Brainstorming

Correct Answer: Asynchronous brain-writing with digital collaboration tools

Asynchronous brain-writing with digital collaboration tools is the most effective solution for managing virtual brainstorming across time zones because: - It allows participants to contribute at their own convenient times - Digital tools enable continuous idea sharing and building upon others' contributions - It eliminates the need for simultaneous attendance - It provides equal participation opportunities for all team members Other approaches are less effective because: Structured round-robin with sequential contributions is too rigid and time-consuming, creating unnecessary delays in the ideation process. Setting up multiple parallel sessions with different regional groups can lead to siloed thinking and requires additional effort to merge and reconcile different group outputs. Real-time voting systems still require synchronous participation, which doesn't solve the core challenge of time zone differences and availability conflicts.

Correct Answer: Mind Mapping to visually organise and connect wide-ranging ideas.

In the given scenario, the team is struggling with a complex problem and needs a brainstorming technique that can help them generate a wide array of solutions. Therefore, the best technique would be Mind Mapping. This technique helps to visually organise and connect wide-ranging ideas, thus stimulating creative thinking and generating diverse solutions. It's especially beneficial during complex problem-solving sessions where multiple interconnected ideas need to be analyzed and understood. On the other hand, Six Thinking Hats is about structuring the meeting and doesn't necessarily contribute to idea generation. SWOT analysis is more about evaluating existing circumstances rather than generating new ideas. The 5 Whys technique is about identifying the root cause of a problem but does not directly contribute to generating a wide array of solutions.

Correct Answer: Split the brainstorming session time between the two projects with a clear agenda for each.

The best solution to managing disruption during brainstorming sessions for two projects is to 'Split the brainstorming session time between the two projects with a clear agenda for each'. This approach ensures that neither project is neglected and provides a structure that can facilitate a focused discussion on each project. This also prevents the disruptive crossover of discussions from one project to the other The idea to 'Let the discussions continue as they could lead to relevant insights for both projects' is less effective as it could lead to confusion and lack of focus, which is essential during brainstorming sessions. The answer that suggests to 'Ask the team to focus only on one project in all brainstorming sessions' might not work well in practice, as it could lead to negligence of the second project. The proposal to 'Hold more brainstorming sessions to compensate for the loss of focus' is not a sustainable solution; it may lead to team burnout or oversaturation of meetings, which could negatively impact productivity.