What is the purpose of brainstorming in a team activity?

Brainstorming serves the specific purpose of producing a diverse set of options through idea generation. This collaborative activity encourages participants to share their thoughts freely and fosters an open environment where creativity can thrive. The primary goal of brainstorming is to generate as many ideas as possible, regardless of their perceived feasibility, allowing the team to explore a wide range of possibilities.

By focusing on generating diverse ideas, brainstorming can lead to innovative solutions and alternative approaches that may not have been considered otherwise. It is a key technique in elicitation processes because it helps gather insights from various perspectives, ensuring that all voices are heard and that the final selection can draw from a rich pool of creative input. Once a broad array of ideas is generated, the team can then move on to other phases, such as evaluation, refinement, and prioritization, but the initial phase is all about expanding options, which is the essence of brainstorming.