“A person with a new idea is a crank until the

idea succeeds. ”

Mark Twain

“Logic will get you from A to Z;

imagination will get you everywhere.”

Albert Einstein

Lateral thinking: Play with the possibilities

Trish Downeytdowney@acpl.info

ACPL Library CampOct. 24, 2012

Libraries and innovation

• Bilingual storytimes• Online book clubs• Book club kits to-go• The list goes on

Edward De Bono & Lateral Thinking

De Bono • Rhodes scholar• Author of over 50 books

Definition of Lateral Thinking

A process that moves your brain from a predictable pattern of thinking into a place where it can generate more ideas.

Break patterns of thinking

Play with the possibilities

Vertical thinking

• Be analytical and sequential• Strive to be right • Choose one best idea

Lateral Thinking

• Generate many options

• Keep looking even after you find possible solutions

• Be willing to be wrong while you let an idea grow

Useful for

Problem Solving Innovation

Be aware of thinking that can interfere with creativity

• Dominant ideas• Obvious choices• Polarization with either/or choices

Challenge assumptions

Take a creative pause

Think in reverse

Eg. What are all the ways we could make shelving more inefficient?

Make a quota on alternatives

Use randomness

Try six thinking hats

Gut feelings

Facts

Positive consequences

Negative consequences

Innovative Ideas

Process and Procedure

Tools for practicing lateral thinking

Lateral Thinking Puzzles Creativity Exercises

Reference List

Bronson, P. & Merryman, A. (July 19, 2010). The creativity crisis. Newsweek, 153 (3). Retrieved from Academic Search Premier.

De Bono, E. (2008). Creativity workout: 62 exercises to unlock your most creative ideas.Berkeley, CA: Ulysses Press.

De Bono, E. (1973). Lateral thinking: Creativity Step by Step. New York, NY: Harper and Row Publishers.

De Bono, E. (1967). New think: The use of lateral thinking in the generation of new ideas. New York, NY: Basic Books.

De Bono, E. (1992). Serious creativity: using the power of lateral thinking to create new ideas. New York, NY: HarperBusiness.

De Bono, E. (1999). Six thinking hats. Boston, MA: Little, Brown and Company.

Harshman, E.J., MacHale, D. & Sloane, P. (2003). Classic lateral thinking puzzles. New York, NY: Main Street.

http://www.debonoforbusiness.com/asp/case_studies.asp - This is a commercial site but it does give fairly detailed examples of how businesses have used lateral thinking.

Play with the possibilities