Forced Analogy
Forced Analogy is an ideation warm-up exercise for relationship mapping: it helps participants build useful connections and understand how people, roles, or ideas relate.
How to run it
- Participants may also work through one analogy as a group, as in “How would we use a paper clip to solve our data integration problem?”
- A truly random list of objects will push the boundaries of the group’s mindset and create new perspectives. If needed, this list can be created in advance of the game itself by an unbiased nonparticipant.
- The source of the Forced Analogy game is unknown.
- themselves, their company, their team) to an object.
- Participants may also work through one analogy as a group, as in “How would we use a paper clip to solve our data integration problem?” A truly random list of objects will push the boundaries of the group’s mindset and create new perspectives.
- Duration: 10m + Participants: Any by Erica Marx for Erica Marx Coaching Use Method Goal To advance collective understanding To prime creative thinking To get uns
- CollaborationCollaboratively create agendas in real-time.
Run this exercise live
The facilitator console stays in this browser. Its QR handoff is a short-lived participant snapshot containing only public exercise instructions, phase, prompt, and timer state.
What participants need now
Materials:
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Prompts to use +
Participants may also work through one analogy as a group, as in “How would we use a paper clip to solve our data integration problem?”
A truly random list of objects will push the boundaries of the group’s mindset and create new perspectives. If needed, this list can be created in advance of the game itself by an unbiased nonparticipant.
Participants may also work through one analogy as a group, as in “How would we use a paper clip to solve our data integration problem?” A truly random list of objects will push the boundaries of the group’s mindset and create new perspectives.
Duration: 10m + Participants: Any by Erica Marx for Erica Marx Coaching Use Method Goal To advance collective understanding To prime creative thinking To get uns
CollaborationCollaboratively create agendas in real-time.
Run this with your AI assistant +
Works with Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, or your own local model: paste this prompt and your AI will co-facilitate this exercise with you.
Adapt this exercise for my exact room. Exercise: Forced Analogy. Readiness: Publishable Draft. Core moves: Participants may also work through one analogy as a group, as in “How would we use a paper clip to solve our data integration problem?”; A truly random list of objects will push the boundaries of the group’s mindset and create new perspectives. If needed, this list can be created in advance of the game itself by an unbiased nonparticipant.; Participants may also work through one analogy as a group, as in “How would we use a paper clip to solve our data integration problem?” A truly random list of objects will push the boundaries of the group’s mindset and create new perspectives.; Duration: 10m + Participants: Any by Erica Marx for Erica Marx Coaching Use Method Goal To advance collective understanding To prime creative thinking To get uns. Return a concise facilitator script with timing, wording, safety notes, and remote/in-person adjustments.
Origin unverified
- Where we observed it: The strongest current observations come from Gamestorming; aggregators are listed as additional observations, not origin proof. (2 sources observed, including Gamestorming, SessionLab.)
- What that means: we track where an exercise has been observed in public sources. We do not claim to know who created it, or how popular it is.
- No efficacy claims: appearing in this library is not a claim that the exercise is proven effective. Facilitator judgment and context decide whether it works for a given room.
- Corrections: if you have evidence of an earlier or more accurate source, read our methodology and trust boundary and tell us.