A guide to idea generation: tools and techniques for ideation

Find out what idea generation really means, as well as an extensive resource of idea generation techniques and tools that can truly help to get those creative juices flowing.

All great innovations begin with great ideas.

But what’s the best way to approach idea generation so that innovation can happen?

Read on for more on what idea generation really means, as well as an extensive resource of idea generation techniques and tools that can truly help to get those creative juices flowing.

What is idea generation?

Also known as ideation, idea generation is simply the creative process or processes that an organisation uses to create and develop new ideas as part of the innovation process.

Sometimes, a good idea can come completely out of the blue. However, relying on these once in a blue moon ideas doesn’t guarantee that your team will be generating all of the high-quality creative ideas that you need. Instead, many organisations opt for a clearly defined and structured idea management process to help them to generate and collect ideas and solutions from all angles.

Generating ideas in the right way can encourage divergent thinking, can encourage everyone to feel like they can get involved in innovation, and – by letting your team know that the sharing of ideas is positively encouraged – you can empower your workplace community, too.

To make this happen, you’ll need to ensure that your workplace is centred around divergent – rather than convergent – thinking. This essentially means that ideas can be formed and vocalised without any judgement – often referred to as a brainstorming session, blue-sky thinking or spit-balling. Convergent thinking, meanwhile, involves the assessment or critiquing of ideas – something that should not be undertaken until ideas have been generated and collated.