CAPM Practice: Demonstrate an understanding of common problem-solving tools and techniques

A core rule of brainstorming is to defer judgment — no idea is criticized or evaluated during the generation phase. This creates psychological safety, encouraging participants to share unconventional or creative ideas without fear of ridicule, leading to a larger, more diverse set of options.

**Why not A:** Limiting a brainstorming session to five ideas artificially constrains creativity and defeats the purpose of the technique. Brainstorming is designed to generate as many ideas as possible without restriction, allowing the team to explore a wide range of possibilities before evaluation.

**Why not C:** Restricting contributions to senior team members undermines the inclusive nature of brainstorming. Effective brainstorming encourages participation from all team members regardless of seniority, as diverse perspectives often lead to more creative and innovative solutions.

**Why not D:** Evaluating each idea immediately during generation stifles creativity and causes participants to self-censor. The core principle of brainstorming is to separate idea generation from evaluation, allowing free-flowing ideas without the fear of immediate criticism.