The brain dump exercise is a common technique in SAP Design Thinking workshops to capture initial thoughts and ideas quickly. Running the first minutes in silence is intentional and serves specific purposes. Here’s why the correct answers are A and D:

It prevents discussion in order to lower political barriers (A):Silence ensures that all participants contribute without being influenced by dominant voices or hierarchical dynamics. SAP emphasizes creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels comfortable sharing their ideas, regardless of their role or position.

A challenge-related comment would influence the divergent perspectives (D):Early comments can unintentionally steer the group toward specific ideas or solutions, limiting creativity. SAP advocates for maintaining divergent thinking during the brain dump phase to encourage a wide range of perspectives and ideas.

Incorrect Options:

B. It helps to stay away from the solution mode:While staying in exploration mode is important, the primary reason for silence is to prevent premature convergence and political barriers, not specifically to avoid solution mode.

C. It ensures that all participants focus on the topic:While focus is important, silence is primarily used to reduce bias and hierarchy, not to enforce topic adherence.