100-Metodos-de-Qualidade-Total

IDEA GENERATION 127
Method 53
Breaking set
Purpose
To overcome blocks in thinking by generating new ideas. It is particularly
useful in prompting a group to be more receptive to new suggestions.
When to use
If a group has run out of ideas or has become set on a particular line of
thinking.
How to use
The idea, solution or problem is written on a flip chart and is examined by
the group, asking several key questions under the following headings:
1 Adapt What else is like this? Are there any parallels in the past? What
could we copy? What other ideas are like this?
2 Modify Can we change the meaning, colour, sound, smell, feel, form,
shape?
3 Magnify What can be added? More time, height, size? Duplicate,
multiply, exaggerate?
4 Minimize What can be taken away? Smaller, condensed, simplified,
streamlined, split up, omitted?
5 Substitute Who else, what else, instead? Other suppliers, components,
materials, power, processes, approaches?
6 Rearrange Swap cause and effect? Other pattern, layout, sequence,
schedule?
7 Reverse What are the opposites? Swap positive and negative? Turn it
round, upside down, change roles?
8 Combine Combine purposes, elements, ideas, blend, assortment,
ensemble?
Benefits
Different ways of viewing the same idea are a good means of generating
more ideas. Often when a group has tried something and failed, it is
reluctant to change track. Breaking set provides a way of building on an
existing idea to generate new ideas.