Here is another valuable Management Tip of the Day from Harvard Business Review. To sign up for a free subscription to any/all HBR newsletters, please click here.

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Bringing together people from different backgrounds to creatively brainstorm a problem — otherwise known as “jamming” – has become a popular way to unearth new ideas. Although the process is widely hyped, many companies struggle to make it work. Here are three rules of thumb to help:

o Let participants choose. It’s a mistake to assign people to a challenge. You’ll see much more creative energy if you let participants decide which problems to work on.

o Keep the team small. Don’t let everyone get involved. Instead, create teams of no more than four. This size affords diversity but also allows the team to engage quickly.

o Clearly define the problem. Make sure everyone understands the business, technological, and other challenges involved so each team member isn’t trying to solve a different problem.

Adapted from “Make Your Next Innovation Jam Work” by Alessandro Di Fiore. To check out that article and join the discussion, please click here.

Also, you may wish to check out an anthology, Management Tips from Harvard Business Review, by clicking here.