Loved the phrase ! Heard it first from the IDEO innovation process. An environment with chaos swarming in. The craziest and wild ideas are blurted out in an extensive brainstorming session regarding a particular subject of innovation. Talk about tickling the right part your brain and using it for a change!  The focus part comes where you limit this thinking process in a particular time-boxing duration, where you put a stop, gather all the crazy ideas and make sense out of it to create something. This process not only allows good ideas but it allows you be creative, playful, discover your interests and create something that is actually usable at the end.

Where to use this technique? Well, it depends. I like to think that this technique can be used in any area but with different levels. Out-of-the box thinking allows exploration of ideas and problem solving in areas not expected in the traditional arena. In a structured environment, this technique can be used in a limited manner where areas of conflict, solutions can be brainstormed. Environment types in the middle of structured-dynamic can use this technique both for problem solving and inventing new products or services. For dynamic environments, to me it seems a very good technique to use for innovative products and services.

Anyhow, the technique can be useful if can be made use of.  What a paradox, Focused Chaos !