Introduce a randomly selected word or picture that is not normally associated with the topic at hand and challenge the mind to come up with some sort of connection.
The words we use channel our thinking into usual patterns of thought. We call these "mental valleys" because our thoughts flow naturally through them just like falling rain ends up flowing naturally through the streams at the bottoms of valleys. Since creativity is defined as the "connecting and rearranging of knowledge..." stimulating a new mental valley (by introducing a randomly selected word or picture) while one is also thinking about the specific problem at hand has the potential for creating a novel connection.
Create dozens of unusual ideas, and participants become more freed up in their thinking. Due to the latter effect, some leaders use this tool as a general "warm up" activity before using one of the more focused ideation tools.
A group working on improving the transport of samples to a hospital's laboratory has generated several ideas to speed up the process, but none are very creative. The leader introduces the randomly selected word "umbrella" (or sees a picture of an umbrella in a magazine or notices one in the corner of the room). The group talks about "umbrella" and notes in the left-hand column of a sheet things such as... different colors/designs, provides protection, central post with radiating arms. The "central post with arms" concepts leads to discussion of the fact that in some laboratory equipment there is a sample compartment that is connected by wires to a processing computer within the equipment. Why not keep the central processing computer in the lab, but place sample compartments out on the hospital units and connect these back to the lab? No need to transport the sample!
A randomly selected picture from an old interior design magazine showing a stylish reclining chair was given to a group seeking ideas for improving emergency department flow. The group writes in the left-hand column of a sheet... comfort, leisure, not a care in the world, relaxed, feel at home. These concepts lead to a discussion of how the standard practice of having ED patients lie in beds creates a sense of anxiety and sets up the impression in patients, family and staff that they are very ill and may need to stay for an extended time. The group's insight is that while this is true for some patients, it is not true for all who come into the ED. Perhaps having some rooms equipped with recliners instead of beds for patients triaged as not severely ill would create a better patient and family experience, and encourage shorter lengths of stay in the ED by signaling that such patients really are well enough to be discharged after a quick treatment.
If you have multiple groups, do the first round with everyone using the same random word or picture. Pause to allow groups to report out on their ideas and note similarities and differences. This creates a healthy competitive spirit in the room and a good buzz. Hearing examples of ideas may also help those who are struggling to understand what to do. After this initial round, consider giving groups different words or pictures to work on in subsequent rounds in order to create even more diversity of thought.
Pause on ideas that make everyone laugh. Ask, "What's the essence of the idea there? What does that make you think of that might be more practical?"
All methods of creative idea generation involve some combination of mental attention, escape and movement. A random word or picture provides escape via the randomness of the word or picture, asks for attention to concepts that are associated with that word or picture, then requests mental movement to adapt some of these concepts to the situation at hand.