a developing source of creativity games

This game helps to create an understanding of one’s physical environment and identifying areas for improvement.

Give each party goer a digital camera, and ask that person to take 5 photos of things that represent what they like best about their work environment, 5 photos of things that represent they like least about the work environment, and 5 photos of things that they have ideas for changing/improving.

Collect all of the photos and make a slide show, to help in sharing information that will bring a new perspective to clarifying the problem.

This scavenger hunt can be adapted to fit the situation – e.g. if you already know the problem to be solved, then adjust the questions to become 5 photos of potential solutions, 5 photos of potential assisters, etc.

Idea submitted by Michele Lenhart.

Using any of a combination of these games, hold a party to solve a problem. Use it as a morale booster when the problem seems insurmountable or as a pick me up to a slow office week. Try adding a theme to make it more memorable.

 There are no wrong ways to use these tools, just some combinations that are more effective than others. As you read through the blog and exercises. Please comments and opinions on how you might use this or how to change it. If you have any new ideas for games, leave them on the blog and I will develop them with a grpahic and detail on how to play it.

When a good brainstorming session slows down, the introduction of this tool helps to direct thought. Pull a letter.from a bag, show it to the group, and announce it. Ask the team to try to keep their ideas, both hand drawn or word based, starting with or containing that letter. Try many combinations to tap into their creativity.

Request the group to generate options or ideas that begin with that letter.. “F”= Fun, Fantastic, Futuristic, or the place whose name begins with an “F” down the street.

Idea by Shane Shasnow.

Instead of hitting the bull’s eye, look to hit ideas with darts. After conducting a successful brainstorming session, there might be times when indecision among a small group arises. Use the method to encourage a new form of play in selection.

Don’t forget that there are many types of dart sets that won’t puncture walls.

Idea by Shane Shasnow

Disclaimer: By using this game, the user accepts the consequences of selecting a bad idea

Neither a craps table nor gambling are to be found in this game. SCAMPER, developed by Bob Eberle, is a tool that develops options by helping team members to develop questions based upon an acronym. By assigning a number to the question associated with a letter, the dice allow chance to pick the type of question that could be asked related to a problem. Be careful, the odds from craps apply here too.

S… Think of what might be substituted in a product or process
C… Think of what might be combined in a process or product
A… Think of what might be adapted to a process or product
M… Think of what could be modified in a process or product
P… Think of ways that a process or process might be put to other uses
E… Think of what might be eliminated from a process or product
R… Think of how a process or product might be rearranged or reversed

For more games, check out Eberle’s book, SCAMPER: Let your imagination run wild.

Example Numbering System matched with number rolled on the dice
S… 12
C… 2, 11
A… 3, 10
M… 4, 9
P… 5, 8
E… 6
R… 7

The problem solving process could be made into a ball! Well, a beach ball with a bunch of writing on it.

After inflation, the beach ball’s surface can instantly become a writing surface where small group members can jot down with a dry erase marker different aspects of a problem to collect data in an organized fashion. Change the size of the ball to affect the amount of data to be collected, or change the number and size of the balls to decrease the amount of time required to collect the information being.

Imagine how this little shift of perspective on what a ball could be might turn a team game of volleyball into a powerful team building exercise to address a multimillion dollar problem. It’s your turn to serve.

When space and time are barriers in a small group setting, this approach creates a shared forum for communication. Using a piece of flip chart paper, fill in the appropriate sections as shown above. Tape the paper onto a wall located in a common use area where people are able to leave their feedback openly yet anonymously.

A problem associated with anonymous and locked feedback boxes is that people who are a part of the team may never see what their teammates are thinking, which prevents the opportunity for others to take a comment and build upon it or spin off other concerns. Leave the flip chart posted for a day or two to get desired responses. To get a full view of a problem, the questions can be designed to cover the focus areas listed above using a flipchart series.