Thinking out of the box

2. Lateral Thinking is a term coined
by Edward de Bono
The term first appeared in the title of de
Bono's book New Think: The Use of Lateral
Thinking, published in 1967.
Set of approaches and techniques designed to
find new approaches to problems

3. Agenda
What is lateral thinking?
Methods of lateral thinking
4 types of thinking tool
Lateral thinking and problem
solving
Six thinking hats
Lateral thinking puzzles
Conclusion

4. What is Lateral Thinking?
 Lateral Thinking is
solving problems
through an indirect and
creative approach.
 The term was coined
in1967 by Edward de
Bono.
 Lateral thinking is for
changing concepts and
perceptions.
 Lateral thinking, is the
ability to think
creatively.

6. Methods of Lateral Thinking

8. 4 Types Of Thinking Tool
 Idea generating tools that are designed to
break current thinking patterns—routine
patterns.
 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

9. Lateral Thinking & Problem Solving
Problem Solving• Problem Solving: The objective is to get the
situation to where it should be
: The objective is to get the situation to
 Creative Problem Solving: Using creativity, one must
solve a problem in an indirect and unconventional
manner.
 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.
Problem Solving: The objective is to get the situation to where
it should be

10. Six Thinking Hats
 Six Thinking Hats' is an important and powerful
technique.
 It is used to look at decisions from a number of
important perspectives.
 This forces you to move outside your habitual
thinking style, and helps you to get a more rounded
view of a situation Each 'Thinking Hat' is a different
style of thinking.
 These are explained below:

11.  White Hat With this thinking hat you focus on
the data available. Look at the information you
have, and see what you can learn from it.
 Red Hat 'Wearing' the red hat, you look at
problems using intuition, gut reaction, and emotion. Also
try to think how other people will react emotionally..
 Black Hat Using black hat thinking, look at all the
bad points of the decision. Look at it cautiously and
defensively. Try to see why it might not work. This is
important because it highlights the weak points in a
plan Black Hat thinking helps to make your plans
'tougher' and more resilient.

12.  Yellow Hat: The yellow hat helps you to think
positively. Yellow Hat thinking helps you to
keep going when everything looks gloomy and
difficult.
 Green Hat: The Green Hat stands for creativity.
This is where you can develop creative solutions
to a problem. It is a freewheeling way of
thinking, in which there is little criticism of
ideas.
• Blue Hat: The Blue Hat stands for process
control. This is the hat worn by people chairing
meetings. When running into difficulties
because ideas are running dry, they may direct
activity into Green Hat thinking.

13. Lateral thinking puzzle
 Situation puzzles are often referred to as lateral
thinking puzzles or "yes/no" puzzles.
 Situation puzzles are usually played in a group,
with one person hosting the puzzle and the
others asking questions
 which can only be answered with a "yes" or
"no" answer.
 Depending upon the settings and level of
difficulty, other answers, hints or simple
explanations of why the answer is yes or no,
may be considered acceptable.
 The puzzle is solved when one of the players is
able to recite the narrative the host had in
mind, in particular explaining whatever aspect
of the initial scenario was puzzling.
•

14. Example
1. You are driving down the road in your car on a
wild, stormy night, when you pass by a bus stop
and you see three people waiting for the bus
An old lady who looks as if she is about to die.
An old friend who once saved your life.
The perfect partner you have been dreaming
about.
Knowing that there can only be one passenger in
your car, whom would you choose?
Answer -The old lady of course! After helping the
old lady into the car, you can give your keys to
your friend, and wait with your perfect partner for
the bus

15. 2.A man lives in the penthouse of an apartment
building. Every morning he takes the elevator
down to the lobby and leaves the building. Upon
his return, however, he can only travel halfway up
in the lift and has to walk the rest of the way -
unless it's raining. What is the explanation for
this?
• Answer-The man is a dwarf. He can't reach the
upper elevator buttons, but he can ask people to
push them for him. He can also push them with
his umbrella.

16. 3.Acting on an anonymous phone call, the police raid
a house to arrest a suspected murderer. They don't
know what he looks like but they know his name is
John and that he is inside the house. The police bust
in on a carpenter, a lorry driver, a mechanic and a
fireman all playing poker. Without hesitation or
communication of any kind, they immediately arrest
the fireman. How do they know they've got their
man?
Answer-The fireman is the only man in the room. The
rest of the poker players are women.

17. Conclusion
Thus we would like to conclude that lateral
thinking is more concerned with the movement
value of statements and ideas.
A person would use lateral thinking when they
want to move from one known idea to creating
new ideas.
Critical thinking is primarily concerned with
judging the truth value of statement and seeking
errors.
Lateral thinking, is the ability to think creatively.

18. Lateral
Thinking
Many problems require a
different perspective
to solve successfully
-- Edward de Bono

45. Thus we would like to conclude that lateral
thinking
is more concerned with the movement value of
statements and ideas.
• A person would use lateral thinking when they
want
to move from one known idea to creating new
ideas.
• Critical thinking is primarily concerned with
judging
the truth value of statement and seeking errors.
• Lateral thinking, is the ability to think creatively.
Conclusion