Hi Patrick Good points. Ask 10 people and there will probably be 10 definitions of brain storming. Brainstorming can be open ended and produce a lot of ideas as Nate's meetings did. Brainstorming can also be highly directed to address one issue or goal. Maybe brainstorming can be used for both situations. Start with open ended brainstorming to get as many ideas as possible. Then organize and priortize the ideas and work on them one at a time. In that way no ideas are lost. We've noticed that when an organization has a problem or needs a new direction, the stakeholders often have the answers. They just have to be asked. Best wishes Susan