Lateral thinking

1. Lateral thinking

2. Lateral Thinking - Theory The brain is not intended for creative thinking The brains power is in forming patterns and sticking to these patterns SO To become creative you need to block normal channels and “cut across patterns in a self-organizing information system” 1

3. Explaining lateral thinking • Mind is like mud – grooves are formed where water/thoughts run. Need to form new avenues • “Discovery consists of looking at the same thing as everyone else and thinking something different” Albert Szent-Gyorgyi, Nobel Prize Winner

4. Vertical thinking Vs Lateral thinking • Vertical thinking • 1. Take a position • 2. Develop arguments • which are: • related to 1 • derived from 1 • Lateral thinking • 1. Take a position • 2. Put forward different views which • are: • not derived from each other • all correct • all coexisting Area of focus Truth Logic “What is” Area of focus Possibilities, alternatives, what “might be” 2

5. Lateral thinking - Exercise VII Add a single line to turn this into an eight 3

6. Lateral thinking - Exercise IX Add a single line to turn this into a six 4

7. Solutions 1. IX 2. SIX 3. IX6 5

8. Deliberate lateral thinking tools 1. 2. 3. 4. The six thinking hats Provocation Random inputs Synectics 6

9. The six thinking hats - Process and rationale Rationale Cooperative exploration replaces adversarial thinking Ego factors are removed Negativity is “not allowed” Process Meeting of several people Deliberate “putting on” of different hats i.e. different attitudes Everyone wears each hat simultaneously Hats are changed during meeting 7

10. Six thinking hats White hat Red hat Black hat Association White paper: neutral carrier of information Fire, warmth Strict judge, intolerant of wrong doers Area of focus Data and information Feelings, intuition Critical judgement What info do we have? What info is missing? Where will we get it? How will we get it? Questions/discussion topic This is what I feel My gut feel is that I don’t like the way My intuition tells me The regulations don’t allow He doesn’t have the experience Those prices won’t be profitable We won’t fill capacity Source Edward de Bor 8

11. Six thinking hats continued... Yellow hat Green hat Blue hat Association Sunshine Optimism Logical, positive view Vegetation, Rich growth Sky Overview Area of focus Benefits (logically based) Feasibility Creative thinking New ideas Additional alternatives Agenda Next steps Process control This would work if we did X The benefit would come from Y High labour costs mean a lower workforce Questions/discussion topic Are there alternatives? Could there be another reason? What is a creative solution Let’s summarize views Let’s look at priorities The points to discuss are... Source Edward de Bor 9

12. Six thinking hats continued... Yellow hat Green hat Blue hat Association Sunshine Optimism Logical, positive view Vegetation, Rich growth Sky Overview Area of focus Benefits (logically based) Feasibility Creative thinking New ideas Additional alternatives Agenda Next steps Process control This would work if we did X The benefit would come from Y High labour costs mean a lower workforce Questions/discussion topic Are there alternatives? Could there be another reason? What is a creative solution Let’s summarize views Let’s look at priorities The points to discuss are... Source Edward de Bor 9

13. Sequence is not fixed, but often it is: 1 White – info 2 Green – ideas 3Yellow – benefits of ideas 4 Black – evaluation 5 Red – feelings 6 Blue - conclusions

14. Six Thinking hats - Evaluation “+” “+” “-” Takes people away from normal attitudes Easy to use Participants often feel very awkward and ill at ease initially 10

15. Provocation Provocation: an absurdity which takes you out of your main line of thought Examples; Po, you close the letter after you post it Po, restaurants do not charge for food Po, police have 6 eyes 11

16. Provocation - Process 1. 2. 3. • Set up a provocation • “Move” forward from the provocation • by e.g. • Extracting a principle • Focusing on the difference • Look for the benefits • Arrive at an original idea 12

17. Provocation - Process • 1.Set up a provocation eg bring back the town crier – used for ad company • 2.“Move” forward from the provocation • by e.g. • Extracting a principle – what does the town crier do? • goes to thee people • changes message according to audience • can’t be switched off • Focusing on the difference • Look for the benefits • 3.Arrive at an original idea – idea was to have adverts on pagers cos they • can’t be switched off and cd also be tailored to individuals 12

18. 1.Set up a provocation eg employees should wear stripy shirts if they want promotion • 2 & 3.“Move” forward from the provocation arrive at original idea • by e.g. • Extracting a principle –be open about career ambitions frank feedback for those who want it • Focusing on the difference – clear to everyone what you want  shd you only invest training in those who are ambitious? • Look for the benefits – self-fulfilling ie those who’ve said they want promotion are more keen therefore put them in tougher jobs where they can prove themselves and be promoted 12

19. Provocation - sources Source Example Result 1. 2. 3. 4. Chance/accidents “Escape” from the normal i.e. cancel, negate, drop, remove, deny, all that you take for granted Exaggeration Distortion Po, radio waves can shoot down planes Po, restaurants do not charge for food Po, police have 6 eyes Po, you close the letter after you post it Concept of radar Development of diners card Development of neighborhood watch Concept of direct mail sent in private mail 13

20. Provocation - Evaluation “+” “-” “-” Good for thinking radical new thoughts Difficult to apply uncomfortable for many Time consuming becoming familiar with the toolkit 14

21. Random input • Process • Take a problem • Apply a random input • word • image • Take the first characteristic that • comes to mind • Develop solution • [NOTE Do not link the random • word to previous ideas] Evaluation Easy to do Works for a group or an individual Produces new thinking Can feel uncomfortable 15

22. The need for creativity We need it... …but we lack it Creativity produces new ideas in: Science Arts Business Leisure etc, etc, etc... • The brain is not naturally • creative • Education is concerned with • “right” and “wrong” 16