A common question about ideation is whether it is a solo or group activity? This is not easily answered because ideation often requires a mix of individual and group creative contributions, and alternating between them. Also, ideation, as process, and ideas, as outcome, are influenced and shaped by participants' social interactions that, moreover, provide inspiration and emotional satisfaction. Even those who say group ideation doesn’t work find that initial solo brainstorming followed by group brainstorming can improve the quantity and quality of ideas generated. In short, most ideation blends group and individual activities, but the challenge is how to blend them. So the answer to the question solo or group ideation, is both/and rather than either/or. That is, the quality of solo ideation improves with exposure to others’ ideas and a variety of answers, as experienced in the workshop's plenary session.
