Full Spectrum Brainstorming

Overview

Full Spectrum Brainstorming is a structured, collaborative framework designed to approach challenges by leveraging diverse perspectives. Inspired by the principles of structured thinking, the model divides participants into specialized teams, each representing a unique mode of thought. Together, these teams form a 'spectrum' of viewpoints, ensuring balanced and comprehensive exploration of ideas.

Purpose

Full Spectrum Brainstorming helps groups systematically solve problems, make decisions, or generate ideas by ensuring every perspective is explored thoroughly. It fosters collaboration and inclusivity while maintaining a structured process.

Preparation and Team Roles

Preparation should begin several days or weeks in advance to ensure a well-structured and productive session.

1. Define the Objective

• Clearly state the challenge or decision the group will address.

2. Assign Teams by Colour and Role

• Each participant must understand their specific role and how it contributes to the exercise.
• If the group is small, multiple roles may be assigned to each team.

3. Provide Team Guidelines

• Each team receives a summary of their focus, key questions to consider, and examples to guide their preparation.

4. Gather Cross-Team Insights

• While teams only prepare for their assigned perspective, participants are encouraged to submit their personal thoughts or concerns about any other colours to the facilitator before the session.
• The facilitator reviews these inputs and may use them to drive deeper discussions if a team overlooks key considerations.
  

5. Structured Discussion

• Teams present their perspectives in a set sequence based on their assigned colour.
• During each presentation, the facilitator introduces relevant cross-team input when needed to encourage deeper exploration of key issues.
• After all presentations, the group collaborates to synthesize the insights into a well-rounded solution.

This approach maintains team ownership, encourages broader participation, and ensures no key perspectives are missed while keeping the discussion structured and effective.

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The Full Spectrum Brainstorming Session

1. Introduction & Setup (Facilitator-led)

• The facilitator introduces the objective of the session and explains the Full Spectrum Brainstorming process.
• Each team is reminded of their assigned colour, role, and focus area.
• The facilitator collects any last-minute cross-team insights that were submitted before the session.

2. Team Preparation – 10-15 min. Optional (Team-led)

• Teams review their assigned perspective and refine their key points.
• They do not present at this stage but finalize insights they plan to share.
• The facilitator quickly reviews pre-submitted cross-team insights and prepares to introduce them during presentations if needed.

3. Presentation Round & Moderated Discussion (Team & Facilitator-led)

• Each team presents their findings in sequence.
• The facilitator listens actively, identifying gaps and introducing relevant cross-team insights where necessary.

Presentation Order & Facilitator’s Role:

1. White Team (Just the Facts) – Presents data and research.

- Facilitator may introduce additional data points submitted by other teams.

2. Red Team (Emotional & Intuitive Reactions) – Shares instinctive and emotional responses.

- Facilitator may highlight additional emotional insights submitted by other teams.

3. Yellow Team (Spot the Risks) – Identifies potential risks and barriers.

- Facilitator may prompt discussion on risks raised by others that were not covered.

4. Sky Blue Team (Opportunities & Benefits) – Identifies positives and opportunities.

- Facilitator may introduce additional opportunities submitted by other teams.

5. Purple Team (Creative & Innovative Solutions) – Presents fresh and unconventional ideas.

- Facilitator may use cross-team suggestions to spark further innovation.

6. Teal Team (Ethics, Sustainability & Stakeholder Alignment) – Evaluates ethical and stakeholder considerations.

- Facilitator may surface ethical concerns raised by other teams.

7. Black Team (Challenging Assumptions & Testing Ideas) – Plays devil’s advocate.

- Facilitator may introduce additional challenges submitted by other teams.

8. Navy Blue Team (Execution & Feasibility) – Synthesizes insights into a realistic implementation plan.

- Facilitator may raise feasibility concerns submitted by other teams.

4. Group Discussion

• Teams collaborate to refine and build on the ideas presented.
• The Navy Blue Team facilitates this discussion to ensure alignment and balance.

5. Final Synthesis

• The Navy Blue Team leads the group in combining all perspectives into a cohesive action plan or decision.

Example Scenario

Challenge: “How can we design an effective employee wellness program?”

Preparation & Input Collection

• Each team prepares their insights based on their assigned colour, ensuring deep focus on their designated perspective.
• All participants are encouraged to submit additional thoughts on any other colours to the Facilitator before the session.
• The Facilitator reviews these inputs and may use them during discussions to prompt deeper exploration where necessary.

Team Contributions & Moderated Discussion

1. White Team (Just the Facts)

• Presents data on wellness trends, employee survey results, and organizational health needs.
• The Facilitator may introduce additional data points submitted by other teams, such as industry comparisons or research-backed wellness strategies.

2. Red Team (Emotional & Intuitive Reactions)

• Shares employee sentiment, gut reactions, and potential engagement concerns.
• The Facilitator may raise emotional perspectives submitted by other teams, ensuring all potential reactions are addressed.

3. Yellow Team (Spot the Risks)

• Highlights potential barriers, such as low participation, privacy concerns, or cost overruns.
• The Facilitator may introduce additional risks submitted by other teams, such as cultural resistance or workload trade-offs.

4. Sky Blue Team (Opportunities & Benefits)

• Identifies positives such as improved morale, retention, and productivity.
• The Facilitator may prompt deeper discussion on additional opportunities raised by other teams, like employer branding or cross-functional benefits.

5. Purple Team (Creative & Innovative Solutions)

• Suggests ideas like gamified wellness challenges, AI-driven health recommendations, or flexible wellness stipends.
• The Facilitator may inject creative suggestions from other teams to spark further innovation.

6. Teal Team (Ethics, Sustainability & Stakeholder Alignment)

• Assesses how the program aligns with company values, inclusivity, and long-term sustainability.
• The Facilitator may surface concerns about ethical trade-offs or stakeholder objections raised by other teams.

7. Black Team (Challenging Assumptions & Testing Ideas)

• Plays devil’s advocate, identifying weaknesses, unintended consequences, and potential failures.
• The Facilitator may present additional challenges submitted by other teams to ensure robust evaluation.

8. Navy Blue Team (Execution & Feasibility)

• Outlines a realistic, scalable implementation plan, covering logistics, budgeting, and accountability.
• The Facilitator may introduce concerns submitted by other teams, such as hidden costs or implementation risks.

Outcome

After each team presents, the Facilitator leads a discussion, incorporating insights from other teams’ pre-submitted feedback to drive a deeper, well-rounded exploration of the problem. This ensures a data-driven, emotionally resonant, risk-aware, opportunity-focused, innovative, feasible, ethical, and resilient wellness program.

Conclusion: Why Use Full Spectrum Brainstorming?

Full Spectrum Brainstorming is a structured, inclusive, and action-oriented approach to problem-solving that ensures every perspective is explored while keeping discussions focused and productive. By integrating team ownership, cross-team insights, and facilitated discussions, this method leads to more balanced, well-informed, and executable decisions.

Key Benefits:

• Comprehensive & Bias-Free Decision-Making
  
  • Encourages diverse perspectives, reducing bias and groupthink.
  • Ensures no critical angle is overlooked in the decision-making process.
• Inclusive & Engaging Collaboration
  
  • Every participant has a defined role, fostering active engagement.
  • The Facilitator facilitates deeper discussions, incorporating ideas from all participants.
• Clear & Structured Process
  
  • Provides a step-by-step framework that keeps discussions organized and productive.
  • Teams focus deeply on their assigned perspectives, while the Facilitator ensures balance.‍
• Real-World, Actionable Solutions
  • Translates brainstorming into practical, well-rounded solutions that account for data, risks, opportunities, feasibility, ethics, and challenges.
  • Results in strategies that are both innovative and executable.

Full Spectrum Brainstorming is more than just a brainstorming method—it’s a structured approach to making well-informed, actionable decisions. By combining creativity with structure, intuition with data, and risk awareness with execution, this framework ensures that every perspective is explored, challenged, and refined. The result? Practical solutions that are both visionary and achievable. More than just generating ideas, Full Spectrum Brainstorming aligns teams, fosters collaboration, and ensures everyone is moving forward with a shared understanding and purpose.

Acknowledgment of Influences

Full Spectrum Brainstorming builds on established structured thinking methodologies. In particular, we acknowledge:

• Edward de Bono’s Six Thinking Hats – Developed by Dr. Edward de Bono, this method introduced role-based thinking to encourage diverse perspectives. Full Spectrum Brainstorming expands on this by incorporating structured facilitation for action-oriented outcomes.
• Red Teaming – Originating in military strategy and intelligence analysis, Red Teaming was institutionalized in the U.S. Army by Dr. Richard Suter and later adapted for corporate decision-making by Micah Zenko and Bryce Hoffman. The Black Team in this framework applies these principles to challenge assumptions and ensure resilience.