Management tools

Eng. Mohamed El-Wardany – PMPProject Management ConsultationE-mail: maelwardany@gmail.com

Management Tools

Creativity Techniques

Brainstorming

• It is a group or individual creativity technique by which

efforts are made to find a conclusion for a specific problem

by gathering a list of ideas.

What is Brainstorming?

• Focus on quantity

• Withhold criticism

• Welcome unusual ideas

• Combine and improve ideas

Rules for best brainstorming

1. Guide the Discussion

2. Clearly define the topic to be brainstormed.

3. Aim to generate as many ideas as possible in 20-30 minutes.

4. Don't change, criticize or evaluate any idea.

5. Encourage each member to present as many ideas as possible.

6. Keep going until all ideas have been presented.

7. Sorting/Ranking Ideas

7 Steps to Effective Brainstorming

Nominal group techniqueNGT

• It is a structured form of brainstorming that results in the

generation and prioritization of ideas.

• It is particularly useful when a large group is involved in the

brainstorming process and when there is a need to take a

brainstormed list and prioritized it.

Nominal Group Technique

Example

Mind Mapping

• Mind Map: it is basically a diagram that connects information around

a central subject.

What is Mind Mapping?

• More brain friendly.

• Easy to review, it can at once give you an overview of a large subject. (without review lose 80% within 24 hours).

• You can generate ideas very quickly with this technique and are encouraged to explore different creative pathways.

• Find deeper meaning in your subject, and also prompt you to fill in more or find what you're missing.

Why we use Mind Mapping?

• Start with a large piece of paper in a landscape position.

• Create a large colourful central image

• Create main branches for ideas in different colours ( use the same colour for sub branches)

• Use key words only and adapt the size of the word based on importance

• Use images that remind you of the key topics

• Use arrows and symbols to connect ideas

• Leave space to add to your mind map

• Find a style which works for you.

How to create a mind map?

How to create a mind map?

Examples:

Examples:

Examples:

Examples:

Affinity Diagram

• It is a graphic tool designed to help organize loose, unstructured

ideas generated in brainstorming or problem solving meetings.

Benefit:

• It shows the relationships between information, opinions,

problems, solutions, issues, contributing factors, and more by

placing them in related groupings.

Affinity Diagram

• Record each idea on cards or notes.

• Look for ideas that seem to be related.

• Sort cards into groups until all cards have been used.

Process

Example

Criteria Matrix

• It is a project planning tool that is used to weigh several items against

another, by identifying the relative importance.

Benefits:

1. Weighting criteria

2. Prioritization

3. Making decisions

Criteria Matrix