What is Lateral Thinking?

Posted: 27 Mar 2011 04:38 AM PDT

Lateral Thinking is a powerful method to use the unused potential of brain. This is originally propounded by Edward De Bono. In this post various simple methods which can bring about lateral thinking capabilities in a reader are described. This post will surely help all CAT aspirants and future managers.

Lateral Thinking Methods or Skills-

There are a number of mental tools or methods that can be used to bring about lateral thinking. These include the following-

Random Entry: Choose an object at random, and associate that with the area you are thinking about. This is also called the method of focal objects.

For example imagine you are thinking about how to improve fireup.co.in. Choose an object at random from your room, you might see a spectacle. Spectacle helps to see things clearly. Perhaps this makes you think of embedding sound software that would readout the concepts and other website materials which would be a great help for visually impaired students.

Provocation: Provocation provokes us to look at things not as they are but as what they might be. We must change our perception in order to change directions and seek alternative solutions and questions what if, suppose what would happen, etc.. Make an idea that may not be direct solution to the problem but which moves thinking forward to a new place from where new ideas or solutions may be found.

Challenge: Simply challenge the way things have always been done or seen, or the way they are. This is done not to show there is anything wrong with the existing situation but simply to direct your perceptions to exploring outside the current area.

For example you could challenge coffee cups being produced with a handle. There is nothing wrong with coffee cups having handles so the challenge is a direction to explore without defending the status quo. 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.

Lateral thinking can be inculcated as propounded by Edward De Bono in his book “Lateral Thinking: Creativity Step By Step”. According to me and most of the people who have ever read this book it is a must read for anyone who is concerned with decision making and problem solving. Purchase Online from Flipkart.com

Real life examples of lateral thinking

This question was asked to a candidate in a top MNC to elicit his true perception

Q – A man and his son are in a car crash. The man is killed and the son is taken to hospital gravely injured. When he gets there, the surgeon says “I can’t operate on this boy- he is my son!” How is this possible? [Surgeon is telling the truth, the boy don't have two fathers and he has no look alike]

This is an example of a quick assumption blocking the mind’s ability to explore alternatives. In this case the assumption is that the quintessential doctor is a male. If a candidate change his perception to allow for a female surgeon, then the answer is suddenly obvious, the surgeon is the boy’s mother.

You can find more than 50 examples here – lateral thinking questions.

Hope you like this post on Lateral Thinking. Let us know your views on this by posting a comment below.

Monday, March 28, 2011