Definition: Brainwriting is a collaborative idea generation technique that involves written or visual contributions from team members instead of verbal discussions. It provides a structured and organized approach to generate ideas, foster creativity, and encourage participation from all team members.

Process: In brainwriting, team members individually write or sketch their ideas on a piece of paper or a digital platform, and then pass it on to the next team member for further additions or modifications. This process continues for a set period of time, allowing for multiple rounds of idea generation and building upon each other's ideas.  

Silent and Parallel: Unlike traditional brainstorming, where ideas are shared verbally in a group setting, brainwriting is a silent and parallel process. This allows team members to freely express their ideas without interruptions or biases, and encourages a broader range of ideas from different perspectives. 

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Quantity over Quality: Brainwriting encourages the generation of a large quantity of ideas, focusing on quantity rather than quality at the initial stage. This allows for a diverse range of ideas to emerge, including unconventional and out-of-the-box ideas that may not have surfaced in a traditional brainstorming session. 

Idea Expansion: Brainwriting facilitates idea expansion, as team members can build upon each other's ideas by adding or modifying them. This collaborative approach can lead to the development of more refined and creative ideas that benefit from the collective knowledge and perspectives of the team.  

Equal Participation: Brainwriting promotes equal participation from all team members, as everyone gets an opportunity to contribute their ideas in a structured and organized manner. This ensures that all voices are heard, and ideas from introverted or less vocal team members are also captured. 
 
Reduced Groupthink: Groupthink, which is a phenomenon where team members conform to the dominant ideas or opinions of the group, is minimized in brainwriting. Since ideas are generated individually and in parallel, without influence from others, team members are encouraged to think independently and come up with unique ideas.  

Flexibility: Brainwriting can be easily adapted to different team sizes, timeframes, and contexts. It can be used in-person or remotely, and can be applied in various settings, such as problem-solving, innovation, strategic planning, and product development.  

Combines Divergent and Convergent Thinking: Brainwriting combines both divergent and convergent thinking, as it allows for the free flow of ideas (divergent) in the initial stage, followed by the opportunity to build upon and converge ideas towards more refined solutions.  

Documentation: Brainwriting generates a written or visual record of ideas, which can serve as a valuable reference for future discussions, evaluations, or implementation. This documentation allows for better organization, analysis, and follow-up on the generated ideas.  

In conclusion, brainwriting is a collaborative and structured approach to idea generation that encourages participation, fosters creativity, and minimizes biases. It is a flexible technique that can be used in various contexts, and combines divergent and convergent thinking to generate a diverse range of ideas. 

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