How did BrainSwarming find this solution?
The BrainSwarming process allowed Jim Pearson and me to easily uncover overlooked aspects of the problem.
Starting with our goal at the top of network, “reduce concussions,” we used our software to explode the goal into over two dozen ways of rewording it, including the following: reduce energy, absorb energy, minimize force, exchange forces, substitute energy, oppose energy, repel energy, lessen momentum, and alter direction. We grouped all the wordings into eight categories based on similarity (as shown in the figure below--a bit blurry but it shows the basic structure). We then examined the underexplored options. The first one to produce a breakthrough was repel energy--Jim had an aha moment! The verb repel is closely associated with magnets and this gave Jim the idea for a magnetic solution.
For more on BrainSwarming, watch the Harvard Business Review video.
Contact Tony McCaffrey (email@example.com) with any questions.