Using the Disney Method
Posted on December 5, 2011 by Paul Sloane
The Disney Method is a parallel thinking technique which has some similarities with the Six Hats. It is particularly useful as a group analysis tool for an issue and it leads to idea generation and idea review. The team adopts four different thinking modes as outsiders, dreamers, realisers and critics.
Initially the group thinks as outsiders and review the facts, data and external viewpoints regarding the issue at hand. They might take the roles of consultants, customers, suppliers or competitors in order to get a more rounded view of the issue.
The group then leaves the room and re-enters (or goes to another room) but this time as dreamers. They strive to imagine an ideal solution without any constraints. They brainstorm all sorts of ideas to resolve the problem using divergent thinking. No criticism or judgment is allowed. Many ideas are generated and written down.
The group leaves the room and then returns as realisers – realists with a practical, constructive mindset. They review the ideas that the dreamers generated and apply criteria to converge on the best ideas. Once they have selected the best idea they work it up into a project plan with costs timescales, risks and benefits.
The group now turns to the fourth thinking style and everyone becomes a critic who reviews the plan in order to identify problems, obstacles and risks. They are not negative or cynical but critical and constructive. Their objective is to spot the issues with the plan and to make it better.
At this stage the process might be complete or you might want to go back to one of the other styles in order to get an outsider’s view of the plan, to dream of new or enhanced plans or to work as realisers on the details of the plan.
Some people find this method easier to use than the Six Hats. It will generally deliver good ideas and a well-considered project plan.
- See more at: http://www.innovationexcellence.com/blog/2011/12/05/using-the-disney-method/#sthash.GZPn4jFf.dpuf
Posted on December 5, 2011 by Paul Sloane
The Disney Method is a parallel thinking technique which has some similarities with the Six Hats. It is particularly useful as a group analysis tool for an issue and it leads to idea generation and idea review. The team adopts four different thinking modes as outsiders, dreamers, realisers and critics.
Initially the group thinks as outsiders and review the facts, data and external viewpoints regarding the issue at hand. They might take the roles of consultants, customers, suppliers or competitors in order to get a more rounded view of the issue.
The group then leaves the room and re-enters (or goes to another room) but this time as dreamers. They strive to imagine an ideal solution without any constraints. They brainstorm all sorts of ideas to resolve the problem using divergent thinking. No criticism or judgment is allowed. Many ideas are generated and written down.
The group leaves the room and then returns as realisers – realists with a practical, constructive mindset. They review the ideas that the dreamers generated and apply criteria to converge on the best ideas. Once they have selected the best idea they work it up into a project plan with costs timescales, risks and benefits.
The group now turns to the fourth thinking style and everyone becomes a critic who reviews the plan in order to identify problems, obstacles and risks. They are not negative or cynical but critical and constructive. Their objective is to spot the issues with the plan and to make it better.
At this stage the process might be complete or you might want to go back to one of the other styles in order to get an outsider’s view of the plan, to dream of new or enhanced plans or to work as realisers on the details of the plan.
Some people find this method easier to use than the Six Hats. It will generally deliver good ideas and a well-considered project plan.
- See more at: http://www.innovationexcellence.com/blog/2011/12/05/using-the-disney-method/#sthash.GZPn4jFf.dpuf
Disney Brainstorming Method: Dreamer, Realist, and SpoilerCRAFTED 23 MARCH 2012| PDF
It is said, that film producer and innovator, Walt Disney used to think-up and refine ideas by breaking the process into three distinct chunks. The dreamer, the realist, and the spoiler (or critic).
The DreamerThis stage was for fantasizing. Creating the most fantastic and absurd ideas as possible. No filter. Just wonderful, raw ideas. This stage was about “why not?”
The RealistAs the Realist, the Dreamer ideas would be re-examined, and re-worked into something more practical. It wasn’t about the reasons it could not be achieved, but only about it could be done. This stage is about “how?”
The SpoilerThe third stage he would become the critic… shooting holes in the ideas he had come up with.
It is said, the ideas that survived this process were the ones Walt would work on.
By compartmentalizing the stages, Walt didn’t let reality get in the way of the dream step. The realist was allowed to work without the harsh filter of a spoiler. And, the spoiler spends time examining a well-thought idea… something with a bit more structure.
When we brainstorm alone and in groups – too often – we tend to fill the room with a dreamer or two, a few realists, and a bunch of spoilers. In these conditions dream ideas don’t stand a chance.
Different Rooms for Different StagesThere is additional information that Walt went further, moving from one room to another as he shifted thinking. Using spaces specifically for each stage.
Imagine how powerful it would be if…
Conference Room A in your office could ONLY be used for dreaming? For coming up with the broadest ideas possible. No filtering. No realist or spoiler.
Conference Room B was ONLY for the Realist. Only finding ways to convert dreams to reality.
And, Conference Room C… for the spoiler and critic to help find any additional weak spots to be fixed before an idea goes live.
So many more ideas would get the chance to be refined and further examined for merit.
The risk? A few additional ideas that end up as bad ideas have a chance to be re-examined. The benefit… a few additional ideas that would have been tossed out as losers, are re-examined and end up as winners.
Try these three different roles next time you’re drumming up new ideas. Do your best to ONLY be in one frame of mind at a time. Ease the mind of your spoilers that they’ll have their chance with their chainsaws soon enough… If your team lacks the discipline to focus on only one stage at a time… break it up into different room.
Read the full text here: http://www.idea-sandbox.com/blog/disney-brainstorming-method-dreamer-realist-and-spoiler/#ixzz3XjtEsO2k
- brought to you by Idea Sandbox
It is said, that film producer and innovator, Walt Disney used to think-up and refine ideas by breaking the process into three distinct chunks. The dreamer, the realist, and the spoiler (or critic).
The DreamerThis stage was for fantasizing. Creating the most fantastic and absurd ideas as possible. No filter. Just wonderful, raw ideas. This stage was about “why not?”
The RealistAs the Realist, the Dreamer ideas would be re-examined, and re-worked into something more practical. It wasn’t about the reasons it could not be achieved, but only about it could be done. This stage is about “how?”
The SpoilerThe third stage he would become the critic… shooting holes in the ideas he had come up with.
It is said, the ideas that survived this process were the ones Walt would work on.
By compartmentalizing the stages, Walt didn’t let reality get in the way of the dream step. The realist was allowed to work without the harsh filter of a spoiler. And, the spoiler spends time examining a well-thought idea… something with a bit more structure.
When we brainstorm alone and in groups – too often – we tend to fill the room with a dreamer or two, a few realists, and a bunch of spoilers. In these conditions dream ideas don’t stand a chance.
Different Rooms for Different StagesThere is additional information that Walt went further, moving from one room to another as he shifted thinking. Using spaces specifically for each stage.
Imagine how powerful it would be if…
Conference Room A in your office could ONLY be used for dreaming? For coming up with the broadest ideas possible. No filtering. No realist or spoiler.
Conference Room B was ONLY for the Realist. Only finding ways to convert dreams to reality.
And, Conference Room C… for the spoiler and critic to help find any additional weak spots to be fixed before an idea goes live.
So many more ideas would get the chance to be refined and further examined for merit.
The risk? A few additional ideas that end up as bad ideas have a chance to be re-examined. The benefit… a few additional ideas that would have been tossed out as losers, are re-examined and end up as winners.
Try these three different roles next time you’re drumming up new ideas. Do your best to ONLY be in one frame of mind at a time. Ease the mind of your spoilers that they’ll have their chance with their chainsaws soon enough… If your team lacks the discipline to focus on only one stage at a time… break it up into different room.
Read the full text here: http://www.idea-sandbox.com/blog/disney-brainstorming-method-dreamer-realist-and-spoiler/#ixzz3XjtEsO2k
- brought to you by Idea Sandbox