[neilshevlin]

Brainstorming itself might be over-generalised or not fit for the individual in all cases. But Osborne was really focusing on methodical approaches to creativity. Which is something we don't know enough about. But my thoughts on this have been:

1) Creativity for some, means that you have to be maximally bought in on the problem or task. Ever had your mind go blank when having to come up with ideas for something you just don't care about? If I've ever had to focus on being creative on a field I just don't even marginally care about, my mind goes blank. When you care enough you'll be plenty creative. The brainstorm is a framework, which works ok in low interest, and quite well in high interest. But it's not the cause of the outcome in high interest situations. The interest is.

2) The types of people who are most creative tend to suffer most from high buy in cost. That is, they wont waste time on issues they don't care about. They wont do something unless they really enjoy it. If you ask an artist to sit down and to think of creative ways to reinvent accounting practices, she's going to tell you to piss off, or some other. Even just for one hour. But they'll put out again and again creative suggestions for things they find interesting. Unless He or She is bought in, creativity can be nullified by a lack of interest.