5 Innovation ThinkModes

Thursday 24 August, 2006

by Paul J. Morris

Stuck in a mental rut? No storm in your brainstorming sessions? Try these ThinkModes on for size.

1. Parallels
   
   Look for vaguely similar processes and situations as far removed from your present situation as possible:
   
   
   • What if we were designing a household whitegood instead of a 5 gigalitre catalytic extraction and processing module?
     
   • How can I apply the IKEA warehouse model to my knowledge management system?
     
2. Opposites
   
   Describe and work within an opposite situation. Looking at the opposite situation can often derail brains stuck on a single logical train of thought:
   
   
   • What if we were selling to 4 year-old boys, not 40 year-old women?
     
   • What if we charged the suppliers and not the consumers?
     
3. Absurdity
   
   Let loose the humour and silliness, however inappropriate it may be! A funny, silly comment can often spark real gems of ideas:
   
   
   • We can NEVER say that! Or can we -?
     
   • What if we didn’t care about customer service?
     
4. Get emotional
   
   Strong emotions are the mothers of innovation:
   
   
   • What drives you up the wall?
     
   • What brings tears to your eyes?
     
   • What sparks laughter in your children?
     
5. Change perspective
   
   Stop being the financial controller, or the operations manager, or the CEO, or whatever. Be someone else for a change!
   
   
   • What if we were healthcare professionals instead of school teachers?
     
   • What would I make of this if I were the customer’s mother?
   Source:ceoonline.com