New Think: The Use of Lateral Thinking in the Generation of New Ideas

1. New Think:The Use of Lateral Thinking in the Generation of New Ideas Written by: Edward de Bono Presented by: Steve Kaman

2. Edward de Bono • Regarded by many as leading authority in field of creative thinking. • Has written 62 books with translations into 37 languages and has been invited to lecture in 54 countries • Originator of lateral thinking.

3. Outline • Logical thinking • Vertical vs. Lateral thinking • Creative thinking • How to think laterally • Connections to other readings • Summary

4. New Think is OLD • Used by Solomon • Used by great inventors of history • Breaks out of old patterns • Deals with generating new ways to look at things

5. Logical Thinking • Everyone realizes its usefulness • Creates order out of disorder • However, imposes old order rather than recognizing a new one • Poor for generating new ideas • Excellent for developing ideas

6. Vertical Thinking • “…follows most obvious line, proceeding straight up or down.” • Includes logical thinking • Is high-probability thinking

7. Lateral Thinking • Looks to get away from patterns • Ignores logical direction and “…moves sideways by re-forming the patterns” • Is “an attitude of mind.” • Is low-probability thinking

8. Comparison: Vertical vs. Lateral • Digging a hole • Story of Solomon • Story of black and white pebbles • Basically, “Lateral thinking generates the ideas and vertical thinking develops them.”

9. Creative vs. Lateral Thinking • Part of lateral thinking • “…often requires a talent for expression.” • Lateral thinking is open to everyone • Some lateral thinking results in: • True creations • Simply new ways of looking at something

10. Creating New Ideas • No rewards for lots of time and effort searching • Idea may “…arrive in a flash of insight.” • Mind is better at developing than creating ideas • Act is not fully passive • Experts can be too stuck in the past

11. Visual Explanation • Describing construction of a symbol is arbitrary • Complex figures are broken down into familiar parts • Complex figure can become familiar

12. Principles of Lateral Thinking • Recognition of dominant or polarizing ideas • Search for different ways of looking at things • Relaxation of rigid control of vertical thinking • Use of chance

13. Summary • Lateral thinking: • “…is not a magic formula” • Is an attitude • Is a habit of mind • Aims for simplicity and effectiveness • Seeks escape from dominant order • Seeks simpler order and not disorder

14. Connections to Other Readings • Wallas promoted teaching the “art of thought” • de Bono comments on how orthodox education does not encourage lateral thinking • Idea that despite hard work, idea is a flash of insight • Corresponds with Wallas’ Illumination Stage

15. Connections to Other Readings • Creativity in Business • Idea of not judging a logically incorrect idea at too early a stage. • Art of Thought and Creativity in Business • de Bono suggests “playing” will help lead to solution • Much like the unconscious thought

16. Questions?