The 100 Questions That Inspired the World-Record-Setting THINKathon Brainstorm in Singapore

GOALS FOR THE ORIGINAL SINGAPORE THINKATHON BRAINSTORM

• Celebrate the Anniversary of the Productivity Movement in Singapore
• Establish the World Brainstorm Record by generating a world-record-setting number of ideas to improve the quality of life for the people of Singapore
• Generate ideas that would continue Singapore’s successful growth for future generations
• Gerald “Solutionman” Haman was the Lead Facilitator and would train 300 co-facilitators
• Ideas were shared with the people of Singapore to continue growth and success

Four World Records were Established:

1. World Largest Brainstorming Group in One Place: 8,000 PEOPLE,
2. Highest Volume of Ideas Brainstormed in 60 Minutes: 454,000 IDEAS,
3. Greatest Number of Ideas Brainstormed Per Minute: 7,566 Ideas Per Minute (IPM),
4. Biggest Average Volume of Ideas Per Person in a Brainstorm: 56 Ideas Per Person

NOTE: The World Records were set without using technology or the internet. Smartphones, tablets, and high-speed internet were not yet available in 2001. Early versions of the PalmPilot or Apple’s Newton were not feasible to be used by a large brainstorming audience at a stadium. Ideas were handwritten on brainstorming worksheets by people seated in the stadium groups. Imagine what might be achieved using current technology on upcoming THINKathons.
10 Topics and 100 Questions Inspired Brainstorming
Topic 1: PRODUCTIVITY
1. How might we increase the productivity of Singapore?
2. What have people done in the past to stimulate productivity increases?
Topic 2: INNOVATION
3. How might we develop a more innovative culture in Singapore?
4. How might we foster more creativity and innovation in Singapore?
5. What are some breakthrough ideas or solutions that were developed by people in Singapore?
6. What are examples of breakthrough ideas or solutions that were developed by people from Singapore?
7. What are examples of “product innovations” that were developed in Singapore?
8. What are examples of “marketing innovations” that were developed in Singapore?
9. What are examples of “manufacturing innovations” that were developed in Singapore?
10. What are examples of “management innovations” that were developed in Singapore?
11. How do we make it easier for people to dare to be different and take risks?
Topic 3: OUT OF BOX THINKING
12. What is impossible to do today, but if could be done, would change Singapore?
13. What is impossible to do today, but if could be done, would improve Singapore?
14. If you had unlimited resources and could do whatever you wanted to do to “change” Singapore, what would you do?
15. If you had unlimited resources and could do whatever you wanted to do to “improve” Singapore, what would you do?
16. How might we encourage more fun and humour in our society?
17. What are some crazy or goofy ideas that might be used to improve Singapore?
Topic 4: HEALTHCARE
18. How might we improve health care in Singapore?
19. How might we make health care affordable for everyone?
20. How might we better manage the cost of healthcare?
21. How might we foster more creativity and innovation in Singapore healthcare?
Topic 5: EDUCATION
22. How might we foster more creativity and innovation in Singapore education?
23. How might we improve education in Singapore?
24. How might we change education in Singapore?
25. How might we help students develop a passion for learning?
26. How might we reduce pressure and stress on students?
27. How might we fine-tune our education system to enable students to pursue lifelong skills, independent learning, and creativity?
Topic 6: HELPING THE DISADVANTAGED
28. Who are some disadvantaged people or organizations that need help?
29. How might we help financially dependent senior citizens?
30. How might we help people with less education and skills?
31. How might we help educate children and families with limited financial resources?
Topic 7: HOUSING
32. How might we improve housing in Singapore?
33. How might we change housing in Singapore?
34. How might we foster more creativity and innovation in Singapore housing?
35. How might we better manage the use of precious water in housing estates?
Topic 8: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
36. How might we encourage more economic development in Singapore?
37. How might we ease the impact of economic slowdowns?
38. How might we help older people find jobs in Singapore?
Topic 9: TECHNOLOGY
39. How might we improve the computer or technology skills of older people in Singapore?
40. How might we foster more creativity and innovation in technology?
Topic 10: COMMUNICATIONS
41. How might we improve telecommunications in Singapore?
42. How might encourage more people to use the internet?
43. How might we improve our mail service in Singapore?
44. How might we change our mail service in Singapore?
Topic 11: ENVIRONMENT
45. How might we improve the environment of Singapore?
46. How might we encourage more recycling?
47. How might we make it easier to recycle?
48. How might we make it faster to recycle?
49. How might we make it more convenient to recycle?
50. Who might recycle and what might they recycle?
Topic 12: TRANSPORTATION
51. How might we improve our transportation system?
52. How might we improve our transportation processes?
53. How might we improve our transportation services?
54. How might we change our transportation system?
55. How might we change our transportation processes?
56. How might we change our transportation services?
57. How might we reduce overcrowding on buses?
58. How might we reduce overcrowding on trains?
59. How might we reduce overcrowding on expressways and streets?
Topic 13: GOVERNMENT
60. How might our government be more efficient?
61. How might our government be more accurate?
62. How might our government be faster?
63. How might our government be more effective?
64. How might we make the government more accessible to the people?
65. What government policies or practices might be improved?
66. What government policies or practices might be changed?
Topic 14: SOCIETY
67. How might we increase life expectancy and help people live longer?
68. How might we encourage people to be courteous to one another?
69. How might we improve the quality of life for families in Singapore?
70. How might we improve the communities in Singapore?
71. How might we improve the quality of marriages?
72. How might we help people voice their true concerns and feelings?
73. How might we help people become more involved in improving issues that concern them?
74. How might we help people realize that they should seek experiences beyond collecting material possessions?
75. How might people become more compassionate and kinder?
76. How might we leverage the value of ‘kiasuness’ to help Singapore?
Topic 15: HISTORICAL PRESERVATION
77. How might we help people feel more passionate and excited about Singapore?
78. What are the qualities of the Singapore culture?
79. What makes people proud to be a Singapore citizen?
80. What unique qualities of the Singapore culture should be preserved?
81. How might we remember and preserve Singapore unique culture?
Topic 16: URBANISATION
82. How do we reduce congestion in the central areas of Singapore?
83. How might we expand and conserve nature reserves?
84. How might we preserve historical buildings?
Topic 17: MANAGING AND EVALUATING IDEAS
85. What might people do with all the ideas that are generated in the THINKathon?
86. What criteria might be used to evaluate the ideas?
87. How might it be made easy for people to move forward with the best high-potential solutions?
88. How might people contribute more ideas and questions in the future?
Topic 18: CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS
89. How might we address the problems of a rapidly aging society?
90. How might we reduce the growing divorce rate?
91. How might we overcome decreasing fertility rates?
92. How might we negate negative migration trends?
Topic 19: SPORTS AND LEISURE
93. How might we promote sports among the young and the old?
94. What sort of sports and recreation facilities are needed for a healthy lifestyle?
95. What can be done to improve the sports facilities?
96. How might we encourage people to devote time to sports and leisure?
Topic 20: BANKING AND FINANCIAL SERVICES
97. How might we encourage the young to save?
98. How can banks be encouraged to lend to the start-ups and innovators?
99. How can banks help to cushion the impact of the slowdown on mortgagers?
100. How might we encourage the public to use e-banking?