Presentation Transcript
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