Mystery Monsters

By: Calvin Bacon

Overview: Sometimes product or service innovations start as a general framework that has to be developed. Innovation teams must know how to add to the overall concept to make it better in a logical way.

Purpose: This tool allows participants to practice developing specific features from a framework or general idea.

Participants: From four to twenty four.

Materials: Four chart pads and markers.

Time: 20 minutes

Procedure:

• Write the following key words on each chart pad: Lever, Bus, Circle, Tree.
• Divide participants into three to four teams.
• Ask each team to name a new monster then ask them to use the key word in describing a new monster.
• One word should describe what the monster eats, one should describe where the monster lives, one should describe a unique characteristic of the monster, and one should describe the way the monster moves.
• Ask each team to report on the name of the monster and its description.

Debrief: Were the monsters described clearly? Could the participants picture what they were like? Were any of the monster particularly creative? Why or why not? This debrief should help participants see how product and service descriptions help develop the important features and characteristic of an innovation.