that is not immediately obvious and involving ideas that may not be obtainable by using

only traditional step-by-step logic. The term was coined in 1967 by Edward de Bono.

According to de Bono, lateral thinking deliberately distances itself from standard perceptions

of creativity as either "vertical" logic or "horizontal" imagination.

Methods Critical thinking is primarily concerned with

judging the true value of statements and seeking errors. Lateral thinking is more concerned

with the movement value of statements and ideas. A person uses lateral thinking to move

from one known idea to creating new ideas. Edward de Bono defines four types of thinking

tools: Idea generating tools that are designed to

break current thinking patterns—routine patterns, the status quo

Focus tools that are designed to broaden where to search for new ideas

Harvest tools that are designed to ensure more value is received from idea generating

output Treatment tools that are designed to consider

real-world constraints, resources, and support Random Entry Idea Generating Tool: The thinker

chooses an object at random, or a noun from a dictionary, and associates it with the area

they are thinking about. Provocation Idea Generating Tool: The use

of any of the provocation techniques—wishful thinking, exaggeration, reversal, escape,

distortion, or arising. The thinker creates a list of provocations and then uses the most

outlandish ones to move their thinking forward to new ideas.

Movement Techniques: The thinker develops provocation operations by the following methods:

extract a principle, focus on the difference, moment to moment, positive aspects, special

circumstances. Challenge Idea Generating Tool: A tool which

is designed to ask the question "Why?" in a non-threatening way: why something exists,

why it is done the way it is. The result is a very clear understanding of "Why?" which

naturally leads to fresh new ideas. The goal is to be able to challenge anything at all,

not just items which are problems. For example, one could challenge the handles on coffee

cups. The reason for the handle seems to be that the cup is often too hot to hold directly.

Perhaps coffee cups could be made with insulated finger grips, or there could be separate coffee

cup holders similar to beer holders. Concept Fan Idea Generating Tool: Ideas carry

out concepts. This tool systematically expands the range and number of concepts in order

to end up with a very broad range of ideas to consider.

Disproving: Based on the idea that the majority is always wrong, take anything that is obvious

and generally accepted as "goes without saying", question it, take an opposite view, and try

to convincingly disprove it. This technique is similar to de Bono's "Black Hat" of the

Six Thinking Hats, which looks at the ways in which something will not work.

Lateral thinking and problem solving Problem Solving: When something creates a

problem, the performance or the status quo of the situation drops. Problem solving deals

with finding out what caused the problem and then figuring out ways to fix the problem.

The objective is to get the situation to where it should be. For example, a production line

has an established run rate of 1000 items per hour. Suddenly, the run rate drops to

800 items per hour. Ideas as to why this happened and solutions to repair the production line

must be thought of, such as giving the worker a pay raise.

Creative Problem Solving: Using creativity, one must solve a problem in an indirect and

unconventional manner. For example, if a production line produced 1000 books per hour, creative

problem solving could find ways to produce more books per hour, use the production line,

or reduce the cost to run the production line. Creative Problem Identification: Many of the

greatest non-technological innovations are identified while realizing an improved process

or design in everyday objects and tasks either by accidental chance or by studying and documenting

real world experience. Lateral Problem "Solving": Lateral thinking

will often produce solutions whereby the problem appears as "obvious" in hindsight. That lateral

thinking will often lead to problems that you never knew you had, or it will solve simple

problems that have a huge potential. For example, if a production line produced 1000 books per

hour, lateral thinking may suggest that a drop in output to 800 would lead to higher

quality, more motivated workers etc. etc. Lateral thinking puzzles: These are puzzles

that are supposed to demonstrate what lateral thinking is about. However any puzzle that

has only one solution is "not" lateral. While lateral thinking may help you construct such

puzzles, the lateral thinking tools will seldom help you solve puzzles.

See also

Cognitive Research Trust Derailment

Lateral thinking puzzles, also referred as situation puzzles

Oblique Strategies Provocative operation

Parallel thinking Six Thinking Hats

Serendipity Thinking outside the box

Inductive reasoning Deductive reasoning

Creativity Edward de Bono

Further reading

References