Process Structuring in Electronic Brainstorming.

Author List: Dennis, Alan R.; Valacich, Joseph S.; Connolly, Terry; Wynne, Bayard E.;
Information Systems Research, 1996, Volume 7, Issue 2, Page 268-277.
One aspect of brainstorming that has received little research attention is how the brainstorming problem should be presented to the group, whether as one all-encompassing question or as a series of separate questions each focusing on one aspect of the problem. This paper reports the results of two experiments in which subjects (MBAs in the first, senior executives in the second) electronically brainstormed on intact problems (where all parts of the problem were presented simultaneously) or on decomposed problems (where three subcategories of the problem were sequentially posed to the groups). In both experiments, groups using the decomposed process generated 60% more ideas. We attribute these differences to the ability of time constraints to increase the rate of idea generation, and the ability of problem decomposition to refocus members' attention more evenly across the entire problem.
Keywords: Decomposition; Electronic Brainstorming; Group Support Systems (GSS)
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#233 0.349 group gss support groups systems brainstorming research process electronic members results paper effects individual ebs using used anonymity ideas discussion
#31 0.186 problem problems solution solving problem-solving solutions reasoning heuristic theorizing rules solve general generating complex example formulation heuristics effective given finding
#9 0.136 using subjects results study experiment did conducted task time used experienced use preference experimental presented decision-making empirical significantly effects better
#293 0.095 values culture relationship paper proposes mixed responsiveness revealed specific considers deployment results fragmentation simultaneously challenges explain attribute building indicated obtain
#122 0.075 attention utilization existing codification model received does limitations theories receiving literature paying causes additional building examine examination focusing technological initial
#150 0.056 issues management systems information key managers executives senior corporate important importance survey critical corporations multinational managing interviews study results concerns