The Mind Gumption $($Dumping$)$ exercise jump$-$starts the creative aspect of the entrepreneurial process specifically ideation as a non$-$judgemental exercise design to generate many ideas some non$-$practical from which to build and branch out to more practical potential ideas for new ventures as well as to promote corporate innovation through new in$-$house initiatives in new corporate$-$sponsored ventures.

Learning Objectives

Practice techniques for creating and developing new ideas

Build skills in a free association that is not necessarily for the creative process

Get comfortable with starting with roll or seat ideas rather than feeling the pressure to produce big opportunities

What you'll need $($in the virtual world$)$

Student Mind Dump Worksheet $($attached$)$

Small stick notes $($variety of colors$)$ or create your own in a PowerPoint of Stickies if you have a Mac

Activity Sequence $(2$ hours$)$

Setup

Gather stimuli

Multiply the stimuli

Develop raw or seed ideas

Elaboroate one solution

Debrief

I encourage you to watch the YouTube video I created about this exercise $->$ https:$//$youtu$.$be$/$Fhu$3$IIlnEHQ $-$ Mash that like button and don't forget to subscribe $/$s

$1.$ Setup

How might we get you and other classmates to support the MIS club? $[$Prof$.$ Yorkman is the advisor and he would love you to lead a workshop $-$ tyorkman@bowiestate.edu$]$

If you prefer another challenge, let's discuss

Write down the challenge on a stick note.

Download the Student Mind Dump Worksheet

Save the file $3$ x

Mind Dump Worksheet A$\_$YOUR$\_$NAME.docx

Mind Dump Worksheet B$\_$YOUR$\_$NAME.docx

Mind Dump Worksheet C$\_$YOUR$\_$NAME.docx

$2.$ Gather Stimuli

Research the role of stimuli and why are they important? What are the types of stimuli? $(2$ pts$)$

EXAMPLE: If you were developing a new coffee mug, what could your stimuli be$?$

Sitting in a coffee shop, drinking coffee, testing out various mugs, reading coffee trade publications, and so on$.$

The purpose of stimuli is to surround yourself with artifacts that can help you stimulate new ideas artifacts do not have to be things or people words work too

WARM$-$UP: Word Association:

if I say boy, you say...? $(\mathrm{.}5$ pts$)$

If I say cat, you say...? $(\mathrm{.}5$ pts$)$

If I say red, you say...? $(\mathrm{.}5$ pts$)$

If I say train, you say...? $(\mathrm{.}5$ pts$)$

Word association uses words as stimuli to get to the next word.

For the next three minutes, write down one word or very short phrase that comes to mind when you think about the challenge that sits before you this is not the time to be thinking about ideas, only words you are simply free$-$associating based upon the challenge you need to write down whatever comes to mind even if you don't think it relates to the challenge important only one word or phrase should be written on each sticky note. $(2$ pts$)$

Example: If you are thinking about the coffee mug, your words might be: Heat, leakage, drive into work, environment, taste, relaxation, home, etc.

Observation $-$ People who are not generating a lot of completed stickies are those who are thinking too much is$,$ typically the rest left$-$brainers in the room who often self$-$judge their own ideas

$3.$ Multiply Stimuli

The free association that was used above is considered a habit for many it is part of most brainstorming sessions to be doing groups simply as individuals. The next step is to multiply the stimulus is what makes this exercise unique. Multiplying the stimulus is not a habit. Similar to what we did in the previous round, we do it will free$-$associate again but we will free$-$associate not on the challenge but on what we free$-$associated! You may need to repeat and clarify this a few times; in essence, you associate with your associations.

Randomly pick four stickies and place one in each of the four corners of the mind dump worksheet.

Free associate on these four stimuli for $1-2$ minutes

Repeat at least three times using different mind dump worksheets.

Leave the diamond space empty $-$ until you have your idea. Do not rush $-$ let the first few ideas pass.

Upload your mind dump worksheets $(3$ pts$)$ for each idea

$4.$ Create raw or seed ideas

Now it is time to create a seed or raw ideas. The goal is to create as many ideas as possible to satisfy the original challenge. These ideas do not need to be complete or even feasible. They can be big or small, tedious, exciting, bold, crazy, or fanciful. It does not matter as long as you are generating lots of ideas.

You must let the words work for you and contribute to the idea$-$generation process. Do not just write an idea you probably had before you started $-$ the seed ideas must come from the words on the page. Revisit the coffee mug example if necessary.

Do not consider feasibility or focus on a fully fleshed$-$out idea $-$ this is a preliminary concept only.

Continue doing this until you have "seeded" at least three ideas per completed mind dump sheet.

Submit a list of seed ideas $(3$ points$)$

$5.$ Elaborate one solution

Share your idea with at least $3$ classmates

Your team must work together to combin