Rolestorming

Rolestorming is a creative problem-solving technique that involves exploring a challenge or generating ideas by adopting different roles or perspectives. It was developed by Andrew Van Gundy in the early 1970s. Van Gundy was a management consultant and the author of the book "Brain Boosters for Business Advantage," where he introduced the concept of rolestorming as a creative problem-solving technique.

It encourages participants to think beyond their usual frames of reference and consider viewpoints that might not typically be associated with their roles. The goal is to enhance creativity and generate innovative solutions by stepping into the shoes of others.

How to Apply Rolestorming:

1. Define the Problem or Challenge:

   • Clearly articulate the problem or challenge you want to address through rolestorming. Ensure that participants have a clear understanding of the context.

2. Identify Relevant Roles:

   • Determine the roles that are relevant to the problem at hand. These roles can be related to specific stakeholders, professions, or even fictional characters.

3. Assign Roles:

   • Participants take on different roles assigned to them. Encourage them to fully immerse themselves in the mindset of the role they've assumed.

4. Generate Ideas:

   • Participants brainstorm ideas or solutions from the perspective of the roles they are embodying. This can lead to novel insights and creative solutions.

5. Share and Discuss:

   • Participants share their ideas, and the group discusses the merits of each perspective. This collaborative discussion can further enrich the pool of ideas.

6. Rotate Roles:

   • If time permits or if there are multiple facets to the problem, participants can rotate roles to explore different perspectives.

Case Study: Improving Customer Service in a Restaurant

Problem: A restaurant is facing challenges in providing exceptional customer service.

1. Define Roles:

   • Roles identified could include the chef, waitstaff, customer, restaurant owner, and a food critic.

2. Assign Roles:

   • Participants take on different roles. The chef considers the problem from the kitchen's perspective, the waitstaff from the front-end, the customer from a service experience, the owner from a business perspective, and the food critic as a neutral observer.

3. Generate Ideas:

   • The chef might suggest improving kitchen processes, the waitstaff might propose better training programs, the customer might emphasize the importance of ambiance, the owner might focus on cost-effective solutions, and the food critic might suggest unique menu items.

4. Share and Discuss:

   • Participants share their ideas, and the group discusses the feasibility and potential impact of each suggestion. The diverse perspectives contribute to a holistic understanding of the customer service challenge.

Rolestorming is a versatile technique that fosters creativity and innovation by encouraging participants to step outside their usual perspectives and think from the vantage point of diverse roles. It can be applied in various areas where multiple viewpoints can contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of challenges and opportunities.

Areas it can help in: Event Planning, Problem Solving, Innovation, Brainstorming, Product Development, Content Creation, Creativity Training, Team Building, Decision Making, Marketing and Advertising, Art and Design, Intrapreneurship, Conflict Resolution, Customer Experience, Process Improvement, Product Development, Strategic Planning, Design Thinking

Additional Exploration:

Rolestorming - Improving Group Brainstorming (mindtools.com)