6-3-5 Method

The 6-3-5 Brainwriting method is a structured brainstorming technique designed to enhance idea generation in groups. It involves six participants in a team, the idea is to write three ideas for five minutes per round, promoting a diverse and democratic idea-generation process.

This method originated in the 1960s and was developed by Bernd Rohrbach, a German sales manager, who aimed to improve team problem-solving and innovation. It contrasts traditional brainstorming by minimising social inhibitions and encouraging equal participation, thereby maximising the variety and quantity of ideas produced.

This approach is valuable for solving complex problems, fostering innovative solutions, and broadening perspectives in team projects.

What is the 6-3-5 Method?

The 6-3-5 method, or "635 Brainwriting," is a collaborative idea-generation technique used in brainstorming sessions to foster creative thinking and generate many ideas quickly. The method is structured to minimise some common drawbacks of traditional brainstorming, such as the dominance of louder participants and the anchoring effect of early ideas. Here is how it works:

• 6 participants: The process starts with six participants. Each participant is given a sheet of paper or a digital document.
• 3 ideas: In this paper, each participant writes down three ideas that answer a specific question or solve a problem posed at the beginning of the session.
• 5-minute rounds: The participants are given five minutes to write down their ideas. After five minutes, each participant passes their paper or document to the person on their right.
• Repeat: This process repeats for 6 rounds. In each round, participants read the ideas already written on the sheet they received and added three new ideas. The new ideas can be inspired by what they read or entirely new suggestions.

This method ensures that within a 30-minute session, 108 ideas (6 participants * 3 ideas * 6 rounds = 108) can be generated. The 6-3-5 method is praised for its ability to leverage the group's collective intelligence, encourage equal participation, and generate a diverse set of ideas. It's useful in various contexts, including product development, problem-solving, and creative projects.

How to do the 6-3-5 Brainwriting

To effectively carry out the 6-3-5 Brainwriting method in your team or group, follow these detailed steps:

Step 1: Preparation

Define the Problem: Clearly state the problem or question that needs ideas or solutions. It should be specific enough that participants can generate relevant ideas but not so narrow that it limits creative thinking.

Select Participants: Gather a group of 6 participants. These should be individuals with varying expertise and backgrounds to ensure a diversity of ideas.

Prepare Materials: Each participant will need a sheet of paper (or a digital document if you're working remotely) divided into a grid with 6 rows and 3 columns, allowing each participant to write down 3 ideas per round over 6 rounds. Also, ensure you have timers and pens if doing this in person.

Step 2: Explain the Rules

Before starting, explain the process to all participants:

• Each person will write down 3 ideas in 5 minutes.
• After 5 minutes, the sheet is passed to the right.
• The process repeats until each sheet has been filled with ideas from all participants.

Step 3: Generate Ideas

First Round: Start the timer for 5 minutes. Each participant writes down their 3 ideas in the top row of their sheet. Encourage quick, initial thoughts without overthinking.

Pass Sheets: At the end of 5 minutes, everyone passes their sheet to the person on their right.

Subsequent Rounds: Participants read the ideas on the received sheet and then add 3 new ideas in the next empty row. These ideas can build on what's already there or be entirely new. This continues until all rows are completed.

Step 4: Review and Discuss

Share Ideas: Once the brainwriting session is complete, collect the sheets and share the ideas with the group. You can do this by having each sheet read aloud or displaying them where everyone can see.

Discuss and Develop: Discuss the ideas as a group. Highlight ones that stand out, combine or refine ideas, and consider the next steps for promising concepts. This discussion can lead to a more in-depth analysis or voting on the best ideas.

Step 5: Follow-Up

Document: Compile all the ideas generated into a document. This serves as a record of the brainstorming session and can be referred to later.

Action Plan: Decide on how to proceed with the selected ideas. Plan further research, development, or another session if needed.

Tips for Success

Encourage Open-mindedness: Remind participants to be open to all ideas, regardless of how unconventional they may seem.

Facilitate Anonymously: Consider making the process anonymous to avoid bias or influence based on who generated an idea.

Set the Right Environment: Ensure a comfortable, distraction-free environment to foster creativity.

The 6-3-5 Brainwriting method is a structured yet flexible approach to idea generation that efficiently leverages group creativity. By following these steps, you can maximise the quantity and diversity of ideas produced, paving the way for innovative solutions to challenges.

The Benefits of the 6-3-5 Brainwriting Method

The 6-3-5 Brainwriting method offers several benefits, making it an effective tool for idea generation and creative problem-solving in group settings. Here are some of the key advantages:

High Volume of Ideas

The structured nature of the 6-3-5 method ensures a high output of ideas in a relatively short time. With each of the 6 participants generating 3 ideas per round over 6 rounds, the method guarantees 108 ideas in 30 minutes, providing a broad range of solutions or concepts to explore.

Equal Participation

All participants have an equal opportunity to contribute ideas, which helps mitigate the common problem in traditional brainstorming sessions where more extroverted individuals might dominate the conversation. This inclusivity can uncover unique perspectives and ideas that might otherwise remain unvoiced.

Anonymity and Reduced Bias

Since ideas are written down and sheets are passed around, it's not immediately apparent who contributed which idea. This anonymity can reduce biases and the influence of hierarchy within the group, encouraging more honest and creative contributions.

Synergy of Ideas

The method encourages the building and refining of ideas. As the sheets are passed around, participants can be inspired by the ideas of others, leading to enhanced, more developed concepts that might not have been generated in isolation.

Focus on Idea Generation

Separating the idea generation phase from the evaluation phase, the 6-3-5 method allows participants to focus solely on creativity without fear of immediate criticism. This can lead to more innovative and unconventional ideas.

Minimises Groupthink

The structure of the 6-3-5 method reduces the risk of groupthink, where individuals are influenced to conform to the ideas and suggestions of others in real-time discussions. The independent nature of the idea generation phase allows for a broader range of ideas to surface.

Versatility

This method can be easily adapted to various contexts and challenges for product development, marketing strategies, problem-solving, or creative projects. It can also be used in both in-person and remote settings, making it versatile for different team environments.

Encourages Active Participation

Since everyone is expected to contribute ideas continuously, the method fosters a more engaged and active participation from all group members, keeping the energy levels high and encouraging a sense of contribution and collaboration.

Easy to Organise and Implement

The 6-3-5 method is straightforward to explain and requires minimal materials or preparation, making it easy to implement for almost any team or group looking to generate ideas effectively.

In sum, the 6-3-5 Brainwriting method is a powerful tool for fostering creativity, ensuring broad participation, and efficiently generating diverse ideas. It is a valuable technique for teams and organisations aiming to innovate and solve problems creatively.

The Limitations of 6-3-5 Brainwriting Method

The 6-3-5 Brainwriting method, while effective for generating a diverse range of ideas within a group, has its own set of limitations and challenges. Understanding these can help you optimise the method for your specific needs or choose the right technique for your situation. Here are some of the notable limitations:

Dependence on Participant Engagement

The method's success heavily relies on all six participants' active participation and commitment. If one or more participants are not fully engaged, the quantity and quality of ideas generated can significantly decrease.

Group Composition

The diversity and expertise of the participants can greatly affect the outcomes. A group with similar backgrounds or expertise may produce fewer varied ideas, while a too-diverse group might struggle to understand each other's contributions.

Idea Development Depth

Due to the time constraints and the format, the ideas generated are often brief and may lack depth. Further discussion and development are typically needed to refine and evaluate the ideas.

Potential for Overlap

As participants generate ideas independently, there can be significant overlap in the ideas produced. This redundancy can affect the efficiency of the idea-generation process.

Analysis and Synthesis Challenges

After the session, analysing and synthesising the large volume of ideas generated can be daunting. The process requires additional time and effort to categorise, combine, or prioritise ideas for further exploration.

Logistical Constraints

Organising a session with exactly six participants can sometimes be logistically challenging, especially in smaller teams or when schedules are tight. The method's effectiveness may diminish if adapted to a different number of participants.

Remote Collaboration Challenges

While the 6-3-5 Brainwriting method can be adapted for remote teams using digital tools, the dynamics of passing around ideas and ensuring everyone contributes effectively can be more challenging to manage online.

Lack of Immediate Feedback

The method's structure limits immediate verbal feedback and discussion, which can sometimes spark further creativity. Participants do not have the opportunity to clarify or expand upon their ideas in real time, which can sometimes stifle the development of more complex solutions.

Understanding these limitations can help facilitators tailor the 6-3-5 Brainwriting session to better meet their goals by providing more guidance on idea development, using digital tools to manage idea overlap, or scheduling follow-up sessions to discuss and refine the ideas generated.

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Final Notes on 6-3-5 Brainwriting Method

In conclusion, the 6-3-5 Brainwriting method is a structured brainstorming technique that encourages creativity by leveraging diverse perspectives. Although it generates a high volume of ideas and ensures equal participation, challenges like participant engagement, idea depth, and logistics may arise. Facilitators should understand these aspects to implement the method effectively.

A final tip for effectively using the 6-3-5 Brainwriting method is to incorporate a synthesis phase after the initial rounds. This allows the group to evaluate, combine, and further develop the generated ideas, ensuring the most promising concepts are refined and actionable. This enhances the method's effectiveness in fostering innovative solutions and collaborative success.