Workshop Exercises: Understand
Starbursting
Focus on generating questions rather than providing instant answers
Why: Foster a culture of inquiry by encouraging participants to ask questions rather than jumping straight to answers
When: Ideal when it is essential to surface critical questions that can drive further exploration and understanding
Instructions for running this play
- Draw a large six pointed star in the middle of a large surface and write one of the following questions at each tip:
Who? Why? What? When? Where? How? - Agree on the topic of your brainstorm. It could be generating a value proposition for a new product or the feasibility of building it.
- Brainstorm questions about the idea or product, starting with each of the six words. Donβt try to answer any of the questions as you go along, but concentrate on coming up with as many questions as you can and placing sticky notes beside the corresponding point. Consider Silent Storming or plenary discussion for this.
- Once you see a halt in questions generated, work as a team to discuss the answers.
Tips to perfect this play
Master and adapt the play to fit your context and needs.
Tip: Prepare prompts
Allocate 15-30 minutes to prepare prompts or stimuli that will ignite questions and encourage exploration, ensuring a well-defined topic or problem statement
Tip: Prioritize on relevnce
Prioritize the generated questions based on their relevance, impact, or feasibility, allowing the team to focus on addressing the most critical aspects first.
Every card deck includes workshop patterns, so your team can put the methods to work in your next session.
Running behavioral design workshops? The Persuasive Patterns Workshop Playbook (PDF) shows you how to design and run them.
Browse the card decks- Starbursting exercise by Mind Tools
- Starbursting: Use Brainstorming Questions to Evaluate Ideas by Lisa Jo Rudy
- How Starbursting Brainstorming can Help Generate Creative Ideas by Slide Model
- 6 W Method
- Design Thinking: process and methods manual by Robert Curedale