Generating ideas (for project planning)

THE TECHNIQUES INCLUDE INTERACTING GROUP PROCESSES (BRAINSTORMING, SYNECTICS, AND NOMINAL GROUP TECHNIQUES). BRAINSTORMING AND SYNECTICS ARE GROUP CREATIVE PROCESSES USED TO GENERATE IDEAS IN RESPONSE TO A STATED PROBLEM. THE NOMINAL GROUP TECHNIQUE IS A GROUP PROCESS FOR DRAWING FORTH OPINIONS ABOUT AN UNSTRUCTURED PROBLEM AND RANKING THE RESPONSES IN THE ORDER OF IMPORTANCE. MORPHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS IS A METHOD OF SYSTEMATICALLY ANALYZING A PROBLEM AND SYNTHESIZING ALTERNATIVES. THIS METHOD INVOLVES BREAKING A PROBLEM DOWN INTO ITS ELEMENTS AND IDENTIFYING A NUMBER OF ALTERNATIVES FOR EACH ELEMENT. INTERVIEWS AND QUESTIONNAIRES ARE FORMAL METHODS FOR GATHERING INFORMATION, IDEAS, AND OPINIONS FROM SELECTED PERSONS IN A TARGET POPULATION.