Making online problem-solving as effective as in-person problem-solving

Management media is buzzing after a long-term study concluded that online brainstorming is less effective than in-person efforts.

The source was Oxford Research: its “study analyzed patterns of collaboration and innovation, concluding that face-to-face interaction plays a crucial role in fostering disruptive ideas. This challenges … leaders to reconsider the value of physical workspaces and direct team interactions.”

Innovation requires change that comes from disruptive ideas that create value in new ways.  This is no surprise. I was part of an online conference developing concepts which showed me how clumsy it was.  Zoom or Teams offer a way to comment but not to gather observations, and insights or to build on ideas.   

It was these observations that led to a need for a new type of idea journal, Navigator Journals to give people a stronger tool to explore challenges and manage their ideas at home, at work, or working online.

The research also suggested, “… where innovation is key, this finding underscores the importance of creating environments that encourage spontaneous conversations and collaborative brainstorming sessions. The magic of ‘water cooler’ moments – those unplanned, casual interactions among colleagues – can be a fertile ground for innovative ideas.”

This reminds me of a story from The Revenge of Analog when a tech company eliminated co-creation software to solve common problems and placed whiteboards in the hallways. 

 The research offered useful advice for idea events.

“the study highlights the role of the environment in facilitating creativity. In-person settings often provide a shared physical space that can be optimized for collaboration, equipped with tools and technologies that enhance the creative process. This is harder to replicate in a virtual setting, where interactions can be limited by technology and lack the richness of face-to-face communication.”

 Resources, tools, and techniques to help brainstorm

1. Give participants a Navigator Journal to help them hone their skills. For an online event with staff or members, mail a copy before events to harness their passion.
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3. Many organizations have set up full-time or pop-up innovation labs or creativity centres. I wrote on public service labs:  How to save your innovation lab
4. My interest in innovation started with designing ‘idea factories’ as an event or pop-up lab to collaborate to create new opportunities. People understand that we create things in factories. I used this understanding to suggest that we can create value by focusing on the raw materials we need, a process to create value, and the need to ship a result. You can download, for FREE, a copy of I am an Idea Factory! and circulate this to participants.  This expands on this graphic version. 

This is part one. The next article is Part Two: sharpen your skills for online and in-person idea events.