Gamestorming

Gamestorming is an approach to learning, creative thinking and problem solving based on the idea that innovation and transformation are more likely to happen when we are allowed to play and have fun. 

It is usually done in a group setting because it encourages and relies on diversity of perspectives and inputs. Many of the activities and techniques on this site could be adapted to group reflection.

Three stages

A Gamestorming session tends to follow a three-stage process.

Opening

The focus in this stage is on divergent thinking.

Key question: 'What else?'

Starting with an initial discrepancy (problem, challenge, question) as a prompt, the aim of this stage is to generate as many new ideas about the discrepancy as possible. The focus should be on quantity and diversity (as many different ideas as possible).

Record all the ideas and try to avoid evaluating them at this stage.

Activities that could help during this stage include: perspective shifting, counterfactual thinking, repertory grid, naming and randomisation.

Exploring

The focus in this stage is emergent thinking in which you experiment and play with the ideas generated in the Opening stage.  

Key question: 'What if…?'

Rather than trying to achieve a particular objective, the purpose is to see where the ideas take you and to enjoy the journey, seeing how ideas evolve and what other ideas emerge in the process. 

This could involve playing with different combinations of ideas or exploring their various potential implications (mainly optimistically).

Activities that could help during this stage include: both-and thinking, metaphors, concept mapping, cause-and-effect mapping and incubation.

Closing

The focus in this stage is convergent thinking. 

Key question: 'Which one…?'

The aim is now to evaluate, prioritise, eliminate and refine your ideas until you have a single best conclusion or workable way forward. 

In this stage, you are allowed to be more pragmatic (or even pessimistic) — evaluating potential feasibility, risks and disadvantages, weighing up pros and cons.

Activities that could help during this stage include: force-field analysis, SWOT, pre-mortems, PACT goals, TPB and scenario planning.