Edward de Bono invented the concept of lateral thinking.

A world-renowned writer and philosopher,

he is the leading authority in the field of creative thinking and the direct teaching of thinking as a skill.
Dr de Bono has written more than 60 books, in 40 languages, with people now teaching his methods
worldwide. He has chaired a special summit of Nobel Prize laureates, and been hailed as one of the
250 people who have contributed most to mankind.

Six thinking hats

The six thinking hats offer balance in a world where teams tend
to focus on the negatives. They also help prevent us from
focusing on our ego and encourage us to consider the team’s
performance. Six Thinking Hats supports the separation of
different modes of thinking. When you talk about one thing at a
time, you can give it your full attention. This is why it makes
sense to put on one hat at a time. So, Six Thinking Hats
promotes single-tasking and focused work. When you mix
everything up, you slow yourself down. 

Single-tasking within a team that includes all thinking hats will

allow you to think together in a focused manner. Crucially, you
don’t have to use six thinking hats at all times. For example,
suppose you have a meeting or a collaborative effort. In that
case, you can simply decide in the middle of a meeting, “Hey, we
need to just think of the advantages for a few minutes.” So,
everyone will put on a yellow hat at the same time. It’s a
deliberate focusing tool you can use at different times or can be
used simultaneously within a well-balanced team

Lateral thinking is a manner of solving problems using an indirect and creative

approach via reasoning that is not immediately obvious. ... According to de
Bono, lateral thinking deliberately distances itself from the standard perception
of creativity as "vertical" logic, the classic method for problem solving.Lateral
thinking is all about freeing up your imagination. Through a series of special
techniques, in groups or working alone, Edward de Bono shows how to
stimulate the mind in new and exciting ways.