The document outlines an Innovation Boot Camp training manual which aims to teach participants divergent and convergent thinking techniques. The manual covers activities like sticky note brainstorming, forced connections, and Brainwriting + SCAMPER to generate novel ideas. Participants work through problem-solving exercises in groups. The boot camp was a 12-week social experiment that saw positive impacts like adopting creative problem-solving processes and prototyping new services. The document encourages customizing the approach for different contexts.
20. PROBLEM 1
How might we make wait times in
doctors offices more pleasant?
training manual (p. 6)
21. PROBLEM 2
How might we make the middle seat
on an airplane the most desirable
seat?
training manual (p. 6)
22. PROBLEM 3
How might we make carpooling a more
attractive option for commuters?
training manual (p. 6)
23. PROBLEM 4
How might we make it easier to find
hard-to-locate products in the grocery
store?
training manual (p. 6)
24. PROBLEM 5
How might we encourage a healthier
lifestyle for library technicians at
work?
training manual (p. 6)
25. INSTRUCTIONS
• Choose one of those problems to work on
• Put the problem you chose in the centre of the table
• Put the others back in the envelope
29. MATERIALS
• Sticky note pads (for each group member)
• Markers (for each group member)
• Pre-numbered flip chart paper (for facilitator)
training manual (p. 7)
30. INSTRUCTIONS
• Brainstorm solutions to your problem
• One idea per sticky note
• Speak your idea to the group
• Hand it to the facilitator
• Build on ideas from other members
• Facilitator posts ideas on pre-numbered chart paper
• Goal: 50 ideas in 10 minutes
training manual (p. 7)
31. DEBRIEF
• Ideas flow more freely
• Clear objective with a good group dynamic
• Verbalizing ideas allows for building on them
training manual (p. 7)
34. INSTRUCTIONS (ROUND ONE)
• Look at the random objects
• Brainstorm as many characteristics as you can
• 3 minutes
• Record your ideas on flip chart paper
training manual (p. 8)
35. INSTRUCTIONS (ROUND TWO)
• Look at your list of characteristics
• Do any of those characteristics give you new ideas for
how to solve your problem?
• Discuss in your group
• Add new ideas to sticky notes
training manual (p. 8)
36. DEBRIEF
• Stimulates lateral thinking
• Encourages cross-pollination
• Focuses on the object, not the problem
training manual (p. 9)
38. MATERIALS
• Package of worksheets
• Something to write with (for each group member)
training manual (p. 9)
39. INSTRUCTIONS
• Each group member should have one worksheet
• Look at the prompting questions
• Generate new ideas and record them on the sheet
• 2 minutes
• Pass your sheet to the left
• Repeat
training manual (p. 9)
40. DEBRIEF
• Encourages contemplative brainstorming
• Probes additional angles on the problem
• Surfaces solutions, comments, and assumptions
training manual (p. 9)
44. IMPACT
• Adopted IBC activities in some work teams
• Enhanced meeting space
• Started meetings with improvisation
• Prototyped service desk
• Captured data with more creative methods
• Wayfinding study; idea spotting
45. IMPACT
• Facilitated creative problem solving process
• Organizational development
• CIO group retreat
• Promoted the IBC experience
• Conferences: ACRL, LOTW, OLA, ACRL/WNYO
• Reference Services Review
46. • Use your context
• Be purposeful
• Expect to alter your
plan
• Find your champions
• Stare failure in the face
FINAL THOUGHTS
49. IMAGE CREDITS
Images of IBC were taken by Robin Bergart. Additional images were adapted from
www.flickr.com and used under Creative Commons licensing (listed in order of appearance):
White towel: sciascia
Beige army man: Alex MestasArmy man with orange background: Jennifer Tomaloff
Weight lifter: damndirty
Cyclists: Andrew Last
Ballet mirror: Gerry Dulay
Bandaged arm: Sandor Weisz
Kid showing muscles: eyeliam
Runners: John Kochmanski
Girl with tongue: Axel Buhrmann
Photographer and camera: Andrew Ferguson
Human pyramid: lululemon athletica
Yoga stretch: lululemon athletica
Jumping on a trampoline: Josh Bancroft
Water bottle at airport: Nexeus Fatale