#Reverse Brainstorming - A Creative Group Problem-Solving Technique for Complex Problems# by SN Panigrahi, Essenpee Business Solutions, India, Understanding Reverse Brain Storming, Reverse Brain Storming - Process, Reverse Brain Storming – Examples of Idea Reversal, Turn a Negative Gripe Session into a Positive Brainstorming Session

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SN Panigrahi is a Versatile Practitioner, Strategist, Energetic Coach, Learning Enabler & Public Speaker.
He is an International-Corporate Trainer, Mentor & Author
He has diverse experience and expertise in Project Management, Contract
Management, Supply Chain Management, Procurement, Strategic
Sourcing, Global Sourcing, Logistics, Exports & Imports, Indirect Taxes –
GST etc.
He had done more than 150 Workshops on above
Published more than 500 Articles; More than 60 Youtube Presentations &
70 SlideShares
He is an Engineer + MBA +PGD ISO 9000 / TQM with around 30 Yrs of
Experience
He is a certified PMP® from PMI (USA) and become PMI India Champion
Also a Certified Lean Six Sigma Green & Black Belt from Exemplar Global
Have been Trained in COD for 31/2 Yrs. on Strategy & Leadership
GST Certified – MSME – Tech. Dev. Centre (Govt of India)
ZED Consultant – Certified by QCI – MSME (Govt of India)
Member Board of Studies, IIMM
Co-Chairman, Indirect Tax Committee, FTAPCCI
Empanelled Faculty in NI MSME
He has shared his domain expertise in various forums as a speaker & presented a number of papers in various national and
international public forums and received a number of awards for his writings and contribution to business thoughts.
SN Panigrahi
9652571117
snpanigrahi1963@gmail.com
Hyderabad
SN Panigrahi, Essenpee Business Solutions, India

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Brainstorming is a creative group problem-solving technique and a great way to gather
ideas that involves the spontaneous contribution of ideas from all members of the group.
This Technique is sparingly used in almost all Projects.
Reverse Brainstorming, on the other hand, flips traditional brainstorming techniques
upside down, allowing you to approach complex problems from a different
perspective. Instead of trying to solving a problem, Reverse Brainstorming generates
ideas to make the problem worse. Then, you reverse those ideas to discover new
ideas for solving your original problem.
Ordinary brainstorming asks participants generate Ideas to solve problems. Reverse
brainstorming asks participants to come up with great ways to cause a problem or Create
Obstacles to the Objective. It Start with the problem and ask “how could we cause this?”
Once you've got a list of great ways to aggravate problem, you’re ready to start solving
them.

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Regular brainstorming will often take you in many different directions at the same time, which often leads to
wasted time as it is easy to drift away from the original problem. Reverse Brainstorming, however begins by
clearly defining the problem and writing it down on a sheet of paper. The ‘reverse’ aspect comes from the next
step which is to phrase the problem or issue the opposite way around, that is reverse the problem to focus
on the opposite of what you want to do. This Triggers Negative Comments to Find Positive Solutions.
Reverse Brain Storming - Process:
Following Steps are Involved in this Process
 State the Problem
 Reverse the Problem
 Generate Ideas on the Reverse Problem
 Reverse the Ideas
 Evaluate the Ideas & Find Solution
Example of How to Reverse the Problem :
For Example the Problem Statement (Objective) is “How to Increase Sale”, in the Reverse Brain
Storming it is “How to Decrease Sales”
State the Problem
Reverse the
Problem
Generate Ideas
Reverse the
Ideas
Evaluate the Ideas

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State the Problem
Reverse the Problem
Generate Ideas on the Reverse
Problem
Reverse the Ideas
Evaluate the Ideas & Find Solution

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How to Execute the Project Within
Time & Within Budget?
How to Meet the Customer
Requirement?
How to Mitigate Risks in the
Project?
How to Select Right Vendor?
How to Manage Stakeholders?
How to Delay the Project & Over
shoot the Budget?
How we Fail to Meet the Customer
Requirement?
How to Aggravate Risks in the
Project?
How to Select Wrong Vendor?
How to Mis-Manage Stakeholders?
Brain Storming Reverse Brain Storming

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Once you stated Reverse Statement, then brainstorm the reversed
problem in order to come up with as many ideas as possible, even
though they will have the an entirely detrimental effect on the
original problem. After you have a list of ideas on Reverse Brain
Storming, you then reverse those as well and apply them to the
original problem.
Reverse the Ideas:
Next Step is to Reverse these Ideas and Apply them to the Original
Problem. Once you’ve Collected all those great ideas for Reverse
Problem Statement, work with your team to reverse each of the
Ideas to find Solutions for Original Problem. Some Examples are
Exhibited here:

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Deliver Wrong Item to the Customer
Incorporate Policy to Double Check to Ensure
Delivery of Right Items to the Customer
Delay the Delivery of Goods
Find Why Delay Happening & Eliminate such
Causes to Ensure Delivery at Right Time
Charge Higher Price than Agreed
Double Check or Automate the Billing Process
to Ensure Charging Correct Price
Deliver without Proper Documents
Automate the Process or Make a Check List
to Deliver with Proper Documents like Invoice
Do not Attend / Respond to Customer
Complaints
Train the Employees to Attend Properly
Customer Complaints
Do not Provide After Sales Service
Create Policy Frame Work to Provide After
Sales Services as per Service Rules

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Do Not Communicate Project Goal to the
Team
Clearly Define & Communicate Project Goals
to the Concerned before Start of Project
Start Project Work without Understanding
& Defining Scope
Provide Complete Scope with Inclusions
& Exclusions & WBS
Start Working without Selection of Team
& Defining Rolls & Responsibilities
Ensure Selection of Proper Team & Define
Clearly the Rolls & Responsibilities
Make Key Decisions & Changes in the Project
without Following Proper Procedure
Incorporate Proper Policy & Procedures
to Follow Involving the Team
Do not Provide Feedback to the Team
Meet Regularly & Provide Proper Feedback to
the Concerned Team Members
Do not Report Project Progress
Mandate Reporting Project Progress
Timely in a Prescribed Format

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Once you’ve done your bad ideas back into good ones, you
can now analyse them to determine which are the best. With
your team, go through each idea and prioritize them in whatever
way you see fit.

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Reverse Brainstorming is a Powerful Technique to spur Creativity and Think Differently. It is a
great way to tap into Negative Feelings & Comments, Hostility, Frustration, and Anger, Deficiencies &
Defaults as a tool for Positive Problem Solving. The opposite of the answers you found during your
Reverse Brainstorming session is likely to be something that can be seen as a Creative Solution to your
original problem.
By deliberating on Reverse Problem around, you can see the issue from a New Perspective – then, when
you return to the actual issue, practical solutions may be clear. It can also be a good way see a process,
product, or service from a new and different point of view.
When you find that you are stuck on an issue that is particularly Tricky, Complex and Difficult to find
Solutions through traditional methods, try putting this Reverse Brainstorming into action to see what it
reveals. It can become a process of discovery, as participants begin to raise Issues and Problems that
may have been invisible to management but are major roadblocks for Achieving Organizational Goals.
Reverse Brainstorming is the best tool available that can turn a Negative Gripe Session into a Positive
Brainstorming Session.

12. 12SN Panigrahi, Essenpee Business Solutions, India

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SN Panigrahi
SN Panigrahi, Essenpee Business Solutions, India

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15. Contact Details:
SN Panigrahi
9652571117
snpanigrahi1963@gmail.com 15