Vertical thinkers analyse the possibilities that are evident in a situation. Vertical and lateral thinking these terms were coined by the theoretician edward debono who wrote. A way of thinking that seeks a solution to an intractable problem through unorthodox methods or elements that would normally be ignored by logical thinking. Vertical thinking selects a pathway by excluding other pathways leading to the jokes about illegal moves in strictly ballroom dance. Vertical thinking is analytical, sequenced, deliberate, and precise. Lateral thinking is often seen as the opposite of vertical thinking.
Systems thinking, design thinking, strategic thinking. Lateral thinking involves looking at a situation or problem from a unique or unexpected point of view. Its about sticking to the approach you have taken from the beginning and excluding any other. Vertical thinking is a finite process, lateral thinking is a probablistic one. It could be said that it is the opposite of lateral thinking. What are analytical, critical and lateral thinking skills. Lateral thinking allows one to be wrong or irrelevant at times, in order to achieve a correct solution in the end. I like how the author defines the tell lateral thinking compared to vertical thinking. Linear thinking is based on logic, rules and rationality to solve a problem a person who uses linear thinking is constant. In general, lateral thinking means being creative and thinking outside the box. This book gives am idea on what lateral thinking is, how it alongside vertical thinking is the most deadliest tool an individual can have in solving any problem. Pirsig in zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance from the same era 19731974. Lateral thinking how not to think vertically management.
A way of understanding lateral thinking is through its opposite, vertical thinking. At school the emphasis has traditionally always been on vertical thinking which is effective but incomplete. Benno van aerssen is your trainer and coach for lateral thinking. You see that lateral thinking is the type of thinking that leads to new ideas. Lateral thinking and thinking out of the box ideenfindung. They whack you out of your familiar, rutted paths of thinking behind, and can help you to jumpstart your thinking in new, creative directions. Examples in a spectrum of vertical and lateral thinking. The differences between lateral thinking, parallel. Lateral thinking is the process of using information to bring about creativity and insight restructuring. Vertical thinking is the traditional type of thinking. I want to find a book, i look on the shelf and there it is. Lateral thinking means taking a creative approach to a problem or challenge. Vertical thinking enhances the ideas generated by lateral thinking. Complimenting the use of logical vertical thinking, lateral thinking can be used to.
As the author of teach like a pirate, dave burgess, has stated, creativity is making stuff. According to wikipedia, vertical thinking is a type of approach to problems that usually involves one being selective, analytical, and sequential. If more bankers and traders had read lateral thinking and applied. We generally learn in sequence, and organize in the same type of order as most everyone else like filing things according to. This book is about lateral thinking which is the process of using information to bring about creativity and insight restructuring. Neither linear or lateral thinking is the right answer for every situation. This book is intended for use both at home and at school.
Jan 23, 2011 a way of understanding lateral thinking is through its opposite, vertical thinking. Lateral thinking is more concerned with concept breaking, with provocation and disruption in. In brief, lateral thinking involves looking at problem from a different angle. Differences between vertical and lateral thinking memorise.
The differences between lateral thinking, parallel thinking. Critical thinking is primarily concerned with judging the true value of statements and seeking errors whereas lateral thinking focuses more on the movement value of statements and ideas. A vertical thinker is analytical, careful and precise, taking the data around a problem and analysing it with defined methodologies to find logical solutions. Seiss published the book the gospel in the stars in which he shows how elements of the gospel story can be found in the constellations. In contentional thinking, we go forward in a predictable, direct fashion. Vertical thinking is selective, lateral thinking is generativegenerating new possibilities. Lateral thinking lateral thinking is the step by step approach to creativity. In the book, the concept of vertical thinking can be seen to have many parallels with that of critical thinking.
Lateral thinking involves using reasoning that is not straightforward and obvious. Lateral thinking how can lateral thinking help you. This book is about lateral thinking, which is the process of using information to bring about creativity and insight restructuring. In the digital world though, i find the book i am looking for and 5 others that are related to the first. What is the difference between logical and lateral thinking.
I appreciate your article and efforts on lateral thinking. For instance, perhaps a lateral thinker and a vertical thinker are putting together a particle board bookshelf. It first appeared in his short 1967 book, the use of lateral. Break down the no barrier the mind can reject any concept it wishes. Lateral thinking involves discarding the obvious, leaving behind traditional modes of thought, and throwing away preconceptions. Differences between vertical and lateral thinking in our world we are governed by rules and structure, and there is a great deal of time spent developing them.
He is widely regarded as the leading authority in the direct teaching of thinking as a skill. To use our oil drilling metaphor, vertical thinking is like digging exploratory wells in different locations, in hopes of finding new deposits of fresh, untapped ideas. Lateral thinking definition of lateral thinking by the free. According to wikipedia, lateral thinking is solving problems through an indirect and creative approach, using reasoning that is not immediately obvious and involving ideas that may not be obtainable by using only traditional stepbystep logic. The condition of students actually wants learning that requires the use of their thinking to solve problems with diverse solutions. Vertical thinking is logical but only in one direction. A lateral thinker understands vertical thinking, but chooses to deliberately outside. Before that we need to understand the current thinking process. Think horizontally and vertically to solve your next creative. Lateral thinking can be learned, practiced and used. Linear thinking is based on logic, rules and rationality or sustained reason to.
Lateral thinking involves coming at the problem from new directions literally, from the side. The vertical thinking trait of a medical student is often suppressed as heshe becomes a doctor. He calls one vertical thinking, which uses the processes of logicthe traditional, historical method. Creativity exercises to improve your lateral thinking.
One question we often ask ourselves in ghost writer hub is what kind of creative exercises could we use to enhance lateral thinking. It involves taking the data from a problem and analyzing it with defined methodologies to find logical solutions. Conditional thinking fails you in exploring the other possibilities or probably the best ideas. Vertical thinking is sequential, while lateral thinking involves steps that arent sequential but may still reach the same end. It is possible to acquire skill in it just as it is possible to acquire skill in mathematics. It essentially means being able to think creatively or outside the box in order to solve a problem.
He originated the concept of lateral thinking and developed formal techniques for deliberate. What is the difference between lateral thinking and linear. Lateral thinking is more concerned with concept breaking, with provocation and disruption in order to allow the mind to restructure patterns. Lateral thinking stimulates creativity and innovationthe triz.
Bono calls this as vertical thinking, with one logical idea leading to another logical idea, stepwise. This is the core chapter of this book, about the complexity of complexity. A vertical thinker is analytical, careful and precise, taking the data around a problem and analyzing it with defined methodologies to find logical solutions. Defining lateral thinking,parallel thinking, creativity and innovation. We generally learn in sequence, and organize in the same type of order as most everyone else like filing things according to name, subject or date so our lives are less cluttered and. Jul 03, 2017 here is the wiki link lateral thinking wikipedia but, how do we think outofbox or lateral. Lateral thinking has to be distinguished from critical thinking. A lateral thinker understands vertical thinking, but chooses to deliberately look outside of this. A person uses lateral thinking to move from one known idea to new ideas. Finally, he sets out the four main categories of the techniques of lateral thinking. Jul 20, 2017 the vertical thinking trait of a medical student is often suppressed as heshe becomes a doctor. Lateral thinking is a popular creative thinking technique but is it necessary for creativity. Information processing and new ideaslateral and vertical thinking. Use lateral thinking and try to get ahead by making money online.
Lateral thinking can involve wrong answers, path divergence, and jumping from one step to another at random. Many psychologists say that vertical thinking is the opposite of lateral thinking. In vertical thinking, one moves forward in sequential steps each of which must be relevant. Vertical thinking is a sequence of direct and logical steps that are used to come to a conclusion. Lateral thinking is a stepbystep method of creative thinking with prescribed techniques that can be used consciously. Lateral thinking is complementary to vertical thinking. Neither thinking method is right or wrong because there is a place for both, and both can be useful. Jul 22, 2011 vertical thinking is a finite process, lateral thinking is a probablistic one. Think horizontally and vertically to solve your next.
Vertical vs lateral thinking in healthcare howard j. People who think sidebyside more often have more difficulty focusing on tasks that require steps whose order can not be altered, but also often produce interesting solutions to thorny problems. If you do not clearly know how to move from one step to another, you stop progressing till you find out how or you simply consider that idea as invalid and go. Lateral thinking stimulates creativity and innovationthe. Lateral thinking, is the ability to think creatively, or outside the box as it is sometimes referred to in business, to use your inspiration and imagination to solve problems by looking at them from unexpected perspectives. It attempts to break traditional notions which develop vertical or conditional thinking. Vertical thinking is selective, lateral thinking is generative. Mar 31, 2020 sometimes it is best if vertical thinking and lateral thinking are combined. Horizontal thinking, unlike vertical thinking, is to investigate wider not deeper. Here well talk you through what the ability is, and give some examples of lateral thinking skills.
This book and its concepts should be introduced in our primary education system and kids should be taught to inculcate lateral thinking in heir day by day world. Linear thinking is based on logic, rules and rationality or sustained reason to solve a problem. So we are happy doing the same thing as we did yesterday, be. If you are still not clear, here are the 6 top classic examples of exactly how lateral thinking works. Lateral thinking involves approaching the problem from new directions literally from the side. This works well in simple situations but we are at a loss when. The classic work about improving creativity from worldrenowned writer and. While vertical thinking seeks to develop an existing pattern, lateral thinking seeks to restructure the existing pattern. Horizontal thinking some devout christians in the past have acknowledged the connection between stories in the bible we see acted out in the starry night sky above. When you dig a hole, vertical thinking will be used to dig the same hole deeper, whereas lateral thinking will be used to dig a hole in a different place. Vertical thinking encourages a sequential approach.
Vertical thinking is distinguished by the fact that it is linear, while on the other side of the thinking can be seen as nonlinear. Here is the wiki link lateral thinking wikipedia but, how do we think outofbox or lateral. I have made some attempts on lateral thinking and it was published as an e book,eye doctor out of the box isbn 9781878284. Vertical thinking vs lateral thinking creative4mmu. Critical thinking isnt the type of thinking needed to make stuff. Lateral thinking, on the other hand, is using an indirect and.
In our world we are governed by rules and structure, and there is a great deal of time spent developing them. Howard gardner calls vertical thinkers the experts and horizontal thinkers the visionaries. Analytical thinking the ability to visualise, articulate, and solve both complex and uncomplicated problems and concepts to make decisions that are sensible and based on available information. In conventional thinking people go forward in a predictable, direct fashion. Lateral thinking definition of lateral thinking by the. The vertical thinker understands how to put the shelf together quickly and correctly, following each step precisely.