Think! (18 page)

I want to repeat, yet again, that I have no quarrel with our existing thinking systems. They are excellent and do their work very well.

'Excellent but not enough' has been the theme of this book.

We need to supplement our existing thinking methods with some additional thinking software.

We need a method for formal creative thinking: that is the lateral thinking methods.

We need a method for exploring a subject when argument is inefficient and inappropriate: that is the Six Hats method.

We need to pay a great deal more attention to perceptual thinking: that is the CoRT programme and the DATT programme.

We need to look at values more directly: that is the Six Value Medals programme.

There is also a book of mine about the Six Action Shoes
that seeks to clarify different types of action. I have not covered this method in this book.

There is also the new method of the Septine.

All these provide additional software for areas and uses that are not adequately covered by existing thinking software.

With computers, software is designed for a purpose – so is it with these additional methods.

No amount of logical searching for the truth will produce a new idea.

Our existing thinking is simply not good enough. While we are rightly concerned with the environment and with problem areas, we are far too complacent about our thinking – which is by far the most important of all areas.

There is a network of over 1,000 instructors and trainers worldwide who are accredited to the de Bono Thinking Systems. They have considerable experience in teaching my thinking to corporations. Thousands have been trained in this way around the world. Please contact
www.debonothinkingsystems.com
to be put in touch with the distributor in the country of your choice.

Should you wish to contact me directly regarding seminars and talks, the best way is through my assistant at: [email protected]

I am also setting up a club for individuals who are genuinely interested in the important matter of human thinking. This new club can be accessed through:
www.debonosociety.com

The de Bono Thinking Systems network can provide training in: Lateral Thinking; Six Hats; Six Value Medals; Simplicity; Focus on Facilitation; and DATT (Direct Attention Thinking Tools).

For information on the Thinking Curriculum that is used in schools, contact me directly at: [email protected]

For information on the teaching of thinking as a subject in schools, please contact Denise Inwood through:
www.blueskyskills.co.uk

The Edward de Bono Foundation is concerned with the teaching of constructive thinking in Education and Management. For further information contact:

The Edward de Bono Foundation
PO Box 2397
Dunshaughlin Business Park
Dunshaughlin
Co Meath
Ireland

Tel: +353 1 8250466
Fax: +353 1 8250467

Email: [email protected]

Website:
www.edwarddebonofoundation.com

ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution)

AGO (aims, goals and objectives) tool

APC (alternatives, possibilities and choices) tool

area focus

argument

alternatives to

effects on conflict

faults of

purpose of

truth and logic

Aristotle

art

and attention

and creativity

and emotion

and thinking

being different

focus on negativity

asymmetric patterning systems

attention

attitudes to improve perceptual thinking

brain

asymmetric patterning systems

patterning systems

self-organising system

see also
mind

brainstorming for creativity

business

corporations

interest in lateral thinking

potential benefits of idea creativity

C&S (consequences and sequels) tool

CAF (considering all factors) tool

challenge

Chinese cultural progress

Church, historical influence on thinking

see also
religion

Churchill, Winston

code system for complex situations

complacency

complaint and criticism

complex situations

code system for

inadequacy of language

computers

concept extraction

concept fan

concepts

conflicts and disagreements

corporations

CoRT (Cognitive Research Trust) programme

creative hit list

creative possibilities

creativity

and art

and humour

and intelligence

and lateral thinking

and logic

and possibilities

brainstorming

creative temperament

definition of idea creativity

lateral thinking tools

logic of idea creativity

meanings of the word

movement

patterning systems in the brain

problems with understanding

provocation ('po') techniques

random word tool

reasons for lack of attention to

satisfactory answers block progress

using commodities to offer new values

viewed as a teachable skill

viewed as an inborn talent

why we need creativity

see also
idea creativity

critical thinking

and judgement

blocking progress

criticism and complaint

meaning of

criticism and complaint

democracy

advantages

being blocked by openness

excellence blocks search for alternatives

lack of creative and constructive thinkers

limitations

other and preceding systems

possibilities for change

structural problem

design

and operacy

approach to conflicts

compared to judgement

definition

teaching in schools

use in conflict situations

education, potential benefits of idea creativity

emotion

FIP (first important priorities) tool

Flowscape perceptual maps

focus

Galileo

Gell-Mann, Professor Murray

Goedel's Theorem

government, potential benefits of idea creativity

Greek Gang of Three (GG3)

home, potential benefits of idea creativity

humour

and creativity

asymmetric patterns

hypothesis, possibility in science

idea creativity

and lateral thinking

definition

logic of

potential benefits at home

potential benefits for business

potential benefits for education

potential benefits for government

see also
creativity

improvement and simplification

information and knowledge

intelligence and creativity

judgement

and critical thinking

compared to design

effect on conflict

through language

knowledge and information

language

and perception

as a judgement system

code system for complex situations

inadequacy in complex situations

labels and boxes

lateral thinking

po (provocation)

lateral thinking

and idea creativity

definition

introduction of the term

lateral thinking tools

area focus

challenge

concept extraction

concept fan

concepts

creative hit list

focus

formal tools

movement

provocation

purpose focus

random word tool for creativity

use in conflict situations

leadership and thinking

complacency

new directions

recognition of achievement

Septines

views of religions

logic

and creativity

and truth in religion

of idea creativity

of provocation

versus perception

mechanism of mind

media

distrust of

focus on the negative

future role

'tall poppy effect'

mind, mechanism of

see also
brain

movement (lateral thinking tool)

and provocation

music and thinking

new directions in thinking

operacy

OPV (other people's views) tool

Palace of Thinking concept

parallel thinking

patterning systems in the brain

perception

and language

attitudes to improve

in conflict situations

logic is not enough

perceptual tools

possibilities and alternatives

situations in the real world

ways to improve perceptual thinking

perceptual maps, Flowscape

perceptual thinking

perceptual tools

Perkins, Professor David

philosophy

Plato

PMI (plus, minus, interesting) tool

po
see
provocation possibilities

and creativity

and religion

and science

creative possibilities

dangers of possibility

satisfactory answers block progress

problem-solving, limitations

progress

blocked by critical thinking

blocked by problem-solving approach

blocked by satisfactory answers

simplification and improvement

provocation ('po')

and movement

introduction of the term 'po'

logic of

techniques

ways of setting up provocations

psychology

purpose focus

random word tool for creativity

religion

and possibilities

logic and truth

views on thinking

see also
Church

school curriculum

teaching design

teaching operacy

teaching systems behaviour

teaching about how the world works

the need to teach thinking

time spent on mathematics

science, and possibilities

self-organising systems

Septines

simplicity and value scanning

simplification and improvement

Six Hats method

Six Value Medals programme

Society of Thinkers

Socrates

Street, Sir Lawrence

systems behaviour, teaching in schools

'tall poppy effect'

thinking

and perception

complacency about

excellent but not enough

formal programmes

future actions towards improvement

new thinking methods and results

reasons why thinking is so poor

successes

the right to think

thinking software

truth, and values

twenty-three reasons why thinking is so poor

universities

analysis

argument

being blocked by excellence

concern with truth

constructive thinking

design

examinations

future role

role of scholarship

values

ways of thinking

values

youth, encouraging achievement

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