Top+100+lists

//Fostering the flow of innovative ideas//
 * TOP 100 LISTS**


 * What it is**

An approach for capturing a high level and large number of ideas. A technique that call for participants’ contributions.


 * When to use it**

- to generate ideas - to encourage creativity and thinking out of the box - to brainstorm with structure - to break the ice - to activate past learning


 * How it is applied**


 * Begin by identifying the issue to be tackled with a list of possible solutions and related ideas.
 * Prepare an adequate space in the room to make the Top 100 list accessible to all (e.g. flipchart, paper hanging on the wall, colored cards to be pasted on windows, a collective notepad...).
 * Write the problem at the top of the working space, whether this is a piece of paper, a whiteboard or a writing wall.
 * Mark the numbers 1 to 100 on the working space. This will prevent participants from pausing to count throughout the process. This high number is what makes the method effective. It forces a profound level of reflection that reaches all corners of the mind.
 * Instruct participants to come up with their ideas as quickly as possible. All ideas should be recorded, even if they seem obscure or irrational.
 * The first 30 ideas tend to be the obvious ones, as they are easily selected from the recent memory or most-repeated experiences of participants.
 * The next 40 ideas will begin to demonstrate patterns and trends. These ideas tend to be the most difficult to generate because they require divergence from the habitual approach.
 * The final 30 entries are often the most imaginative and innovative, perhaps even absurd, because by this time the most common options have already been recorded. This is the most profitable phase of the process because shifts in perspective are most likely to occur.
 * Lead a reflection process once 100 ideas have been produced. This should examine the general trends and patterns, as well as the plausibility of the entries themselves.
 * The information can then be used in a variety of complementary exercises to analyse and use the information produced. One approach is to cluster and then prioritize the points, as after a Brainstorming session.
 * Reproduce the list in a reusable format in order to include it in the end-of-activity report, on the intranet, etc.

Almost any subject can be addressed with a Top 100 List. Whether you do this on an individual or group level will depend on the objectives. The Top 100 List can also be used as a "background activity" during a learning event. Start the Top 100 list on a flipchart and make it available for participants to write down ideas throughout the duration of the activity.
 * How to adapt it**

Be sure to provide enough time to complete the list, because it is only effective when done in one sitting or in one specific, dedicated period (for example, over a three day training event). Rid the room of all distractions. This includes turning off mobile devices and finishing any drinks first. Repeated ideas may provide clues to the thought processes of participants. Therefore address them only at the end of the session. Instruct participants to use acronyms and short forms, and to avoid full sentences as they consume precious time and energy
 * What to consider**

The method in action: [] Blog and instructions: [] Top 100 list of top 100 learning tools: []
 * Where to learn more**

During a recent learning activity we had an ongoing Top 100 list on a flipchart. When participants came up with ideas during the activity, particularly during breaks, they would write these down on the list. This ensured that loose ideas that would have perhaps been lost otherwise were captured. Our Top 100 list also equipped us with a series of suggestions for concrete follow-up actions. (Juan Fernando Núñez).
 * Quotes:**