Innovation Breaking

Discipline: Innovative Thinking

Game Overview: The Innovation Breaking game is a dynamic and creative activity designed to foster innovative thinking and teamwork. This exercise challenges participants to rethink and reinvent everyday products, emphasizing creativity, feasibility, and effective communication. Through this engaging game, teams will enhance their ability to generate groundbreaking ideas and present them convincingly.

Duration: 15 minutes or less
You need a minimum of 7 employees to play

Objective

Generate and pitch innovative ideas by reinventing a common product.

How to Play:

  1. Designate 1-3 judge/s: Judges will score all final presentations of the Innovation Breaking activity using the criteria provided.

  2. Team Formation:

    • Teams: Form teams of 3-5 members.

    • Roles: Assign each team member a role, such as leader, note-taker, and presenter (timekeeping is shared among all members).

  3. Brainstorming and Prototype Development Session (10 Minutes):

    • Note-Taker: Responsible for documenting the brainstorming session.

    • Order: Leader decides the speaking order for team members.

    • Timing: Each member has 2 minutes to contribute to the innovation.

  4. Process:

    • The leader introduces the common product and selects the order in which the remaining members contribute.

    • Subsequent members add details, elaborate, or refine the concept, ensuring originality and feasibility.

  5. Steps:

    • Minute 1 (Leader): Introduce the common product (e.g., a water bottle).

    • Minutes 2-3 (Member 2): Propose initial innovative features or improvements.

    • Minutes 4-5 (Member 3): Discuss potential design and functionality enhancements.

    • Minutes 6-7 (Member 4, if applicable): Consider practical applications and user benefits.

    • Minutes 8-10 (All Members): Collaboratively finalize the prototype or concept, incorporating all contributions.

  6. Presentation (2 Minutes):

    • The presenter of each team pitches their innovative idea to a panel of judges within 2 minutes or less.

Scoring Criteria:

Using a scale of 1-5, the judge/s will award points as follows:

  • Originality:
    1: Idea lacks originality and is very generic.
    2: Idea shows limited creativity, with some original elements.
    3: Idea is somewhat creative, with a few innovative ideas.
    4: Idea is creative and innovative, standing out from typical concepts.
    5: Idea is exceptionally creative and original, highly innovative and unique.

  • Feasibility:
    1: Idea is impractical and unrealistic.
    2: Idea includes some practical elements but lacks feasibility.
    3: Idea is moderately practical with some feasible elements.
    4: Idea is practical and feasible, with minor improvements needed.
    5: Idea is highly practical and feasible, with no major issues.

  • Presentation Skills:
    1: Presentation is unclear and poorly communicated.
    2: Presentation has some clear elements but lacks overall clarity.
    3: Presentation is moderately clear but has areas of confusion.
    4: Presentation is clear and effectively communicated.
    5: Presentation is exceptionally clear, engaging, and well-communicated.

Additional Tips:

  • Effective Communication: Clearly state your ideas and ensure they build on previous contributions. Avoid jargon and complicated language to keep the innovation accessible and understandable.

  • Active Listening: Pay attention to each team member’s input to ensure relevant and cohesive contributions.

  • Time Management: Keep track of time using a timer. Each member should practice delivering their ideas concisely within their allotted time.

  • Focus on the Big Picture: Avoid getting bogged down in minor details. Focus on the core elements of the innovative idea.

  • Encourage Creativity: Think outside the box and encourage bold, innovative ideas. A unique innovation is more likely to stand out and be compelling.

  • Stay Positive and Supportive: Foster a positive environment where all team members feel comfortable sharing their ideas. Constructive feedback is key to refining the concept.

Example:

Team A’s Innovation:

  • Minute 1 (Leader, Gianna): "Our common product is a water bottle."

  • Minutes 2-3 (Member 2, Casey): "Let's add a built-in filter and a temperature gauge."

  • Minutes 4-5 (Member 3, Naomi): "We can enhance it with a collapsible design for easy storage."

  • Minutes 6-7 (Member 4, Alex): "Consider adding a Bluetooth feature to track hydration levels via an app."

  • Minutes 8-10 (All Members): "We finalize the concept: a smart, collapsible water bottle with a built-in filter, temperature gauge, and Bluetooth connectivity for hydration tracking."