Brainstorming – Great tool for Business Analyst

What is brainstorming?

• Merriam Webster defines brainstorming as “a group problem-solving technique that involves the spontaneous contribution of ideas from all members of the group”[1] —pretty basic
• Technique where every idea, no matter how outside-the-box, is encouraged—and the more ideas that are generated, the better.
• Brainstorming is a group or individual creativity technique by which efforts are made to find a conclusion for a specific problem by gathering a list of ideas spontaneously contributed by its member(s).

To put in simple terms “Brainstorming” is a method of quickly generating many creative ideas from a group of people.

It must be noted that there are various variations of Brainstorming. It is interesting to know that if these different variations if used effectively in different stages of the project by Business analyst, it is possible to reap maximum benefit from Brainstorming.

Business Analyst has to perform following tasks in the lifetime of a project: (Ref: IIBA - The Guide to the Business Analysis - Body of Knowledge™ - Version 2.0 Framework)

• BAP & M – Business Analysis Planning and Monitoring
• EA – Enterprise Analysis
• E – Elicitation
• RA – Requirements Analysis
• SA & V – Solution Assessment and Validation
• RM & C – Requirements Management and Communication

Table below shows Brainstorming variations that can be used during various tasks by the Business Analyst:

BA Task	Brainstorming Approach	Advantage
Enterprise Analysis (Purpose: Identify and propose projects that meet strategic needs and Goals)	Question Brainstorming	·   Using this approach, Business Analyst can gather all possible questions that stakeholders has with the current system and expects new system to solve. ·   It is possible to analyze same business issue/problem with all possible angles as group members brainstorm each other with questions which they independently think about the system.
	Team Idea Mapping Method	·   Helps to collect inputs from all team members.
	Electronic Brainstorming	·   This brainstorming technique helps when the stake holders are separated by geographic distance.
Elicitation (Explore, identify and document stakeholder needs)	Directed brainstorming	·   At this stage the members participating in the brainstorming knows the business / project goals. ·   In this brainstorming approach the members can brainstorm in the known direction. ·   This approach can be used to understand requirements from various stakeholders.
	Guided brainstorming	·   This brainstorming method can be used when Business analyst is discussing on all probable solutions to the problem. ·   All brainstorming members are guided with the possible solutions, which they can brainstorm and arrive at the best one.
	Individual brainstorming	·   BA can approach individual stakeholders and have brainstorming session. ·   This method helps for requirement elicitation from individuals which are usually “Quiet” in meetings.
	*Electronic brainstorming and Team idea mapping method can also be used in this stage.

As noted in BABOK “Facilitated properly, brainstorming can be fun, engaging and productive.” You may see some quieter colleagues come out of their shells, and be surprised with innovative ideas from unexpected sources.

Additionally brainstorming also helps in cohesion of information which is healthy for the project.

About Author:

Saurabh Kane is a consultant in Systems Plus Pvt. Ltd. Within Systems Plus, he actively contributes to the areas of Technology and Information Security. He can be contacted at: saurabh.k@spluspl.com