Lateral thinking

Lateral thinking was developed by medical doctor Edward De Bono in 1967 after he had researched the nature of self-organizing biological systems (Dingli, 2009). This research sparked the idea that the human mind could be similarly self-organizing and produce novel outputs based on environmental inputs and past experience (Dingli, 2009). In this way, Lateral thinking utilizes intentional mental efforts as inputs to alter habitual patterns of thought. According to De Bono (2009), the word ‘lateral’ emphasizes the notion of moving across instead of along these well-trodden patterns.

Proctor (2010) noted four factors that are of paramount importance to Lateral thinking:

1. The recognition of dominant ideas linked to a problem that polarize perceptions related to the problem;

2. The relaxation of rigid, automated thinking; 3. The search for varied perspectives;

4. The use of chance to stimulate ideation.

As a method, Lateral thinking differs from the other methods in this section as it does not possess explicit sequential steps but uses a set of tools that can be used in any order. These tools are used to change thinking patterns and perceptions. Lateral thinking can be utilised as either a group or individual method and the following are its most prominent tools:

1. Focus is utilized at the beginning of a Lateral thinking session to orient efforts (Dingli, 2009). De Bono (2009) differentiated between two types of focus. Firstly, purpose focus narrows the reason for engaging in Lateral thinking, such as problem-solving, process simplification, conflict resolution, performance improvement, etcetera. The second type is called area focus and narrows down the area where problem-solving is required by using a prompt such as ‘We want some new ideas about erasers’, where erasers are the identified area (De Bono, 2009).

2. The Alternatives tool is aimed at generating a large variety of perspectives on a problem and includes several approaches. Fractionation is the breakdown of the problem or situation into component parts without using a logical criterion for subdivision, while Bridging divisions involves rearranging the parts into a new whole (Proctor, 2010). Keyword omission involves the replacement of keywords in a discussion with equivalent, but less common terms, such as work service payments instead of wages. Rotation of Attention involves shifting attention to peripheral factors associated with of a problem away from the core of the problem. Quota of alternatives

keeps the number of ideas down to a manageable set, focusing only on those that are fundamentally different. Avoidance devices are ways of opening the mind up to receive new perspectives while preventing the old well-worn ideas or ways of thinking from surfacing (Proctor, 2010).

3. The stratal technique refers to listing multiple statements connected to the problem but that are unconnected to each other in order to sensitise the mind (De Bono, 1993). Ideas are created by combining these statements. The filament technique entails selecting words from each stratal statement to form a new idea.

4. Concept fan involves working backwards through a process of abstraction from the final objective (solving the problem) to broad concepts, to specific concepts, to practical ideas and, if necessary, analyse each level (De Bono, 2009). This is accomplished through questions. What broad concepts get us closer to the final objective? What specific concepts support the broad concepts? What practical ideas can activate these specific concepts?

5. Provocation (PO) entails the use of wishes or absurd statements to create solutions (Puccio, Cabra, Fox, & Cahen, 2010). Such statements are prefaced with the word ‘Po,’ (or Provocative Operation) so that everyone knows a provocation is to follow. There are four major varieties of provocation: escape, reversal, distortion, exaggeration and wishful thinking (De Bono, 2009). Escape works by removing something taken for granted in a situation. Reversals reverse normal relationships in the problem situation. Distortions operate by changing the sequence in a relationship or process (Dingli, 2009). Exaggeration works by exaggerating a dimension of the problem upward or downward to an unreasonable extreme (Proctor, 2010). Wishful thinking uses ‘what if…’ or ‘suppose we…’ or ‘what would happen if…’ trigger questions to set up impossible fantasy situations (Dingli, 2009).

6. Movement is a principle that emphasizes moving forward from a provocation with an idea, regardless of the perceived value of the idea. It encourages judgement-free experimentation and visualizing how these mental experiments will unfold, focusing on positives and under which conditions proposed solutions will work. De Bono (2009) distinguishes between five methods of achieving movement. Extract the concept seeks the underlying concept in operation in the problem situation and then uses it to develop an idea. Focus on the difference is used to identify the differences between the provocation and the current situation and to build on these differences. Positive Aspects aims to use any positive value brought forth by the provocation and to realise these values in a practical way. Moment to moment involves visualizing the provocation in action, paying careful attention to what is occurring, and developing new ideas

form those mental observations. Special Circumstances asks whether any circumstances exist where the provocation can have value exactly as stated (De Bono, 2009).

7. Challenge entails the questioning of the status quo and its associated deeply held assumptions (Dingli, 2009). The aim of this tool is to find alternate ways of accomplishing a particular aim by blocking the current way as an option (De Bono, 2009). Dingli (2009) noted that even when existing ways work well, challenge may result in improvement, cost cutting, and added value. Users of challenge should be cognizant of the guideline that challenge should never be used as an attack and, therefore, criticism of the status quo is prohibited (De Bono, 20009). Challenge simply asks the question: If the current way was not an option, what else would you do?

8. Random Entry involves generating ideas stimulated with the help of words or objects that are selected at random and are not related to the problem (Puccio et al., 2010). If a starting point is ‘cherry-picked’ or not randomly chosen as instructed, such a selection would relate to habitual thinking and would not generate new patterns of thinking (De Bono, 2009). Sources of random stimuli to use during random entry include magazines, printed cards, images from electronic databases, and everyday props (Dingli, 2009).

9. The creative pause refers to an interruption of routine by slowing your thinking deliberately to pay attention for 30 seconds (De Bono, 1993). The benefit may not be immediately apparent. 10. Harvesting is typically utilized at or near the end of a Lateral thinking session with the aim of

prioritizing, selecting and managing generated ideas (Dingli, 2009).

One observable limitation of Lateral thinking, when considering the full set of tools outlined in De Bono’s countless publications, is the limited range of names and overlapping content of these tools. For example, there is the tool called Concept fan, as well as a tool called Concept extraction (both outlined above), that work in a very similar ways. Another example is the similarly named tools Random entry (as outlined above) and Change of entry point, with the subtle difference being the former uses random words and objects as triggers while the latter does not. Yet another example is the similarity of content between the tools called Challenge and Avoidance devices (as outlined above) – both block the current ideas. This may become confusing to learners during training for Lateral thinking.

Perhaps the most serious disadvantage of Lateral thinking is that it lacks a set sequence and as such the possibility exists that the best tool for the problem may not be used at the most advantageous time.