Tool 108: Mental Imaging

AKA

Imagery, Visualization

Classification

Idea Generating (IG)

Tool description

The mental imaging technique suggests using imagination or visualization to identify key relationships in problem areas, solutions to problems, or ways to process improvement. Any creative ideas are switched or associated with a different condition, process, product, or service to search for a breakthrough idea.

Typical application

• To create experiences or images of potential solutions to problems.

• To visualize the ideal outcome or situation.

• To identify barriers to solutions or improved performance.

Problem-solving phase

	Select and define problem or opportunity
→	Identify and analyze causes or potential change
→	Develop and plan possible solutions or change
	Implement and evaluate solution or change
	Measure and report solution or change results
	Recognize and reward team efforts

Typically used by

	Research/statistics
1	Creativity/innovation
2	Engineering
	Project management
	Manufacturing
	Marketing/sales
	Administration/documentation
	Servicing/support
	Customer/quality metrics
	Change management

links to other tools

before

• Fresh Eye

• Wishful Thinking

• Morphological Analysis

• Stimulus Analysis

• Mind Flow

after

• Creativity Assessment

• Wildest Idea Technique

• What-If Analysis

• Checkerboard diagram

• Different Point of View

Notes and key points

• Select a quiet and comfortable workplace or location.

• Ensure that there is no chance of interruptions during the mental imaging session.

Step-by-step procedure

• STEP 1 The frist task for this process is to locate a quiet place that will not be subjected to frequent interruptions.

• STEP 2 Mental imaging works best if a person or a team first performs some relaxation techniques.

• STEP 3 Next, imagination or visualization of the solved problem, ideal conditions, or drastic improvements take place. Ideas are generated and are recorded on slips of paper. See example Tool Navigator Marketing.

• STEP 4 After approximately 30–45 minutes, all generated images are discussed. From this exercise, some general idea or trend will emerge as the ideal or most effective solution or improvement.

• STEP 5 The team continues to identify the gaps between the existing to ideal situation and starts a discussion on how to reach the ideal situation.

• STEP 6 A preliminary action plan is developed that describes the best idea(s) and how they could be implemented, as shown in the example.

Example of tool application