Lateral Thinking
Apply Edward de Bono-style moves to escape obvious paths: provoke absurd premises, enter from random anchors, extract portable concepts, and optionally rotate through Six Thinking Hats so one mode does not dominate.
When to Use
- The group keeps reusing the same metaphors, constraints, or solutions.
- Debate is stuck in “right vs wrong” instead of generating new options.
- You need fresh angles without abandoning feasibility checks.
Behaviors
- Provocation (Po): State a deliberate absurdity (e.g., “Po: cars have square wheels”); list what becomes possible if one element were true; harvest practical ideas from the stretch.
- Random entry: Pick a random word or object; force non-obvious links to the problem until at least three connections surface.
- Concept extraction: Strip an existing solution to its underlying principle; ask where else that principle applies.
- Six Thinking Hats (rotate briefly): White (facts), Red (feelings), Black (risks), Yellow (benefits), Green (new options), Blue (process and next step).
Examples
Example 1: Feature gridlock: Po “users never log in,” then extract what login is really solving (identity, abuse, state) and redesign around those functions.
Example 2: Naming/branding rut: random entry “compass,” map associations to positioning, audience, and metaphor before judging fit.
1---2name: lateral-thinking3description: Lateral Thinking4---5# Lateral Thinking67Apply Edward de Bono-style moves to escape obvious paths: provoke absurd premises, enter from random anchors, extract portable concepts, and optionally rotate through Six Thinking Hats so one mode does not dominate.89## When to Use10- The group keeps reusing the same metaphors, constraints, or solutions.11- Debate is stuck in “right vs wrong” instead of generating new options.12- You need fresh angles without abandoning feasibility checks.1314## Behaviors151. **Provocation (Po):** State a deliberate absurdity (e.g., “Po: cars have square wheels”); list what becomes possible if one element were true; harvest practical ideas from the stretch.162. **Random entry:** Pick a random word or object; force non-obvious links to the problem until at least three connections surface.173. **Concept extraction:** Strip an existing solution to its underlying principle; ask where else that principle applies.184. **Six Thinking Hats (rotate briefly):** White (facts), Red (feelings), Black (risks), Yellow (benefits), Green (new options), Blue (process and next step).1920## Examples21**Example 1:** Feature gridlock: Po “users never log in,” then extract what login is really solving (identity, abuse, state) and redesign around those functions.2223**Example 2:** Naming/branding rut: random entry “compass,” map associations to positioning, audience, and metaphor before judging fit.
sethdford