Final answer:
True, brainstorming is an effective problem-solving strategy that fosters divergent thinking and a broad range of ideas that can then be refined into practical solutions. It is widely used in creative and design processes to encourage unfiltered idea generation and exploration.
Step-by-step explanation:
Brainstorming is indeed an effective problem-solving strategy for individuals to use, as it involves generating a wide range of ideas quickly and informally to arrive at various solutions. During the brainstorming stage, individuals or teams aim to develop as many ideas as possible, without initially considering their feasibility. This unfiltered approach to idea generation allows for creative thinking and the exploration of unconventional solutions, aligning with the concept of divergent thinking, which encourages thinking 'outside the box.' This strategy is beneficial during the design process, where it brings forth many design concepts before narrowing them down to feasible solutions. By exploring a multitude of possibilities, brainstorming helps to overcome representative bias and allows for a broader range of reactions to the problem at hand.
Ultimately, the brainstormed ideas are shaped into components, systems, or processes that meet requirements and constraints, with some approaches being thrown out if they prove unfeasible. Brainstorming can also include sketches and other visual aids to capture and generate new ideas. It is an essential problem-solving strategy that can be employed throughout various stages of project development, from the initial idea dumps to refining the final prototype.