---
title: "Brainstorming Methods - Quick Reference"
description: "Quick selection guide. For full explanations, see `methods-detailed.md`."
type: skill
canonical_url: https://claudary.paisolsolutions.com/skills/methods-quick
source: "Claudary"
difficulty: intermediate
author: "Claude Code Knowledge Pack"
date: 2026-07-10T11:31:00.459Z
license: CC-BY-4.0
attribution: "Brainstorming Methods - Quick Reference — Claudary (https://claudary.paisolsolutions.com/skills/methods-quick)"
---

# Brainstorming Methods - Quick Reference
Quick selection guide. For full explanations, see `methods-detailed.md`.

## Overview

# Brainstorming Methods - Quick Reference

Quick selection guide. For full explanations, see `methods-detailed.md`.

## Divergent Methods (Generate New Ideas)

| Method                  | Best For                    | One-liner                                                                                     |
| ----------------------- | --------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **SCAMPER**             | Improving existing concepts | Systematic prompts: Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to other uses, Eliminate, Reverse |
| **Random Stimulus**     | Breaking mental ruts        | Introduce unrelated word/image, force connections                                             |
| **Forced Analogies**    | Fresh perspectives          | "How would [X industry/person] solve this?"                                                   |
| **Mind Mapping**        | Exploring idea space        | Visual branching from central concept                                                         |
| **Worst Possible Idea** | Loosening constraints       | Generate terrible ideas, then invert                                                          |
| **TRIZ Principles**     | Technical/product problems  | 40 inventive principles for contradiction resolution                                          |

## Convergent Methods (Focus & Decide)

| Method                 | Best For              | One-liner                                |
| ---------------------- | --------------------- | ---------------------------------------- |
| **Affinity Grouping**  | Organizing many ideas | Cluster similar ideas, name the clusters |
| **Dot Voting**         | Quick prioritization  | Allocate limited votes across options    |
| **Weighted Scoring**   | Complex decisions     | Score options against weighted criteria  |
| **Elimination Rounds** | Narrowing options     | Progressive cuts with explicit criteria  |
| **2x2 Matrix**         | Comparing tradeoffs   | Plot options on two key dimensions       |

## Problem-Framing Methods

| Method                | Best For               | One-liner                                  |
| --------------------- | ---------------------- | ------------------------------------------ |
| **First Principles**  | Fundamental rethinking | Strip to basics, rebuild from ground truth |
| **5 Whys**            | Root cause analysis    | Ask "why" repeatedly to find core issue    |
| **Inversion**         | Finding hidden risks   | "What guarantees failure?" then avoid it   |
| **Problem Reframing** | Stuck on wrong problem | Restate the problem 5 different ways       |
| **Jobs-to-be-Done**   | Product/service design | What job is the user hiring this to do?    |

## Perspective Shift Methods

| Method                     | Best For                   | One-liner                                                            |
| -------------------------- | -------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Six Thinking Hats**      | Structured group analysis  | Rotate through facts, feelings, risks, benefits, creativity, process |
| **Steelman**               | Testing ideas rigorously   | Build the strongest case for the opposing view                       |
| **Audience Reality Check** | Product/content validation | Would [specific person] actually want this?                          |
| **Stakeholder Mapping**    | Complex decisions          | Who cares, what do they want, what's their power?                    |
| **Time Horizons**          | Strategic thinking         | How does this look in 1 week / 1 year / 10 years?                    |

## Evaluation & Risk Methods

| Method                   | Best For             | One-liner                                                    |
| ------------------------ | -------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Pre-mortem**           | Before committing    | Assume it failed—why?                                        |
| **Assumption Surfacing** | Foundational clarity | What are we taking for granted?                              |
| **10/10/10**             | Decision clarity     | How will I feel about this in 10 min / 10 months / 10 years? |
| **Reversibility Test**   | Risk assessment      | Is this a one-way or two-way door?                           |

## Theological/Philosophical Methods

| Method                        | Best For           | One-liner                                                |
| ----------------------------- | ------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Presuppositional Analysis** | Deep foundations   | What worldview assumptions underlie this idea?           |
| **Telos Examination**         | Purpose clarity    | What is the ultimate end/purpose this serves?            |
| **Stewardship Frame**         | Resource decisions | Am I being a faithful steward of what's entrusted to me? |

## Quick Selection Heuristics

- **"I have no ideas"** → Random Stimulus, Worst Possible Idea
- **"I have too many ideas"** → Affinity Grouping, Elimination Rounds
- **"I'm not sure what the real problem is"** → 5 Whys, Problem Reframing
- **"This feels risky"** → Pre-mortem, Inversion
- **"Am I missing something?"** → Six Thinking Hats, Steelman
- **"Is this actually valuable?"** → Jobs-to-be-Done, Audience Reality Check
- **"What are we assuming?"** → First Principles, Assumption Surfacing,
  Presuppositional Analysis

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Source: [Claudary](https://claudary.paisolsolutions.com/skills/methods-quick) · https://claudary.paisolsolutions.com