4.3 Charrette technique

The word charrette means ‘little cart’ in French and describes a brainstorming method where ideas are ‘carted’ between groups. This technique is useful for brainstorming when there are more than ten people in the group or when there is more than one issue to discuss.

1. Organise the team into small groups with one issue given to each group. Each group should then brainstorm their ideas one after the other until everyone has had a chance to contribute. These ideas are discussed and one person records this discussion.
2. The ideas generated by one group are carted over to the group next to them by the person recording the ideas moving to the next group. The recorder shares the previous group’s ideas and the current group then discusses and build on these ideas. This discussion is recorded by the recorder.
3. The process is repeated with the recorder moving between groups until each group has discussed each issue once.
4. Extra time is given to the final group session for ideas to be drawn together and organised into key themes.
5. The group then reconvenes and the recorders present their lists of ideas/themes.