Lateral thinking

1
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
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
2
Vertical thinking Vs Lateral thinking
Vertical thinking

1. Take a position

2. Develop arguments
which are:
related to 1
derived from 1
Area of focus

Truth
Logic
What is
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
Possibilities, alternatives, what
might be
3
Lateral thinking - Exercise
VII
Add a single line to turn this into an eight
4
Lateral thinking - Exercise
IX
Add a single line to turn
this into a six
5
Solutions
1. IX
2. SIX
3. IX6
6
Deliberate lateral thinking tools
1.


2.


3.


4.
The six thinking hats


Provocation


Random inputs


Synectics
7
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
8
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
Questions/discussion
topic
This is what I feel
My gut feel is that
I dont like the way
My intuition tells me
The regulations dont
allow
He doesnt have the
experience
Those prices wont be
profitable
We wont fill capacity
What info do we
have?
What info is missing?
Where will we get it?
How will we get it?

Source Edward de Bor
9
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
Questions/discussion
topic
Are there alternatives?
Could there be another
reason?
What is a creative
solution
Lets summarize views
Lets look at priorities
The points to discuss
are...

This would work if we
did X
The benefit would
come from Y
High labour costs
mean a lower
workforce

Source Edward de Bor
9
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
Questions/discussion
topic
Are there alternatives?
Could there be another
reason?
What is a creative
solution
Lets summarize views
Lets look at priorities
The points to discuss
are...

This would work if we
did X
The benefit would
come from Y
High labour costs
mean a lower
workforce

Source Edward de Bor

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
10
Six Thinking hats - Evaluation
+


+


-
Takes people away from normal
attitudes

Easy to use


Participants often feel very awkward
and ill at ease initially
11
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
12
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
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
cant 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
cant be switched off and cd also be tailored to individuals
12
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 whove said they want
promotion are more keen therefore put them in tougher jobs
where they can prove themselves and be promoted

13
Provocation - sources
1.


2.





3.



4.
Source Example Result
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
14
Provocation - Evaluation
+


-


-
Good for thinking radical new
thoughts

Difficult to apply uncomfortable
for many

Time consuming becoming familiar
with the toolkit
15
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
16
The need for creativity

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

We need it... but we lack it