Lateral Thinking: Lateral Thinking Edward de Bono


Tennis Problem: Tennis Problem How many court-time will need to be scheduled in order to play a double elimination tournament of 128 tennis players.


Vertical v. LateralThinking: Vertical v. Lateral Thinking V = Selective L = Generative V = Moves in one direction L = Moves to generate direction V = Analytical L = Provocative V = Sequential L = Makes jumps V = Each step correct L = Not so


Vertical v. LateralThinking: Vertical v. Lateral Thinking V = Excludes irrelevant L = Chance intrusions V = Classification and labels fixed L = Not so V = Moves in one direction L = Moves to generate direction V = Most likely L = Least likely V = Finite process L = probabilistic one


Vertical v. LateralThinking: Vertical v. Lateral Thinking With vertical thinking one uses information for its own sake to in order to move forward to a solution. With lateral thinking one uses information not for its own sake but provocatively in order to bring about repatterning.


Basic Nature of Lateral Thinking: Basic Nature of Lateral Thinking Concerned with changing patterns In a self-maximizing system with a memory the arrangement of information must always be less than the best possible arrangement Both an attitude and a method of using information Never a judgment


4 Lines: 4 Lines


4 Lines: 4 Lines


4 Lines: 4 Lines


Folding Solution: Folding Solution


Conceptual Blockbusting: Conceptual Blockbusting James L. Adams


Conceptual blocks: Conceptual blocks Conceptual blocks are mental walls which block the problem-solver from correctly perceiving a problem or conceiving its solution.


Conceptual Blocks: Conceptual Blocks Perceptual Cultural Environmental Emotional Intellectual Expressive


Problem: Problem Assume that a steel pipe is imbedded in the concrete floor of a bare room. The inside diameter of the pipe is .06” larger than the diameter of a ping-pong ball (1.50”) which is resting gently on the bottom of the pipe. You are one of six people in the room along with the following:


Equipment: Equipment 100’ clothesline A carpenters hammer A chisel A box of Wheaties A file A wire coat hanger A monkey wrench A light bulb


Diagram: Diagram 4”


Solutions: Solutions Fluency – number of concepts one produces in a given length of time. Flexibility – diversity of the ideas generated


Flexibility: Flexibility Tweezers Tools Wheaties


Cultural Blocks: Cultural Blocks Fantasy and reflection are a waste of time lazy, even crazy. Playfulness is for children only Problem solving is a serious business and humor is out of place Reason, logic numbers utility, Practicality are good; feeling, intuition, qualitative judgments, pleasure are bad Tradition is preferable to change Any problem can be solved by scientific thinking and lots of money Taboos


Environmental Blocks: Environmental Blocks Lack of cooperation and trust of colleagues Autocratic boss who values only his own ideas; does not reward others Distractions – phone, easy intrusions Lack of support to bring ideas into action


Perceptual Blocks: Perceptual Blocks Difficulty in isolation the problem Tendency to delimit the problem too closely Inability to see the problem from various viewpoints Seeing what you expect to see; Stereotyping Saturation Failure to utilize all sensory inputs