title: Asynchronous Brainstorming in an Industrial Setting: Exploratory Studies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The goal of this study was to examine the effectiveness of brainwriting in an industrial setting.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Research has demonstrated that group interaction can inhibit idea generation. Written exchanges of ideas in groups have been found to be an effective way to increase idea generation. To our knowledge, no study has examined the potential of brainwriting for group idea generation in work settings or the impact of different sequences of group and individual idea generation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants in a high-technology company participated in two brainwriting studies. In one study, participants generated ideas either first alone and then in a group or in the reverse order. In a second study, participants either generated as a group during the entire session or alternated individual ideation with a periodic review of the group's ideas.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the first study, participants who generated ideas first as a group and then as individuals performed best. In the first session, group writing also tended to lead to more ideas than did individual writing. In the second study, participants with periodic reviews performed best.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that alternation in individual and group brainwriting can enhance the number of ideas generated. The group-to-alone sequence is also beneficial since it allows group members to build on shared ideas.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This research indicates that collaborative idea sessions can be beneficial in work sessions if the brainwriting paradigm is used with an appropriate alternation of group ideation or review sessions with individual idea generation sessions.
authors: University of Texas at Arlington Paulus@uta.edu.
authors: Paul B
authors: PB
authors: Paulus
authors: University of Texas at Arlington.
authors: Runa M
authors: RM
authors: Korde
authors: University of Texas at Arlington.
authors: Jubilee J
authors: JJ
authors: Dickson
authors: Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors: Abraham
authors: A
authors: Carmeli
authors: Tmurot Ltd., Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors: Ravit
authors: R
authors: Cohen-Meitar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003405:Creativity; D004651:Employment; D006126:Group Processes; D006801:Humans; D013672:Technology
keywords: brainstorming; brainwriting; collaborative innovation; creativity; groups; idea selection