Disney Method

Why & When

- brainstorming technique that revolves around the acknowledgement of different perspectives on any topic - may be used to come up with new ideas, solve problems and conflicts, develop strategies, make decisions - a fairly simple approach to (group) brainstorming - invented by Walt Disney who thought of a movie not only as a director, but also as an audience member and a producer

Goal(s)

- come up with a wide range of new ideas - critically reflect on these ideas from different perspectives - assess them in the frame of possibilities and thus make brainstorming enormously productive - strengthen team spirit

Getting started

- there are three roles:

• Dreamers

Creative and Imaginative, see limitless opportunities Questions: What comes to mind? What would be ideal?

• Realists

looks at practical possibilities to check whether an idea is really feasible Questions: How does the idea feel? How could it be implemented? Who should do it and at what cost?

• Critics

looks at the idea objectively and tries to (constructively) identify crucial mistakes - not to destroy the idea, but to improve it Questions: What was neglected? Is this realistic? What can be improved, what will not work? Which risks exist?

• (a fourth role may be added) neutral observer, who may serve as a moderator

- neutral observer may start the process - one person goes from Phase 1 (Dreamer) to Phases 2 (Realist) and 3 (Critic) - or a group is distributed among these roles and then switches throughout the process - every person should take up each role at some point - each role inhabits one spot in the room (or different rooms for each role) - it may also be more diverse: the dreamer goes for a walkl, the realist works at his desk, the critic seeks a quiet spot to reflect - each role is just as important as the others - by switching roles with a little break in between, every person can understand the other perspectives which strengthens the team

- when the critic is done, the process begins again - the current idea is given back to the dreamer who continues to spin up ideas

- as soon as the critic does not have any more questions, the realist is confident that the idea is feasible and the dreamer is happy about the idea, the result is optimal

- the process goes as long as necessary to achieve a satisfying result - may be ended by the neutral observer

Links & Further reading

Sources: https://www.toolshero.com/creativity/walt-disney-method/ https://arbeitdigital.de/wirtschaftslexikon/kreativitaetstechniken/walt-disney-methode/ https://karrierebibel.de/disney-methode/

YouTube MTTM Animations - The Disney Strategy A video that (in a nicely animated matter, with dreamy guitar music) explains the method.

You might also be interested in 'Saving Mr. Banks', a movie starring Tom Hanks that focuses on Walt Disney.

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