In thinking of alternatives, when should this phase occur and what does it involve?

In thinking of alternatives, when should this phase occur and what does it involve?

• A. Should Start Before Defining the Problem
• B. Should Only Take Place Once the Previous Three Steps Have Been Dealt With; Creative Ideas; Setting Criteria; Draw from Past Experiences; Members Must Learn to Work with Other Peoples' Ideas
• C. Should Ignore Past Experiences
• D. Must Always Result in One Solution

Answer: (B)

When thinking of alternatives, you run this phase after you’ve defined the problem, established how you’ll judge options, and reviewed relevant past experiences. In this stage you cultivate creative ideas, set clear criteria for evaluating them, and draw on lessons from previous efforts. It also relies on teamwork—members learn to integrate others’ ideas and perspectives. This sequencing matters because it keeps the brainstorming grounded in what really needs to be solved, anchored to measurable criteria, and informed by past outcomes, which makes the options more viable. If you jump in before defining the problem, you risk generating off-target ideas; ignoring past experiences misses valuable insights; and insisting on a single solution defeats the purpose of exploring multiple viable paths.

When thinking of alternatives, you run this phase after you’ve defined the problem, established how you’ll judge options, and reviewed relevant past experiences. In this stage you cultivate creative ideas, set clear criteria for evaluating them, and draw on lessons from previous efforts. It also relies on teamwork—members learn to integrate others’ ideas and perspectives. This sequencing matters because it keeps the brainstorming grounded in what really needs to be solved, anchored to measurable criteria, and informed by past outcomes, which makes the options more viable. If you jump in before defining the problem, you risk generating off-target ideas; ignoring past experiences misses valuable insights; and insisting on a single solution defeats the purpose of exploring multiple viable paths.