Edward de Bono interview
We are very proud to announce that our recent meeting and interview with Edward de Bono is now live to the world, thanks to OurManly for helping to organise and hosting the full video which can be viewed here.
www.ourmanly.com.au
An amazing man with such verve and energy, we will be posting bite sized chunks of the meeting later this month for your viewing pleasure. Thanks!
May 24, 2010 No Comments
Thinker Tool: SCAMPER
Creative thinking author, Michael Michalko, popularised the SCAMPER technique. He credits Alex Osborn with its thinking principles and Bob Eberle with the mnemonic:
S=Substitute
C=Combine
A=Adapt
M=Magnify/Modify
P=Put to other uses
E=Eliminate
R=Rearrange/Reverse
We’ve found this technique particularly useful when looking to develop new applications, uses or extensions of an existing technology. Applying each of these actions to the current paradigm forces a shift in thinking and changes the filter through which you view your situation.
February 18, 2010 No Comments
Thinker Tool: ‘Po’ Thinking
de Bono suggests applying the prefix ‘Po’ to any mechanism (such as ‘Po-Cars’) to get thinkers to break out of their familiar thought patterns, and create an entirely new construct, which could either replace or extend the original. As opposed to logical thinking, which restricts responses to ‘no’ or ‘yes’, Po thinking allows us to entertain the many realms of ‘possible.’
An example
For instance: in workshopping a ‘Po-Car’ one may start by listing a normal car’s attributes and applications ie a four-wheeled form of transport for passengers and a driver.
This would kick-start a brainstorm around how each of these attributes and applications may be rethought: varied or enhanced – which could lead to phenomenal developments on the basic model.
In our workshop, a ‘Po-aeroplane’ became a mile-high disco. The activity on the second floor of a Boeing would encourage activity thereby reducing the risk of DVT. Rather than seeing flying as unavoidable and tedious, passengers would be happy to pay more for their tickets as the journey became an essential component of their party-trip.
May 14, 2009 No Comments
Thinker Tool: Opposites
Using opposites forces you begin at a distant starting point and see your discussion through an entirely new lens.
Take your discussion statement and identify its key words. Put them in a list to the side. Alongside each key word, write its opposite. Now substitute your keyword with its opposite and see how it affects your discussion statement and the outcomes of your conversation. Often the more ridiculous the substitution seems, the better results you will generate.
Opposites in practice
Discussion Point: Our company’s mission is to encourage people to help one another.
Opposites of Keywords
company – individual
encourage – discourage
help – hinder
another – themselves
Each (individual’s) mission is to encourage people to help one another…
This may start the idea that to really bring a mission statement to life, each individual should be personally enacting the mission. This may encourage a practice whereby each employee writes their own strategy for ‘living the company mission’ during their everyday.
Our company’s mission is to (discourage) people to help one another…
This statement would provoke a conversation around why the company’s mission may not be working to its optimum and what the company is doing which may be discouraging a helping attitude. This may reveal discontent from the workforce and how the company is treating them. It may uncover dissatisfaction from customers or encourage the idea of running a customer satisfaction survey.
Our company’s mission is to encourage people to (hinder) one another…
Such a statement would continue further discussions as above. It may encourage a review of current policies, practices and procedures which may be affecting performance and holding the company back. It could provoke a competitive analysis to see how the opposition is beating the company’s performance.
Our company’s mission is to encourage people to help (themselves)…
Through allowing this conversation to take place, management may receive feedback that this is a situation that employees would prefer. By changing the focus off ‘helping others’ staff may suggest better activities for the company to make their mission. It may throw up ideas for self-empowerment which would ultimately ‘help another’
May 14, 2009 1 Comment
Thinker Tool: Random Words
This creative thinking technique is used world-over in various ways. De Bono has dedicated an entire book to the practice, titled: Creativity Workout. In it he supplied lists of random words and number tables to enable the random selection of the random words. Others, such as Michalko, simply suggest picking your random word from a dictionary – eyes closed.
When using the random words technique, follow these rules.
- The random word should be a noun.
- You can not decide you don’t like the random word, then change it. You must use the word selected.
- Random words may have multiple meanings/interpretations. Allow each participant to spend up to one minute writing all the possible interpretations they draw from this word and use each in your discussion.
- Though finding a ‘connection’ between your random word and discussion point is useful, don’t be limited by this. Working in concepts and values, rather than simple associations, will improve your output.
Random Words in Practise
Write your discussion statement up somewhere that the group can see it. Now have everyone choose a random word from a dictionary. Put these in a column next to your discussion statement. One at a time, insert the random word into your discussion statement and use its inclusion to generate new extensions of your original thought.
An example
- What is the impact of wearing school uniforms.
- Random word selections: analogy, order, touching
These random words might provoke discussions such as:
Analogy – ‘Use an analogy to discuss the impact of wearing school uniforms’
Wearing a school uniform is like being a prisoner. One is made devoid of any personality and distinguishing features. It discourages innovative thinkers.
Order – ‘How does the idea of order relate to wearing school uniforms?’
Wearing a uniform pervades a school with a sense of calm and order. It minimises visual chaos and distraction so students can place their priority on learning rather than fashion. Less time is wasted on worrying about what to wear.
Touching – ‘Discuss touching with regards to wearing school uniforms’
“It is touching to see how well everyone get along”… Wearing a school uniform softens the emotional volatility of teenagers. When everyone looks the same, wealthier students have less chance flaunt it and those who struggle financially can find ways to shine beyond mere appearance. Uniforms and second-hand clothing pools can make schooling more affordable and limit the divide between rich and poor.
NOTE – As each active keyword can be open to individual interpretation, this approach works well by allowing each participant to gather their own thoughts on paper before sharing them with the group in an open discussion.
May 14, 2009 1 Comment