1. Innovation Therapy
Activity: Cross through all nine dots by drawing no more
than four straight lines (without lifting the pencil from the
paper)
Can you find more than one way?
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Who are you?
Claire Ferraro
Graduated from the University of Michigan
Mechanical Engineer in Patient Care Devices
I like to play tennis and try new restaurants
Lynn Davenport
Electrical and Biomedical Engineering degrees from Northwestern
University and Purdue University
Lead System Engineer for Spinal Cord Stimulation
I have two young sons that keep me very busy (soccer, preschool…)
6. • Production blocking (tendency for one individual to inhibit others)
• Team / process overconfidence (cognitive biases)
• Ownership / leadership needed to create value from ‘ideas’
• Favors extroversion; limits reflection
• Culture Dependent
• Can feel disorganized if no clear actions or “take aways”
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YOU!
And You’re Assumptions!
Use your assumptions as a tool rather than a limitation!
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Power of Identifying Assumptions
“We can’t solve problems by using the same type of
thinking we used when we created them.” –Einstein
Assumptions are…
• Factual type statements about something someone
could believe to be true or false
o they can be contradictory and redundant; they are potential
constraints
o statements of potential bias; Statements are real or perceived
facts
Assumption≠
8. Assumption Storming
Activity: List assumptions about a coffee maker
Ground Rules….
• Ad hoc – respectful, but no turns
• No scribes – write, then say your assumption/idea
• No experts!
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– No assumption is a bad one!
Remember to stretch your mental muscles, it should
get uncomfortable at the end
10. Keys to a Successful Environment for Ideating
1. Create well-defined problem statements
2. Playful Rules – Be Energetic
3. Build and Jump
4. The Space Remembers – Write everything down
5. Stretch Mental Muscles – Challenge yourself to think
differently
6. Get Physical – stand up, walk around, actively participate
Most importantly - No criticizing ideas. Instead, use “Yes, And!”
Source – “The Art of Innovation” by Tom Kelley
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11. How to get started in your workplace?
• Identify a need/topic prior to assumptions
• Topics should not be related to participants expertise
• Present background information on topic
• Start with assumption storming until all muscles are
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stretched!
• Develop ideas and build on one another
• Summarize and document ideas
Notas do Editor
“
How many people got 1 solution? 2 solution? 3 solution?
Have one or two people draw solutions on Flip Chart.
If you didn’t get this, what was different in what they did? Write this on the board
Take two more min and keep trying to come up with solutions.
Assumption broke with the left: You must always apply the same amount of pressure. If the pencil is touching the paper its drawing a line.
Assumption broke on the right: Lines have to be as thin as the pencil.
What barriers stopped you with this solution or multiple solutions?
State after You and you’re assumptions: You are your own worst enemy. You CAN solve these, you’re clearly bright, capable people – but you did not! Why?
Ideas come from identifying an assumption and then trying to use or break it!
Break into groups about 15-20. Flip charts and markers are placed around the room
Lynn and Claire walking around the room to help stretch the teams. Needs: Flip charts, markers.
Assumptions:
-Has to be electric
-Has to be cylindrical
-It has non-porous material
-You have to use water
What were two of your unconventional assumptions? Each team report out.
The next phase if we had more time, would be moving into Ideating on these assumptions. Here are some examples of assumptions being broken:
Hour Glass – No Electricity and takes 10+ hours
White – No Pot and only fits this cup
Lever arm– No pot, mechanical arm
Bullet 2: Its good to have a diverse group and not be pigeon holed