Embracing the Creative Collective through IdeaJams
Through scribbles and post-it notes, our initiative took shape: How can we use Behavioral Science to solve the government’s biggest problems?
We ended up writing more questions than answers on the board. We broke down the initial “big” question into several “medium” ones, even going as far as finding specific questions for specific agencies we have as clients. Though we did not intend to at the time, as a collective we ended up redefining the question for each agency, knowing through Behavioral Science that solutions are only as good as the understanding of the way people interact and make decisions within that agency.
IdeaJams help to redefine the problem, taking in all viewpoints in the room, so the full scope of the issue can be realized and therefore more substantial solutions can be developed. The problem can be redefined with every addition on the white board, and ultimately, the more comprehensive solutions can be. Focusing on including the collective generates more investment by the whole meeting room.
About Arc Aspicio
Arc Aspicio enhances the future of our nation by creating bold ideas and bringing them to life. A consulting and solutions company, Arc Aspicio solves problems by applying our integrated capabilities in strategy, design, data, human capital, behavioral science, and technology. The company passionately pursues our vision to be the hub of creativity where people take action to change the world. To do this, employees collaborate with clients and partners to create solutions using a human-centered approach. Innovation is not possible without action. The company focuses on strategy first, then takes a hands-on approach implementing ideas to achieve results. Join Arc Aspicio and our Strategy Innovation Lab (SILab) by creating and sharing ideas to inspire people to change the world. Follow us on Twitter @ArcAspicio @SILabDC and learn more at www.arcaspicio.com.
Ever have that moment in a meeting when a problem is pitched and only one person speaks up with a possible solution? Sometimes one solution means a clear direction for the team to follow; other times, it turns into only a temporary fix for the problem. It targets a symptom instead of the root cause, draining resources and drowning team morale. Creating an open space to have a diverse audience collect every idea on a white board helps define the full scope of the issue, brings different methods into the mix, and ultimately forms a clear creative strategy the whole team wants to invest in.
At a recent conference I attended, the organizer prompted us all to write down every use of a paperclip we could think of. We had two minutes to brainstorm and come up with our ideas independently. Throughout the room you could see participants furiously writing down things on a paper, some drawing out possibilities, and even a few taking half the time to just think about the assignment. When time was up, the organizer asked us to go one by one, naming off all the uses of a paperclip we identified. Every time a fellow participant named a use that matched one on our own list, we had to cross it off. Even after ten participants, the ideas continued. Some uses were extremely unique, others – completely obvious but forgotten by those thinking too deep into the assignment. As a collective, we came up with 43 uses of a paperclip. Personally, I could only name eight.
The paperclip prompt is fantastic example of why innovation is driven by a collective. At Arc Aspicio, we frequently use IdeaJams – an innovation technique to bring a diverse audience in to help solve a big problem quickly – to brainstorm problems and think of solutions no one person could. We enjoy the difference of opinions and foster a creative environment that sees challenges as new opportunities. Give our team members a blank canvas, and they will write, draw, cover with post-it notes, cross-out, and add new ideas all over it. A few months ago, this was the exact outcome of a Behavioral Science Idea Jam.
