:
  • Shortlist:

Assumptions and open questions

  • ...

Decision / Next step

Owner, date, and success signal.

Ready to use when
  • Working question, owner, and target artifact are visible.
  • The result fits Idea pool.
  • Create a separate snapshot per session with date and challenge. If the shortlist is later discarded or expanded, link it in the follow-up document. Compare versions for repeated challenges across sessions.
  • Open questions are noted as follow-ups.
  • The next review or decision point is scheduled.
ProfileRunsheet