Brainwriting: A Brainstorming Technique for Inclusive Idea Generation
PMBOK v8 Definition
Brainwriting is a brainstorming technique that encourages everyone in the brainstorming session to participate and write their ideas down before sharing them with other team members. Later, the facilitator collects the ideas and shares them or asks others to share and discuss them with the group. This technique is a tool used within the Data Gathering and Idea Generation processes in project management.
Why It Matters for the Exam
Brainwriting frequently appears on the PMI exam in questions about team engagement, overcoming groupthink, and ensuring participation from all team members. It is typically tested in situational questions where a facilitator needs to address dominant personalities or shy team members during brainstorming sessions. Expect questions comparing brainwriting to other brainstorming techniques and identifying when brainwriting is the most appropriate approach.
Key Points to Remember (for the exam)
- Primary Purpose: Ensures participation from ALL team members, especially those who may be reluctant to speak in group settings
- Key Differentiator: Ideas are written individually BEFORE group sharing, unlike traditional brainstorming where ideas are spoken aloud immediately
- Facilitator Role: The facilitator collects written ideas and then shares them with the group for discussion
- Common Confusion: Brainwriting is NOT the same as brain-netting (virtual brainstorming) or individual brainstorming—it is a specific group technique with a structured writing-then-sharing sequence
- Exam Focus: Questions test your ability to select brainwriting when the scenario describes team members who are introverted, dominated by louder voices, or when anonymous idea generation is beneficial
- Output: A collection of written ideas from all participants that are then discussed collectively
- Key Benefit: Reduces social pressure and evaluation apprehension, allowing more creative and diverse ideas to emerge
Typical PMI Exam Example
A project manager notices that during brainstorming sessions, three senior team members dominate the conversation while junior members remain silent. The project manager wants to ensure all perspectives are captured. Which technique should the project manager use? Answer: Brainwriting, because it requires everyone to write their ideas before sharing, ensuring equal participation.
PMI Exam Traps
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Trap: Confusing brainwriting with brain-netting (virtual brainstorming)
- Reality: Brainwriting is a specific in-person technique where ideas are written on paper and collected; brain-netting uses digital platforms and online tools
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Trap: Thinking brainwriting eliminates discussion entirely
- Reality: Brainwriting includes discussion AFTER ideas are written and collected; the writing phase comes first, then sharing and discussion
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Trap: Assuming brainwriting is the same as individual brainstorming
- Reality: Individual brainstorming is done alone (free writing, word association, spiderwebs); brainwriting is a GROUP technique with structured participation
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Trap: Believing brainwriting is only for large groups
- Reality: Brainwriting works for any group size where equal participation is desired; it is particularly effective in groups of 5-15 people
Important PMI Connections
| Related Concept | Relationship Type | Exam Attention Point |
|---|---|---|
| Brainstorming (traditional) | Alternative technique | Brainwriting vs. traditional brainstorming: writing first vs. speaking first |
| Brain-netting | Alternative technique | Brainwriting is in-person; brain-netting is virtual/digital |
| Individual Brainstorming | Complementary technique | Individual brainstorming generates personal ideas; brainwriting collects group ideas |
| Facilitator Role | Key to execution | The facilitator collects and shares written ideas—critical for exam questions |
| Reverse Brainstorming | Alternative technique | Reverse brainstorming focuses on making problems worse; brainwriting focuses on generating solutions |
| Round-Robin | Similar technique | Round-robin takes turns speaking; brainwriting writes simultaneously before sharing |
| Starbursting | Alternative technique | Starbursting generates questions (who, what, when, where, why, how); brainwriting generates ideas |
| SWOT Analysis | Alternative technique | SWOT is structured analysis; brainwriting is open-ended idea generation |
Quick Review Questions
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A project team has five members, two of whom are very vocal and three who rarely speak during brainstorming sessions. Which technique would best ensure all members contribute equally?
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What is the key difference between brainwriting and traditional brainstorming in terms of when ideas are shared?
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After team members write their ideas during brainwriting, who is responsible for collecting and sharing those ideas?
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A project manager wants to use brainwriting but the team is distributed across three different countries. Is brainwriting appropriate? Why or why not?
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During brainwriting, should ideas be evaluated and criticized during the writing phase or after all ideas are collected?
PMBOK v8 Reference
Section 5 – Tools and Techniques, subsection on Brainstorming Techniques (page 149)