Idea Generation Templates (PDF)

The customisable suite of Idea Provocation Templates were developed following a reflection on a number of creativity and idea generation tutorials for graduate and transition year students presented recently by the author. The Ideation Templates are an adaptation of selected creativity stimulation tools originally designed to support our Business Innovation Programmes. The Idea Provocation Templates are designed to provide students with a simple, memorable and engaging structure for conceptualising and summarily presenting new business ideas. A tutorial demonstrating and respectfully demystifying the creative process, with practical examples of creativity-in-action, pitched at a level students can relate to, precede the introduction of the Templates. There are three different (two-page) idea provocation Templates in this set emphasising different approaches to creating New Enterprise Ideas but of course the Templates can also be used alone as a means of outlining the creative process at this level. The group brief, following a detailed explanation of the template and an elaboration on the (customisable) sample entries provided, is as follows: (1) Revisit the sample entries provided on page-one of the Template. (2) Complete entries for all others listed on page-one and discuss and compare results with colleagues. (3) Use the suggested provocations and the creativity of the group (sub-groups) to propose novel propositions in this format overleaf (page-two). Students are specifically cautioned to avoid premature criticism and not to be too concerned about how daft or apparently unworkable connections, associations or combinations (ideas) might seem initially (i.e. to separate the creative from the later judicial process), and to have fun and show that they understand and can deploy the underlying principles. Morphological Analysis, Opportunity Mapping and Risk Analysis will follow later. Students are encouraged to bring the Templates home, discuss the classroom experience and the process with family and friends and solicit their contributions.