new word: ideation

[Alan]

Hi,

I came across a new word the other day, at least it's new to me and I heard it on a tv programme in the UK, called The Apprentice. This is an idea imported from USA whereby 16 very intelligent and entrepreneurial young people are given tasks to do with a view to getting the one job available working for a multi millionaire. Each week the group are divided into 2 teams and each week one of either group is sacked. Each group selects its own project leader. Back to my new word - one of the project leaders addressed her group and said: Right let's start on ideation. Presumably this means let's start thinking about some new ideas. What a word, though! Anyone else heard it?

A
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Guy Fawkes Night for You

[Englishuser]

Hi Alan,

I wouldn't say your word is that new: It has been used since the early 19th century, according to the Oxford English Dictionary. The word refers to "the action of ideating; the formation of ideas or mental images". It's nice to see that even you come across "new old words".

EU

[Yankee]

'Suicidal ideation' is a common medical term which basically means 'thoughts of suicide'. With that in mind, don't you find it interesting that ideation has now become a popular buzzword in the business world?
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Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English

[Fan of Arabian horses]

After reading Amy?s post to me ideation sounds more as an unintentional idea finding process a single person might do, whereas brainstorming is the commonly accepted term for the ideafinding process a bench of people will join intentionally for.

Just a thought

Michael

[Yankee]

Hi Michael

Brainstorming may be on its way "out" at a lot of companies. Ideation seems to be "in".
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Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English

[prezbucky]

LOL, Amy. Exactly... it's "brainstorming".

Leave it to the corporations/businesses to mess with English.

They've given us such wonderful things as "growing" a business -- apparently, businesses are now grown like vegetables.

I figure it should be like this:

Businesses grow. Businesses are not grown.

I can do things to help my business grow. I do not do things to grow my business.

(It isn't really such a big deal to me... I just chuckle when I hear some form of "grow your business".)
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Billie Jean is not my lover. Hee.

[Conchita]

[Yankee]

.
Speaking of brainstorming, has anyone heard the buzzword "blamestorming"?
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Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English