Tool 24
The association grid
What the tool is
This is an extended version of the two words technique (see Tool 23).
When to use it
- As for the two words technique, to create fresh insights into a problem or inform a decision.
What you will need
- Pen and paper.
How to use it
Create a table of five or six columns and rows. Think about the problem to be solved and, as you begin to associate words or ideas with the problem, write them in the table cells, one per cell, in any sequence. Now combine ideas randomly from the table, and new and creative solutions to the problem will begin to emerge.
For example:
You are overwhelmed with work at the moment. Your boss assures that you that the situation is temporary and that, as soon as a new ...
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