A concept for serious gaming to support disruptive idea generation

Abstract

The generation of breakthrough ideas in the context of disruptive innovation is often driven by accident or other coincidences. Methodological support is low for this `fuzzy front-end' of the innovation process. This paper shows how the analysis of idea generation methods leads to the concept of a disruptive idea generation game which can be used to stimulate the creativity of participants in the innovation process. The basic concept of the game is to disrupt traditional idea generation methods like brainstorming by a radical change of the overall perspective. This change is accomplished by introducing to the participants the fact that another enterprise has taken over the own company and current products and services need to fit within that new portfolio.