Prsentation by Glenda Grace John as part of her MPOB Course, MBA, ASIET

1. ALEX OSBORN
Presentation by
GLENDA GRACE JOHN
MPOB, MBA, ASIET
Prof. Nimal C Namboodiripad

2. Alex Osborn Profile
• Was a famous advertising executive who co-founded
the BBDO agency.
• Born Alexander Faickney Osborn in the Bronx, USA in
May 1888
• Graduated from Hamilton College
• Married Helen Coatsworth in 1916
• Did odd jobs before joining advertising. He even took
classes on psychology at Ford and YMCA.
• Died May 1966

3. Contributions to management
• Known as the ‘Father of Brainstorming’
• Defined as: A conference technique by which a group
attempts to find a solution for a specific problem by
amassing all the ideas spontaneously by its members.
• Popularised the idea in 1942 book “How To Think Up”
• Rules for process to be successful:
– No criticism of ideas
– Go for large quantities of ideas
– Build on each others ideas
– Encourage wild and exaggerated ideas

4. Contributions to management
• Brainstorming is useful in a number of areas:
– Creation of advertising campaigns
– Marketing strategy and methods
– Research and Development procedures
– As a research technique
– Designing physical products
– Group problem solving
– Investment decisions
– New and better ... whatever you want!

5. Contributions to management
• In 1954, Osborn created the Creative Education
Foundation, which was sustained by the royalties
earned from his books.
• Along with Sidney Parnes, Osborn developed the
Osborn-Parnes Creative Problem Solving Process
(commonly referred to as CPS).
• He co-founded the Creative Education Foundation's
Creative Problem Solving Institute, the world's
longest-running international creativity conference.

6. His famous works
• 1921 A Short Course in Advertising, C. Scribner’s
Sons.
• 1942 How to "Think Up", McGraw-Hill.
• 1948 Your Creative Power, C. Scribner’s Sons.
• 1952 Wake Up Your Mind, C. Scribner’s Sons.
• 1953 Applied Imagination: Principles and Procedures
of Creative Problem Solving. New York, New York:
Charles Scribner's Sons.
• 1955 The Goldmine Between Your Ears, C. Scribner’s
Sons

7. Quotes
• Creativity is so delicate a flower that praise
tends to make it bloom, while discouragement
often nips it in the bud. Any of us put out more
and better ideas if our efforts are truly
appreciated
• Worry essentially is a misuse of imagination

8. Thank You
Source: http://www.brainstorming.co.uk/tutorials/historyofbrainstorming.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Faickney_Osborn