Image by Stefan Keller on Pixabay Lateral thinking involves looking at things in different ways from everyone else.  It means coming at the situation from the side rather than head on.  It comprises thinking unconventional, heretical thoughts that challenge existing norms and the status quo.  Here are thirty ways to foster your lateral thinking: Embrace Curiosity: Stay curious as you go through life.  Ask why, why, why. Keep considering sidetracks and unusual questions.  Do not take anything for granted.  Always be prepared to consider other approaches and explan ..read more

Bayezid II was Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1491 to 1512. He worked hard to govern fairly and gained the epithet of “Bayezid the Just”. When in 1492, Spain expelled its Jewish and Muslim populations, Bayezid sent his navy to evacuate them safely to Ottoman lands. He proclaimed that the refugees were to be welcomed. But he did make one far reaching and ultimately catastrophic decision. Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press around 1440 in Mainz, Germany. His invention revolutionized the production of books and other printed materials, playing a crucial role in the spread of knowle ..read more

Here are some ways to develop your logical thinking skills. Play chess. The king of games will teach you the values of concentration, patience, planning and calculation. Solve soduko puzzles. There are many good word and number games you can find in daily newspapers and puzzle websites. Soduko is pure logical thinking. Make lists, analyse your work, break it down into smaller tasks. Become more methodical in your approach to work and problems. Practise active listening. Listen carefully to other people’s statements and arguments. Break them down into facts, evidence, logic and polemic. Ask s ..read more

Taken from the course – Disruptive Thinking, How to See Huge Opportunities The post Famous Disruptive Innovations that Failed appeared first on Destination Innovation ..read more

Disruptive thinking challenges conventional approaches, fosters radical ideas and can lead to transformative innovations.  It involves deliberately questioning established norms, encouraging unconventional perspectives, and embracing risks to create breakthrough changes. It is intended to start a revolution. It seeks to overturn the established standards, not for the sake of destruction but in order to create an appealing alternative. Disruptive thinking can apply across various fields, including technology, art, business, healthcare, education, and social innovation. In technology, it d ..read more

Here is a lateral idea – become famous by remaining anonymous. Banksy, an elusive street artist whose identity remains unknown, has left an indelible mark on the global art scene with his thought-provoking and often politically charged works. Emerging from the graffiti subculture in Bristol, England, Banksy gained international acclaim for his distinctive stenciled artworks that blend dark humor, social commentary, and poignant messages. His art is characterized by a unique blend of satirical images and powerful statements, tackling issues such as politics, war, capitalism, and societal norms ..read more

Bernie Madoff Here are ten instances from the recent past where people or institutions made assumptions that turned out to be badly wrong: New Coke 1985: After many secret tests and focus groups, the Coca-Cola Company assumed that changing the formula for their flagship product would be well-received, but it led to a backlash from customers. Year 2000 Computer Bug: There were dire predictions and anticipation of widespread computer failures at the turn of the millennium due to the Y2K bug led to massive expenditures and preparations, but the actual impact was minimal. Iraq War 2003: The U.S ..read more

How can you differenitate your business from the competition? Let’s look at some examples of lateral thinking in business strategy and innovation. Nintendo Wii’s Motion Controls: What radical feature can we add? Nintendo introduced a major innovation with motion controls in the Wii gaming console, revolutionizing the gaming industry. This approach was creative and unexpected, setting Nintendo apart from its competitors Sony and Microsoft. Dyson’s Bagless Vacuum Cleaners: What can we remove? Dyson disrupted the vacuum cleaner market by creating bagless vacuum cleaners, a concept that chal ..read more

Almon Brown Strowger (1839 – 1902) was born near Rochester in New York state. He served with the Union army in the American Civil War.   He subsequently became a teacher and then an undertaker in Kansas City Missouri.  He was also an inventor.  He suspected that his undertaking business was losing clients to a competitor whose wife worked as a telephone operator.  Strowger believed that she was redirecting calls for his business to that of his competitor.  At that time all telephone calls went through telephone operators who would manually connect the calls on an ..read more

Do you need some novel ideas for the problems and challenges you face? Here are some places and methods to help you find them: Read Widely: Books, magazines, and online articles are great sources of inspiration. Read about topics you’re passionate about, but also explore areas outside your comfort zone. Different perspectives can trigger new ideas. Attend Workshops and Conferences: Conferences and workshops in your field or related areas often feature experts and thought leaders who can introduce you to cutting-edge concepts and trends. Networking: Engage with a diverse group of people in yo ..read more