Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD) Practice Exam

What does brainstorming encourage during a problem-solving session?

1. A limit on the number of ideas generated

2. The censorship of ideas

3. Encouraging a wide array of solutions without judgment

4. Focus on perfecting one solution

The correct answer is: Encouraging a wide array of solutions without judgment

Brainstorming is designed to foster creativity and innovation during problem-solving sessions by promoting an open environment where participants can share their thoughts and ideas freely. The core principle of brainstorming is to encourage a wide array of solutions without judgment, which allows for the exploration of many potential solutions to a problem. This approach helps participants feel safe to express unconventional or out-of-the-box ideas, leading to a diverse set of potential solutions. In a brainstorming session, the emphasis is placed on quantity over quality initially—meaning that more ideas can lead to better, more robust solutions through collaborative thinking and the building of ideas upon one another. By removing the fear of criticism, participants are more likely to contribute, thus enriching the discussion and increasing the overall creativity of the group. This method is critical for effective problem-solving, as it breaks down barriers that may inhibit creative thinking and allows teams to explore possibilities they might not have considered otherwise.