> At its best, a brainstorming group comes up with the same ideas as the group’s members would when working alone
I picked up on this as well. In 20+ years of a Software Career, the ideas that come out of a brainstorm are usually ones that started with one person, and then got amplified, enhanced, and generally made even "better" by others in the group.
So yes, if we think brainstorming provides nothing new, then there's no reason to do it, but I think the whole point is that it is a fairly efficient way to bring many ideas to the forefront and allow others to add their own refinements to them. Many times what appears to not be the best idea turns into that best idea with some refinement.
I picked up on this as well. In 20+ years of a Software Career, the ideas that come out of a brainstorm are usually ones that started with one person, and then got amplified, enhanced, and generally made even "better" by others in the group.
So yes, if we think brainstorming provides nothing new, then there's no reason to do it, but I think the whole point is that it is a fairly efficient way to bring many ideas to the forefront and allow others to add their own refinements to them. Many times what appears to not be the best idea turns into that best idea with some refinement.