Gamestorming

1. Gamestorming: A new approach to knowledge work and innovation

Gamestorming is about creating game worlds specifically to explore and examine business challenges, to improve collaboration, and to generate novel insights about the way the world works and what kinds of possibilities we might find there.

Shift in work paradigm. The industrial era's focus on standardization and predictability is giving way to a knowledge economy that demands creativity and innovation. Gamestorming offers a framework for navigating this new landscape, providing tools and techniques to tackle complex, ambiguous challenges.

Creating possibility spaces. By designing and playing through "game worlds," teams can explore ideas, test hypotheses, and discover new solutions. These structured yet flexible environments allow for rapid prototyping of concepts and encourage divergent thinking. Gamestorming taps into the power of play to unlock innovation, fostering an atmosphere where failure is low-stakes and breakthrough ideas can emerge.

2. The 10 essentials of gamestorming: Core tools for creative problem-solving

We're entering a new age of discovery where we are exploring a world of information. Like the explorers of the past, we often have only a vague sense of what we are looking for and are not sure what we will find when we get there.

Essential toolkit. The 10 essentials of gamestorming provide a versatile set of methods for navigating complex challenges:

1. Opening and Closing
2. Fire Starting
3. Artifacts
4. Node Generation
5. Meaningful Space
6. Sketching and Model Making
7. Randomness, Reversal, and Reframing
8. Improvisation
9. Selection
10. Try Something New

Adaptable techniques. These tools can be combined and reconfigured to suit a wide range of scenarios, from brainstorming sessions to strategic planning. By mastering these essentials, teams develop a shared language for problem-solving and gain the ability to craft custom approaches to unique challenges.

3. Opening, exploring, and closing: The three phases of effective gamestorming

To open is to get people thinking and spark their imaginations. To open you need to create a comfortable environment where people feel invited and welcome so that they will open their minds and explore possibilities they may not have considered before.

Opening: Create a safe, inviting space for idea generation. Use techniques like brainstorming, visual prompts, or provocative questions to stimulate divergent thinking. The goal is to generate a wide range of possibilities without judgment.

Exploring: Dive deeper into promising ideas, combining and refining concepts. This phase involves analysis, prototyping, and testing assumptions. Use games that encourage perspective-shifting, pattern recognition, and collaborative problem-solving.

Closing: Converge on actionable solutions. Employ decision-making tools, prioritization techniques, and consensus-building exercises to align the team on next steps. The closing phase transforms insights into concrete plans.

4. Visual language: Unleashing creativity through simple sketching techniques

Nearly every human endeavor, when examined, reveals evidence of the importance of visual language.

Breaking barriers. Many people believe they "can't draw," but simple visual communication is a learnable skill. The book introduces the "visual alphabet," a set of 12 basic shapes that can be combined to represent any concept.

Power of visual thinking. Sketching and diagramming tap into different cognitive processes than verbal or written communication. By externalizing ideas visually, teams can:

• Identify patterns and relationships more easily
• Communicate complex concepts quickly
• Enhance memory and recall of information
• Foster more engaging and productive discussions

Practical techniques. The book offers exercises to build confidence in visual communication, including methods for drawing people, processes, and abstract concepts. These skills prove invaluable in everything from brainstorming to presenting ideas to stakeholders.

5. Core games: Building blocks for collaborative problem-solving

The 7Ps Framework: Purpose, Product, People, Process, Pitfalls, Prep, Practical Concerns

Versatile toolkit. The core games presented serve as fundamental building blocks for addressing a wide range of challenges. These games can be used individually or combined to create more complex problem-solving sessions.

Key core games:

• Affinity Map: Organize large amounts of information into meaningful clusters
• Empathy Map: Develop deeper understanding of user needs and perspectives
• Forced Ranking: Prioritize options when faced with limited resources
• Post-Up: Generate and organize ideas rapidly in a group setting
• Stakeholder Analysis: Map out key players and their influence on a project or decision

Customization potential. While these core games provide a solid foundation, the book encourages readers to adapt and combine them to suit specific needs. This flexibility allows teams to develop their own unique approaches to problem-solving over time.

6. Games for opening: Sparking creativity and framing challenges

Opening is taking the first step into an empty space. Games that open are focused on framing and describing the bounds of that space and then jumping headfirst into it.

Creating possibility. Opening games are designed to break through mental barriers, encourage divergent thinking, and establish a creative atmosphere. They help teams move beyond obvious solutions and explore new territory.

Key opening games:

• 3-12-3 Brainstorm: Rapid ideation in timed bursts
• The Anti-Problem: Flip the challenge to gain new perspectives
• Cover Story: Envision an ideal future state through storytelling
• Draw the Problem: Visualize challenges to uncover hidden aspects
• Visual Agenda: Set the stage for productive meetings with engaging visuals

Framing the challenge. These games not only generate ideas but also help teams clarify the true nature of the problem they're trying to solve. By approaching challenges from multiple angles, teams often discover that their initial assumptions about the problem were incomplete or misguided.

7. Games for exploring: Navigating complex problems and generating insights

Exploring games make and break patterns. In some cases they ask participants to create forms, and in others they ask them to split them apart.

Deepening understanding. Exploring games help teams dive deeper into problems, uncovering hidden connections and generating novel insights. These games encourage participants to look at challenges from multiple perspectives and challenge assumptions.

Key exploring games:

• 5 Whys: Uncover root causes by repeatedly asking "why"
• Empathy Map: Develop deeper understanding of user needs and perspectives
• Business Model Canvas: Visualize and innovate on business models
• SQUID (Sequential Question and Insight Diagram): Map out complex information spaces
• The World Café: Facilitate large-group discussions on important topics

Pattern recognition. Many exploring games involve organizing and reorganizing information to reveal new patterns and relationships. This process often leads to breakthrough insights that wouldn't be apparent through linear thinking alone.

8. Games for closing: Making decisions and aligning teams for action

Closing is about selecting which opportunities you want to pursue. That means eliminating lines of inquiry that don't seem promising, assigning priorities, and so on.

From ideas to action. Closing games help teams move from the divergent thinking of opening and exploring to convergent thinking focused on decision-making and planning. These games facilitate prioritization, consensus-building, and commitment to next steps.

Key closing games:

• $100 Test: Prioritize options by allocating limited resources
• Impact & Effort Matrix: Evaluate ideas based on potential impact and implementation effort
• Graphic Gameplan: Create visual action plans for projects
• 20/20 Vision: Align teams on priorities and strategic direction
• NUF Test: Quickly evaluate ideas based on Novelty, Usefulness, and Feasibility

Building alignment. Effective closing games not only lead to decisions but also foster a sense of shared ownership and commitment among team members. By involving everyone in the decision-making process, these games increase the likelihood of successful implementation.

Last updated: January 23, 2025