A brainstorm is just a “gathering of ideas” from everyone who participates in the brainstorming session/exercise. Usually a theme, or a direction, is chosen and from that theme/direction everyone generates ideas. A simple exercise to perform but difficult to master.
How it can be used as a risk tool
How do we use Brainstorming as a risk identification tool then? Simply by gathering up different people from a project, preferably the same project, and then putting them in the same room. A spokes-person or similar (project manager, risk manager etc.) will set the theme or direction of the exercise. Then it is simply a matter of hearing each other's ideas and then discussing them based on the different perspectives each person has from their respective field of expertise.
This exercise relies heavily on listening and not being a “no person”.
Pros and cons
There are of course some pros and cons using this methode to identify risks…
Pros:
- You get several different views and opinions from experts on different parts of the project.
- Easy to understand and execute.
- Very inexpensive. Of course depending on the amount of participants and time.
Cons:
- It can be very time consuming and ineffective if the group is not properly managed.
- You are dependant on the participants. If they do not take the exercise seriously this methode will most likely be a waste of time.
