Chain Alike is slightly more complicated than other analogy-based activities. More work is required to set up the stimuli to use as idea triggers. Ask the participants if they felt the extra work was worth the effort and if the quality of ideas was any better than when compared with other activities.
Also consider having participants debrief using the following questions:
• What was most helpful about this exercise?
• What was most challenging?
• What can we apply?
• How would you rate the value of this exercise to helping us with this issue?
• Will this exercise be helpful in the future for other sessions?
• What did you learn?
• What will we be able to use from this exercise?
• What ideas were generated, and which ones were most interesting?
Chain Alike Handout
Assume you are the manager of a department store. Your assistant has informed you that the store’s losses due to shoplifting are greater than ever. To help resolve this problem, you decide to try the Chain Alike activity.
• Customers
• Merchandise
• Money
• Security
• Observing customers
Next, list subattributes:
• Name: Shoplifting
• Customers: Children, elderly, middle-aged, rich, poor, educated, uneducated
• Merchandise: Electronics in display cases, clothing on shelves and racks
• Money: Dollar bills, coins, credit cards, debt, charging, exchange rates
• Security: Guards, cameras, alarms, lighting, electronic sensors
• Observing Customers:Watching, unobtrusive, disguises, equipment
Taken From : Pfeiffer 101 Activities for Teaching Creativity
