Brainstorming
creative thinking, divergent thinking, lateral thinking, or kicking ideas around

Originated in the 1940's in
Alex Osborn's advertising agency
to generate creative solutions.

When brainstorming:
it is usually a good idea to review a set of rules.

Such as:

Brainstorming Rules:

1. Accept all suggestions (no criticism) or bad ideas now.
2. Encourage creativity. The wilder the idea the better.
3. Build on ideas. Encourage combinations, improvements, free wheeling, and hitch-hiking.
4. Generate a large number of ideas.
5. Everyone says their idea out loud and each writes their own ideas.
6. Use visuals: diagrams, sketches, webs, maps,
7. Stay focused.

The 5-10 minute period, of brainstorming is the most productive.