ABB Basic Quality Tools Series

Opportunity Storming
Structured Brainstorming

ABB Group 9AKK105151D0112

15 July 2010, Slide 1
 Opportunity Storming Content
What is it for?
Brainstorming
To discover opportunities and uncover issues in a group or organization
To get the most out of a group of diverse people
Where could I use it?
When a group is seeking new ideas
When a group is brainstorming root causes of problems

How do I use it?

1. Organize a session
2. Present the topic
3. Individual thinking and output
4. Discussion and synthesis in pairs
5. Presentation of output
6. Group voting
7. Affinity grouping

Risks and how to avoid them

Example

ABB Group 9AKK105151D0112

15 July 2010, Slide 2
 Opportunity Storming What is it for?
Uses of this tool:
When you need creative output from a team or group
When the topic requires input from more than one person
When brainstorming root causes to problems in isolation or with the use of the fishbone diagram
When thinking of alternative actions to solve problem root causes

Expected Benefits:
Easy to facilitate. Facilitator does not need to be knowledgeable on the topic being discussed, does
not need to get involved discussing the topic and is impartial to the output.
Easy to schedule. An effective session can be concluded in 1 hour.
Stimulates and inspires all participants.
Group output is synthesized into new ideas or concepts.
Opportunity Storming is structured to eliminate conflict and treats to creative thinking, thus delivering
greater output.
Items are recorded on paper by participants, so session documentation is automatic.
Group voting naturally reinforces consensus.

ABB Group 9AKK105151D0112

15 July 2010, Slide 3
 Opportunity Storming Where could I use it?
Background: Uses:
Opportunity Storming has been developed in When looking for alternative measures in Q1
ABB from the combination of different
When seeking possible root causes in Q2
creativity techniques, including Crawford Slip,
Directed Attention Thinking Tools, Six When generating ideas for actions in Q3
Thinking Hats and Current Reality Tree.
ABB has been using this technique for over
10 years in all organizational levels.

ABB Group 9AKK105151D0112

15 July 2010, Slide 4
 Opportunity Storming How do I facilitate it?
Step by step Procedure and Guidance Notes
Identify and invite participants as is appropriate for the topic. Must include the topic owner and anyone who will implement or is affected
by any ideas generated, or who has good inside knowledge of the topic. Ideally the facilitator does not take part as a participant. An
even number is best, 6 or more but less than 24. 12 is an ideal size.
Organize Organize a quiet room for the session. 1 to 2 hours will be enough, depends on the number of participants. Room should have one
wall, whiteboard or even a window for displaying and arranging the output Post-its, seating and tables (optional) for participants.
a session Materials needed, paper pads, large Post-its ~30 per participant, pens/pencils, colored whiteboard markers
Facilitator can pre arrange the seating so that participants who will later discuss in pairs are well matched for the desired output. For
more creativity, pairs should be from different functions or areas.
The facilitator presents the Opportunity Storming process, the topic and background. The participants identify their discussion partners.
Present the An outside stakeholder, such as the MD, can also come at the beginning and present the topic and background.
topic The desired outcome or outcome direction can also be given, such as root causes to a problem, ideas or actions, depending on the 4Q
stage.

The facilitator asks the participants to think about the topic and needed outcome.
Individual thinking The participants think and write down output on paper, as much as they like, but at least 4 each.
and output No talking!
Timing: 10 minutes.

The facilitator asks the participants to go through what they have written down with their discussion partner. Partners can develop new
Discussion and output based on the discussion. The pair then selects 4 output items they feel are the most significant to the desired topic output.
Write the outputs on Post-its. 1 per Post-it.
synthesis in pairs
Timing: 10 to 15 minutes, depending on group energy. Facilitator should give a 2 minute warning before calling time.

One from each pair comes up to the presentation wall area and describes the pairs output. The Post-its are stuck to the wall.
Presentation Timing 2 minutes per pair.
of output No discussion or criticism from the rest of the participants. A participant can ask for clarity if necessary.
Facilitator may need to be firm with the timing in this stage in order to control the overall session time.

All go up to the wall and vote on the outputs they feel are most appropriate.
Each pair gets 4 votes (the same number of votes as output, can be increased to 5 if 5 items are asked for)
Group voting Each pair can only vote on 1 of their own output.
Timing 10 minutes.

The participants group the output according to similarities. Items with the most votes on top. Heading Post-its can be made.
Timing 5 to 10 minutes.
Affinity grouping Output is photographed for documentation and collected.
Topic owner asks for summary thoughts and next action steps with the output. A SMART action list can be created.
Facilitator closes Opportunity Storming session
ABB Group 9AKK105151D0112
15 July 2010, Slide 5
 Opportunity Storming Risks and how to avoid them
Risks :
Open criticism of output that can lead to a long
discussion, ruining the schedule.
Poor creativity
Steps to avoid them :
This will most likely happen during the output
presentations. The facilitator needs to be firm
and remind participants that the only comments
allowed at that time are those from the pair
presenting their output. More open discussion is
allowed during voting.
Can happen if the participants are not properly
briefed, or are not knowable in the topic. Careful
participant choice should include experts in the
topic. Announce the Opportunity Storming
session with enough advanced notice and ask
the participants to research the topic ahead of
time if needed.

ABB Group 9AKK105151D0112

15 July 2010, Slide 6
 Opportunity Storming Example
1. Organize a Session 2. Present the topic

3. Individual thinking and output

4. Discussion and synthesis in pairs

5. Presentation of output

7. Affinity grouping
6. Group voting
ABB Group 9AKK105151D0112
15 July 2010, Slide 7