Synectics 147

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Background: Based on their work at the Arthur D. Little Invention Design Group,
George Prince, Bill Gordon, and their colleagues set out in the 1950s to remove the
unpredictability of achieving creative results from their attempts to solve client
problems. By 1960 the success of their research prompted them to leave the Little
group and form their own company, called Synectics.

The name Synectics combines Greek word parts and suggests, "the bringing together of
diverse elements."

Description The basis of Synectics lies in the meaning of the name. Throughout a Synectics
session, the facilitator is responsible for bringing together and guiding a diversity of people,
their divergent ideas, and random stimulation. This is accomplished in planning as well in the
idea-generating sessions.

1. Planning

In order to ensure success of the session, the facilitators and others responsible for finding
solutions, including what the Synectics method describes as the problem owners, prepare by
doing the following:
  Identify the problem owners and make sure they want new solutions.
 Make sure the problem owners have the power to implement new solutions.
 Understand the problem owners' mindsets with regard to the problem area.
 Understand the parameters of the expected solution.
 Define the expectations of the problem owners.

2. Session

In general, the following steps are followed and re-cycled as necessary to accomplish the
idea-generating goals of the problem owners.

 Problem owner describes the problem in terms of wishes, that is, expressed as, "I
wish..."
 The group generates as many solution approaches, called springboards, as possible.
 The group and problem owners select and focus on generating solution ideas for the
most promising springboards.

Any number of brainstorming or idea-generating techniques or exercises may be used to help

along the solution generating process. For example: paraphrasing, itemized response,
analogies, excursions, free association, random stimuli, and others.

Throughout the session the facilitator is responsible for cultivating and maintaining an
atmosphere of speculative thinking and open-ended contribution that attracts diverse ideas
and protects participants from criticism.