How can you use the Lotus Blossom method to organize ideas in a brainstorming session?

1 What is the Lotus Blossom method?

The Lotus Blossom method is a visual tool that helps you expand and refine your ideas in a systematic and logical way. It was developed by Yasuo Matsumura, a Japanese industrial engineer, in the 1980s. The method uses a diagram that resembles a lotus flower, with a central idea surrounded by eight petals, each representing a related subtopic. Then, each petal becomes the center of another lotus diagram, with eight more petals branching out. This process can be repeated as many times as needed, until you have explored all the possible aspects and dimensions of your main idea.

2 How to prepare for the Lotus Blossom method?

Before you start using the Lotus Blossom method, you need to have a clear and specific problem statement or goal that you want to achieve. This will be your central idea that will guide your brainstorming session. You also need to gather your team members, preferably between four and eight people, who have different perspectives and expertise on the topic. You will need a large sheet of paper or a whiteboard, and some markers or sticky notes to draw and write your ideas. You may also want to do some research or gather some data beforehand, to support or inspire your brainstorming.

4 What are the benefits of the Lotus Blossom method?

The Lotus Blossom method is an effective tool for brainstorming and ideation. It helps you structure and organize your ideas, while also encouraging you to explore different angles and perspectives. This method stimulates creativity and innovation by pushing you to think beyond the obvious and generate new connections. Additionally, it promotes collaboration and participation among your team members by allowing everyone to contribute their thoughts and insights.

5 What are the challenges of the Lotus Blossom method?

The Lotus Blossom method can be time-consuming and complex, especially if you have a large or vague problem or goal, or a big team. It can also be difficult to generate eight subtopics for each petal, so you may need to do some research or use prompts or questions to help you. Additionally, selecting and evaluating the best ideas can be challenging, as there may be too many or too few options, or different opinions among your team members. To overcome these challenges, you may need to limit the number of iterations or subtopics, focus on the most important ones, use tools or methods to make decisions such as voting, scoring, ranking, or testing, and utilize prompts to generate ideas.

6 How to improve the Lotus Blossom method?

The Lotus Blossom method is a flexible and adaptable tool that you can modify and improve according to your needs and preferences. To enhance your brainstorming session, consider using different colors, shapes, symbols, or images to make the diagrams more visual and appealing. Additionally, sticky notes or cards can be used to write ideas that can be easily moved, rearranged, or grouped as progress is made. For remote or large teams, online tools or software can be used to create and share diagrams digitally. Other brainstorming or ideation techniques, such as mind mapping, SCAMPER, or Six Thinking Hats, can also be used to complement or supplement the Lotus Blossom method for generating more or different ideas.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?