“Solo Thinking Still Essential”: Why an individual session in individual-to-group (IG) hybrid brainstorming is a lost prerequisite from Osborn's (1953) vision for organizational creativity, with empirical observations

Paul Hangsan Ahn and Hyelin Park

Chapter 18 in Research Handbook on Group Decision Making, 2026, pp 360-377 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Osborn, the “father” of group brainstorming, stressed “Solo Thinking Still Essential” for effective group sessions in his 1953 text. However, decades of early laboratory studies contrasted individuals working alone with groups brainstorming together, producing insightful discoveries, including productivity losses from cognitive and social inhibitors. Yet this operationalization seems to diverge from Osborn (1953). Relatedly, if a hybrid of individual and group sessions has benefits, we ask which sequence. Although empirical data are limited, quantitative studies suggest potential merits for IG (individual-then-group) in idea selection, and for both IG and GI (group-then-individual) in idea quantity compared to all-group approaches. Quantitative findings on IG versus GI remain mixed and limited. Qualitative evidence from innovative organizations (e.g., IDEO) shows reliance on IG, particularly when individuals reach impasses, with exceptions for GI when members lack basic information. Timing—or the role of sufficient solo preparation—remains underexplored, highlighting the need for further research.

Keywords: Hybrid brainstorming; Individual-to-group (IG); Sequencing; Group brainstorming; Decision making; Product design; Design thinking (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035331239
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