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TEDxYouthOttawa was North America’s first TEDx conference where all presenters are youth age 25 and younger,
and with a majority of attendees recruited from local high schools and community organizations.
Follow them on Twitter (www.twitter.com/tedxyouthottawa)
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| Samira Ahmed & Zach Hayes (ages 22 & 20) What is learning? Moving into 2010, we see an increasing need for FYBY News is a new open movement that enables students to explore |
| Aliai Lual (age 23) Aliai A.A. Lual emigrated to Canada from war-torn Sudan with her Aliai is a Youth Engagement Officer for 3 Dreads and a Baldhead, |
| Theatre Ashbury (age 18 and below) Theatre Ashbury is not always for the squeamish or faint at heart but Theatre Ashbury’s philosophy is to produce plays of social |
| Stunt Double Circus Stunt Double Circus is a brand new collaboration between “Phantastyk” Ever since the uprising of special effects in mainstream action Stunt Double Circus is an extremely high energy acrobatic show filled |
TEDxYouthOttawa was North America’s first TEDx conference where all presenters are youth age 25 and younger,
and with a majority of attendees recruited from local high schools and community organizations.
Follow them on Twitter (www.twitter.com/tedxyouthottawa)
Follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/tedxyouthottawa)
Four Perfect Situations for Brainstorming
from Blogging Innovation by Blogging Innovationby Paul WilliamsWhile there are innumerable reasons for hosting a brainstorming session, the purpose for meeting can be summarized with four situations. They are the need to meet to:
- Fix Something Broken / Problem Solving
- Grow Something
- Get Ideas / Fill Idea Pipeline
- Innovate / Make Something New
(1) Fix Something Broken / Problem Solving
This is what is traditionally thought of as Creative Problem Solving (CPS). You've identified that you have some sort of problem (or 'opportunity' as some prefer to call it), and need to brainstorm some solutions. Perhaps you need to drive sales by x% in Q1? Determine ways to raise money to put a new roof on the church? Find ways to stand apart from your competition? You'd identified something that needs to be addressed (the problem) and need solutions.
Think About: Are you sure you're solving the right problem, and not simply addressing the symptoms? What are the assumptions? Constraints?
(2) Grow Something
Your franchise has reached a certain size and you want to grow bigger. Your new company has a steady flow of clients - now you want a "brand" - a logo, website, long-term goals, etc. You've got something already established and want to make it bigger.
Think About: Where are you now? Where do you want to go? Is this an ultimate goal, or a next step? Are you ready to manage the responsibility associated with the growth? What do you feel you "must keep", or can growing mean starting over from scratch?
(3) Get Ideas / Fill Idea Pipeline
You're tapped for ideas. You need to come up with a series of new product flavors for the next year. You want to determine your FY'10-11 promotional calendar. Your idea bank is near zero and you need to replenish the account.
Think About: How refined do you need the new ideas to be: sketch ideas or near-final proven concepts?
(4) Innovate / Make Something New
Combine ideas in a way that hasn't been done before. You want to do something innovative in your business category. Something above and beyond (a) your competition and/or (b) what you have done in the past.
Think About: Do these ideas need to be truly "new" or just new to your category? (You may find a practice in another industry can become your best practice.
ConclusionAs I've looked across the clients I have served, and meetings I've attended with employers; the reasons for brainstorming always boil down to these basic four situations. Even if - at times - the reason may be a combination of one or more of these... these are still the root situations.
Understanding these four situations will help you define clear objectives and the desired outcome of the meeting.