What is the goal of the 'brainstorming' phase in problem solving?

The goal of the 'brainstorming' phase in problem solving is to generate a wide range of possible solutions. During this phase, participants are encouraged to express all ideas openly and without fear of criticism. This free-flowing exchange of thoughts allows for creative thinking and the exploration of innovative solutions that might not emerge in a more structured environment.

Brainstorming focuses on quantity over quality initially, meaning that the aim is to come up with as many ideas as possible, regardless of how feasible or practical they might seem at first. This broad collection of ideas can later be refined and evaluated in subsequent phases of the problem-solving process, allowing teams to identify the most promising solutions to pursue further.

Other activities, such as evaluating ideas, assigning roles, or analyzing past data, are part of the overall problem-solving process but occur at different stages. These activities are generally aimed at refining or implementing the solutions identified during the brainstorming phase rather than gathering new ideas.