So you have collected lots of ideas. It’s time to select the best. How do you do that? This depends how many ideas you have and whether you were brainstorming in a group or alone.
In a group
* Up to 15 ideas? Ask all participants for their absolute favourite and create a top 3.
* 15 - 40 ideas? Ask all participants for their top 5. Group similar ideas together to create a top 5.
* Over 40 ideas? Use the COCD box. This is a table where you divide your ideas into three categories:
1. ordinary ideas that can be implemented (blue ideas) NOW
2. original ideas that can be implemented (red ideas) WOW
3. original ideas that cannot (yet) be implemented (yellow ideas) HOW
* Everyone selects 4 to 8 blue, red and yellow ideas.
* Stick blue, red and yellow stickers beside the selected ideas.
* Place the 10 - 15 ideas with the most stickers (all colours) in the COCD box.
* Check to make sure that each idea is truly promising and that people support it.
* See which ideas in the COCD box can be combined.
* Use the red ideas as a departure point.
* Combining a red idea with a blue makes it easier.
* Combining a red idea with yellow provides a long-term perspective.
* Use this technique to create a ‘fantastic top 5’.
