Thinking about Thinking, Creativity, Innovation and Design
Social dynamics can refer to the behaviour of groups that results from the interactions of individual group members as well as the study of the relationship between individual interactions and group level behaviours. It is often assumed that the act of thinking is highly individual. Better thinking or poor thinking is located inside the brain or …
Recently we were thinking about the news. What makes news? Then there is the discussion about fake news. At Wikipedia we found a page that is about Fake news websites: "Fake news websites (also referred to as hoax news, deliberately publish hoaxes, propaganda, and disinformation purporting to be real news — often using social media …
What could we learn from solved cold cases? What has caused that the case is solved after years of investigations without results? What were the reasons that a solution was waiting for discovery, but never did? Solved cold cases are illustrative for how we think wrongly. In September 1961, 25-year-old Lucy Johnson, mother of one, …
Have you ever stopped yourself from speaking up at a meeting because you felt that the idea or suggestion would not be appreciated or ridiculed? Groupthink is a phenomenon where the desire for group cohesiveness and a quick decision cloud the judgment of the people in the group. The decision taken is often less than ideal. …
As a follow-up of an earlier post about Reversals, we present here some more examples. A Reversal reverses the usual sequence or direction of doing something. For instance: Normally a product is delivered after the customer places the order. A Reversal could be that the customer places the order after the product is delivered. What ideas …
Continue reading "World’s Most Interesting Reversals (2) – Thinkibility Boost"
In a Reversal, the usual supposed cause-effect relation between objects or subjects are turned upside down. For example, it is supposed that the establishment of a permanent observation post increases the safety of recreational sailing. A Reversal could set up that the establishment of a permanent observational post rightly effective decreases the safety of sailors. The …
Continue reading "World’s Most Interesting Reversals (1) – Thinkibility Boost"
For this Thinkibility Boost we invite you to reflect on an insight we recently got. While we are at the brink of being locked into a possible World War III, it is amazing and baffling that neither opinion-leaders nor commentators in the media regardless their positions, opinions or views on the conflict in Syria, analyze …
Continue reading "Observe The Thinking – Use Thinking Vocabular"
In an interesting article from McKinsey Quarterly Charles Roxburgh explains why good executives back bad strategies. In an earlier blog post we introduced the concept of the “Logic Bubble”. Edward de Bono used the term to describe the set of values, needs, beliefs and experiences that a person sees the world through. We all have …
There are alternatives to reading blog posts in a linear and sequential way when they appear in the in-box. It is possible to read a blog, especially this one, in a more active and holistic manner by selecting a theme or tag. If you want to learn about the nature of Six Hat Thinking, which …
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Fashion changes quickly. Admittedly, ideas about thinking may not change quite as rapidly, but you can nevertheless detect changes. Today, working together in teams is popular. The lone thinker is out of fashion. More brains mean more ideas. Working together in a group, highlights the social nature of a project. Everyone will feel that …
The introduction of computers and the web combined with an explosion in information have lead to an overabundance. Finding ways to use information in the best possible way is becoming a vital skill. Many people, when confronted with a problem, begin a broad search for information. They assume that enlarging the information space inevitable will lead to uncovering the information needed to solve …
Groupthink Consequences Groupthink is described historically by the myth of the Cassandra syndrome. This myth describes a prediction or warning that goes unheeded with serious consequences. The term comes from the story about Cassandra, who was raped by the senior adviser to her father at court. To defend against accusations, she was personally discredited. So Cassandra's special …
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