#Reverse Brainstorming - A Creative Group Problem-Solving Technique for Complex Problems# by SN Panigrahi

#Reverse Brainstorming - A Creative Group Problem-Solving Technique for Complex Problems# by SN Panigrahi,
Essenpee Business Solutions, India,
Understanding Reverse Brain Storming,
Reverse Brain Storming - Process,
Reverse Brain Storming – Examples of Idea Reversal,
Turn a Negative Gripe Session into a Positive Brainstorming Session

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SN Panigrahi isa Versatile Practitioner, Strategist, Energetic Coach, Learning Enabler & Public Speaker.
He is an International-Corporate Trainer, Mentor & Author
HehasdiverseexperienceandexpertiseinProjectManagement,Contract
Management, SupplyChainManagement, Procurement,Strategic
Sourcing,GlobalSourcing,Logistics,Exports&Imports,IndirectTaxes–
GSTetc.
Hehaddonemorethan150Workshopsonabove
Publishedmorethan500Articles;Morethan60YoutubePresentations&
70SlideShares
HeisanEngineer+MBA+PGDISO9000/TQMwitharound30Yrsof
Experience
HeisacertifiedPMP®fromPMI(USA)andbecomePMIIndiaChampion
AlsoaCertifiedLeanSixSigmaGreen&BlackBeltfromExemplarGlobal
HavebeenTrainedinCODfor3
1
/
2Yrs.onStrategy&Leadership
GSTCertified–MSME–Tech.Dev.Centre(GovtofIndia)
ZEDConsultant–CertifiedbyQCI–MSME(GovtofIndia)
MemberBoardofStudies,IIMM
Co-Chairman,IndirectTaxCommittee,FTAPCCI
EmpanelledFacultyinNIMSME
Hehassharedhisdomainexpertiseinvariousforumsasaspeaker&presentedanumberofpapersinvariousnationaland
internationalpublicforumsandreceivedanumberofawardsforhiswritingsandcontributiontobusinessthoughts.
SN Panigrahi
9652571117
[email protected]
Hyderabad
SN Panigrahi, Essenpee Business Solutions, India

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Brainstormingisacreativegroupproblem-solvingtechniqueandagreatwaytogather
ideasthatinvolvesthespontaneouscontributionofideasfromallmembersofthegroup.
ThisTechniqueissparinglyusedinalmostallProjects.
ReverseBrainstorming,ontheotherhand,flipstraditionalbrainstormingtechniques
upsidedown,allowingyoutoapproachcomplexproblemsfromadifferent
perspective.Insteadoftryingtosolvingaproblem,ReverseBrainstorminggenerates
ideastomaketheproblemworse.Then,youreversethoseideastodiscovernew
ideasforsolvingyouroriginalproblem.
OrdinarybrainstormingasksparticipantsgenerateIdeastosolveproblems.Reverse
brainstormingasksparticipantstocomeupwithgreatwaystocauseaproblemorCreate
ObstaclestotheObjective.ItStartwiththeproblemandask“howcouldwecausethis?”
Onceyou'vegotalistofgreatwaystoaggravateproblem,you’rereadytostartsolving
them.

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Regular brainstorming will often take you in many different directions at the same time, which often leads to
wasted time as it is easy to drift away from the original problem. Reverse Brainstorming, however begins by
clearly defining the problem and writing it down on a sheet of paper. The ‘reverse’ aspect comes from the next
step which is to phrase the problem or issue the opposite way around, that is reverse the problem to focus
on theoppositeof what you want to do. This TriggersNegative Comments to Find Positive Solutions.
Reverse Brain Storming -Process:
Following Steps are Involved in this Process
State the Problem
Reverse the Problem
Generate Ideas on the Reverse Problem
Reverse the Ideas
Evaluate the Ideas & Find Solution
Example of How to Reverse the Problem :
For Example the Problem Statement (Objective) is “How to Increase Sale”, in the Reverse Brain
Storming it is “How to Decrease Sales”
State the Problem
Reverse the
Problem
Generate Ideas
Reverse the
Ideas
Evaluate the Ideas

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State the Problem
Reverse the Problem
Generate Ideas on the Reverse
Problem
Reverse the Ideas
Evaluate the Ideas & Find Solution

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How to Execute the Project Within
Time & Within Budget?
How to Meet the Customer
Requirement?
How to Mitigate Risks in the
Project?
How to Select Right Vendor?
How to Manage Stakeholders?
How to Delay the Project & Over
shoot theBudget?
How we Fail toMeet the Customer
Requirement?
How to AggravateRisks in the
Project?
How to Select WrongVendor?
How to Mis-ManageStakeholders?
Brain Storming Reverse Brain Storming

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OnceyoustatedReverseStatement,thenbrainstormthereversed
probleminordertocomeupwithasmanyideasaspossible,even
thoughtheywillhavetheanentirelydetrimentaleffectonthe
originalproblem.AfteryouhavealistofideasonReverseBrain
Storming,youthenreversethoseaswellandapplythemtothe
originalproblem.
ReversetheIdeas:
NextStepistoReversetheseIdeasandApplythemtotheOriginal
Problem.Onceyou’veCollectedallthosegreatideasforReverse
ProblemStatement,workwithyourteamtoreverseeachofthe
IdeastofindSolutionsforOriginalProblem.SomeExamplesare
Exhibitedhere:

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Deliver Wrong Item to the Customer
Incorporate Policy to Double Check to Ensure
Delivery of Right Items to the Customer
Delay the Delivery of Goods
Find Why Delay Happening & Eliminate such
Causes to Ensure Delivery at Right Time
Charge Higher Price than Agreed
Double Check or Automate the Billing Process
to Ensure Charging Correct Price
Deliver without Proper Documents
Automate the Process or Make a Check List
to Deliver with Proper Documents like Invoice
Do not Attend / Respond to Customer
Complaints
Train the Employees to Attend Properly
Customer Complaints
Do not Provide After Sales Service
Create Policy Frame Work to Provide After
Sales Services as per Service Rules

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Do Not Communicate Project Goal to the
Team
Clearly Define & Communicate Project Goals
to the Concerned before Start of Project
Start Project Work without Understanding
& Defining Scope
Provide Complete Scope with Inclusions
& Exclusions & WBS
Start Working without Selection of Team
& Defining Rolls & Responsibilities
Ensure Selection of Proper Team & Define
Clearly the Rolls & Responsibilities
Make Key Decisions & Changes in the Project
without Following Proper Procedure
Incorporate Proper Policy & Procedures
to Follow Involving the Team
Do not Provide Feedback to the Team
Meet Regularly & Provide Proper Feedback to
the Concerned Team Members
Do not Report Project Progress
Mandate Reporting Project Progress
Timely in a Prescribed Format

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Onceyou’vedoneyourbadideasbackintogoodones,you
cannowanalysethemtodeterminewhicharethebest.With
yourteam,gothrougheachideaandprioritizetheminwhatever
wayyouseefit.

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ReverseBrainstormingisaPowerfulTechniquetospurCreativityandThinkDifferently.Itisa
greatwaytotapintoNegativeFeelings&Comments,Hostility,Frustration,andAnger,Deficiencies&
DefaultsasatoolforPositiveProblemSolving.Theoppositeoftheanswersyoufoundduringyour
ReverseBrainstormingsessionislikelytobesomethingthatcanbeseenasaCreativeSolutiontoyour
originalproblem.
BydeliberatingonReverseProblemaround,youcanseetheissuefromaNewPerspective–then,when
youreturntotheactualissue,practicalsolutionsmaybeclear.Itcanalsobeagoodwayseeaprocess,
product,orservicefromanewanddifferentpointofview.
WhenyoufindthatyouarestuckonanissuethatisparticularlyTricky,ComplexandDifficulttofind
Solutionsthroughtraditionalmethods,tryputtingthisReverseBrainstormingintoactiontoseewhatit
reveals.Itcanbecomeaprocessofdiscovery,asparticipantsbegintoraiseIssuesandProblemsthat
mayhavebeeninvisibletomanagementbutaremajorroadblocksforAchievingOrganizationalGoals.
ReverseBrainstormingisthebesttoolavailablethatcanturnaNegativeGripeSessionintoaPositive
BrainstormingSession.

12. 12SN Panigrahi, Essenpee Business Solutions, India

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SN Panigrahi
SN Panigrahi, Essenpee Business Solutions, India

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15. Contact Details:
SN Panigrahi
9652571117
[email protected] 15