AE-3

TRANSMISSION OF KNOWLEDGE IN BUILDING

SUBMITTED BY
MEGHA PANCHARIYA
M.ARCH 1ST SEMESTER
SMMCA, NAGPUR

Define lateral and vertical thinking. Difference between them and its
application in architectural education.
Dr.de Bono divides thinking into two methods: vertical thinking and lateral
thinking. Vertical thinking involves the implementation and utilization of already
existent ideas (digging the same hole deeper) whereas lateral thinking involves
developing new ideas (digging a hole somewhere else).
Lateral thinking
Lateral thinking defined as seeking to solve problems by unorthodox or
apparently illogical methods. Lateral thinking, according to de Bono, tries to
restructure information patterns by putting things together in a different way. Lateral
thinking is out-of the-box non-linear thinking to be differentiated from logical,
extrapolative thinking. Lateral thinking is moving sideways and looking at problems
from multiple angles and perspectives.
According to de Bono, two processes necessary to stimulate lateral thinking are
escape and provocation. Escape consists of rejecting assumptions and pre-formed
concepts by shifting perspectives and provocation consists primarily suspending
judgment (Murray 1992). The formal ways to set up provocations include escape,
reversal, exaggeration, distortion and wishful thinking.

Characteristics of lateral thinking

Generative nature of publishing ideas, it aims to find alternatives to target.

Are interested in finding a variety of possibilities. Interested in making the

assessment or decision.

Do not like to defend the idea even though it is true. This idea is proved
correct assume still be improved.

Interested in finding such a good idea to be able to create a better idea.

Never a judgment. Lateral thinking does not hold a pattern to be wrong but the
rigidity of the same to be wrong.

Lateral thinking is directly related to the information handling behavior of the

mind.

Concerned with changing patterns or breaking out of the concept prisons of

old ideas and generation of new ideas and insights.

Closely related to creativity. Though creativity is too often the descriptions of

a result, lateral thinking is the description of the process.

Advantages of lateral thinking

Ability to be able to think quickly, laterally and if needed, sidestep

conventions and rules.

Makes new ideas possible.

As a one way of doing this is to take two random, unrelated ideas, and put

them together to create something new.

Able to look at things differently, and make an unlikely connection, this will

take us to a new way of problem solving.

As a prepared to try a new thinking process and our thoughts will be
generative.

Examples of lateral thinking

1. One day you have just played tennis with your friends, you are very thirsty
when you arrive home. You go into the kitchen and you find a bottle of soda in
the fridge. However, you cannot find a bottle opener. The solutions to get rid
of soda. The person has already broken free from the given constrains and start

to attack the problem from different directions. Therefore, this group of

solutions are generated from lateral thinking.
Solutions:

Drink something else, say tap water

Or buy a drink from convenience store

Have some fruit instead

Keep on look for other drinks at home.

Etc...
2. In architectural education lateral thinking is always welcome in design studio,
as problem introduce in studio we just think we want to make something
creative and lateral thinking helps to enhance the creativity

Start to think illogical to logical.

Trying number of options.

Ready to do changes.

To get a different perspective on a problem, try breaking the elements up and

recombining them in a different way.

And in last we are able to come up with new idea or discover the new ideas by
the help of lateral thinking.

A way of thinking that seeks a solution to an intractable problem through unorthodox

methods or elements that would normally be ignored by logical thinking. When you
are faced with fast-changing trends, fierce competition, and the need to work miracles
despite tight budgets, you need Lateral Thinking. Developing breakthrough ideas does
not have to be the result of luck or a shotgun effort. Lateral thinking will also help
with strategic planning and thinking outside the box of everyday issues.
Vertical thinking
The process usually consists of thinking that proceeds in a stepwise fashion
applying

Specific rules in order to reach a definite goal. It is linear and left-brained; selecting
only what is relevant and correct to achieve a goal. This traditional way of thinking
is referred to as vertical thinking.
Vertical thinking is a selective, move only if there is a direction in which to move,
and also in sequential.
Vertical thinking is:
-

A method of thinking in very liner, selective pathways.

Each step is precise, necessary and must be correct.
The way of thinking by exact and logical reasoning of the situation.
Solve the problem in direct ways.

Characteristics of vertical thinking

Reactive thinking.
Structured: encourages a sequential approach.
Takes a logical approach.
Follows the most likely path.
Analysis on ideas.
Must be correct at every step.
Concentrate and excludes what is irrelevant.
Good in made analysis but hard to accept the opinion.
May look for different approaches until one finds a promising one.

Advantages of vertical thinking

Uses information for its own sake in order to move forward to a solution.

Each answer needs evidence.

It will not easily fool.

Aimed to evaluate what is right and wrong.

Example of vertical thinking

One day you have just played tennis with your friends, you are very thirsty when
you arrive home. You go into the kitchen and you find a bottle of soda in the
fridge. However, you cannot find a bottle opener. The solutions are focus on how
to open the bottle. This kind of solution is the result of processing known theories,
knowledge and experience on ways of opening things. Therefore, this group of
solutions is generated from vertical thinking.
Solutions:

Open the bottle with teeth

Open the bottle with the edge of table or wall

Borrow bottle opener from others

Put the bottle into the fridge. Soda expands when it is frozen, the pressure
generated by the expanding soda could force the bottle to open.

Break the bottle

Etc....

Vertical thinking deprives of novelty, which is essential to find and apply to

innovative process solving direct problem. It does not help generate any new ideas
since it looks for a finite approach to the problem. So, vertical thinking helps us
use details at every step. If information is not available, no further course of action
can be taken. Therefore, we do not think one can solely depend on this problem
solving approach, especially if the problem looks intractable.
Difference between lateral and vertical thinking

Vertical Thinking

Lateral thinking

Selective

Generative

Moves only if there is a direction in which to Moves in order to generate a direction

move
Analytical

Provocative

One has to be correct every step

One does not have to be

One uses the negative in order to block off There is no negative

certain pathways
One concentrates and excludes what is One welcomes chance of intrusions
irrelevant
(categories ) classifications and labels are fixed

They are not fixed

Follow the most likely paths

Explores the least likely