Breaking Assumptions

Pablo G. Tello
EU Office/IdeaSquare
CERN

P. G. Tello
… yes, but how?
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The most difficult to achieve is to…

Challenge Assumptions

Generate new possibilities

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A useful technique
LATERAL THINKING is a method of thinking
concerned with changing concepts and perception.
It is about discovering what is not immediately
obvious, and about ideas that may not be
obtainable by using only traditional step-by-step
logic.

Dr. Edward de Bono

P. G. Tello
 Logical thinking is primarily
concerned with judging the
true value of statements and
seeking errors. It is very
helpful when we implement
solutions.

But there comes a time when

one cannot proceed further
without restructuring the
pattern…

?
…without breaking up the
old pattern which has been
so useful and arranging the
old information in a new
way.

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Breaking up the
old pattern and
generating a
new possibility

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Lateral vs Logical thinking…
Logical search Lateral search

One is looking for the BEST One is trying to produce as MANY

POSSIBLE approach. ALTERNATIVES as possible.

One stops when one comes to a One acknowledges the promising

promising approach. approach and may return to it later
but goes on to generating others.

One considers only reasonable Alternatives do not have to be

alternatives. reasonable.

Purpose: search for the best one. Purpose: To loosen up rigid patterns
and provoke new patterns.

P. G. Tello
Logical vs lateral thinking…

One
Answer

Brainstorming, Wide
Begin free association, space of
Logical with one questioning solution
thinking problem assumptions possibilities
process

Begin with one

problem, data and
assumptions

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 Enough theory…

…let’s go for the practice

(each exercise 7 min and 1 to explain solution)

( work in teams and select a presenter)

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Exercise 1
How would you divide a square
into four equal pieces?

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Solution 1
Did you consider any of these?

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Exercise 2

Problem:

A landscape gardener is given instructions to

plant four special trees so that each one is
exactly the same distance from each of the
others.

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Solution 2
One tree is planted on top of a
hill.

(the broken assumption is that

they are all planted on a leveled
piece of ground).

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Exercise 3

IX
Add a single line to turn
this into a six;
generate as many solutions
as you can.
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Solution 3

Generated possibilities by broken

assumptions

SIX • 6 can be written in different ways

• Lines are also curve

IX6

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Exercise 4

What do you read in the figure

above?

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Solution 4

Flip/Flop

Broken assumption: o can be an i

(figure/background)

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Exercise 5

There are six glasses in a row. The first three are full of water,
and the next three are empty.

By moving only one glass how can you make them alternate
between full and empty?

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Solution 5

Pour the water from the 2nd glass into the 5th glass.

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Exercise 6
We are in the 50’s so no mobiles exist
yet. You are driving down the road in
your car on a wild, stormy night in a
lonely place.

You pass by a bus stop and you see three

people waiting for the bus:

• An old lady who is sick and needs to

be taken to the hospital.
• An old friend who once saved your
life.
• The perfect partner you have been
dreaming about.
Hint:
Knowing that there can only be one You can make everyone
passenger in your car, whom would you happy including yourself
choose?

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Solution 6

The old lady of course!

After helping the old lady into the car, you can give
your keys to your friend, and wait with your perfect
partner for the bus.

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Exercise 7

Move the minimum number of sticks to make this

operation right.

I + IX = X

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Solution 7

Flip it upside down and you have it moving zero sticks

I + IX = X

I + IX = X
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Exercise 8

Move just two coins to form two lines,

each containing six coins.

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Solution 8

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Exercise 9
Suppose you want to start restaurant and have difficulties to come up with
ideas. You then decide to list three assumptions and reverse them.

Assumption Reverse
• a) Restaurants have menus either written, verbal • a’) Restaurants have no menus of any kind.
or implied.
• b’) Restaurants give food away for free.
• b) Restaurants charge money for food.
• c’) Restaurants do not serve food of any kind.
• c) Restaurants serve food.

Come up with an idea for each one of the reversals

P. G. Tello
Solution 9
Reverse
• a’) Restaurants have no menus of any kind.
• b’) Restaurants give food away for free.
• c’) Restaurants do not serve food of any kind.
Idea
• a’) The chief informs the client of what he bough that day. Asks
the customers what ingredients appeal to them and cooks an
exclusive dish. Recipe will be sent to them by email.
• b’) An outdoor café where customers pay for time instead of
food. Use a time stamp to charge by the minute. Selected food
or beverages are sold for free.
• c’) Create a restaurant with a unique décor in an exotic
environment and rent out the location. People bring their own
food and beverages and pay a service charge for the location.
P. G. Tello
Messages to take home…

Lateral thinking is a useful technique to

actually learn how to think out of the box.

It is complementary to our more familiar

logical and critical thinking mode.

Practise it as much as you can.

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Most important…
Challenge assumptions
and
Generate new different solutions

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Exercise…

Come up with a business idea for the

following 3 establishments based on
reversing 3 assumptions about each one of
them.

Prepare a pitch of 3 min about every idea that

you have generated.

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Establishment one: Insurance Company

Assumptions Reverses Idea/Pitches

• a) • a’) • a’’)

• b) • b’) • b’’)

• c) • c’) • c’’)

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Establishment two: Prison

Assumptions Reverses Idea/Pitches

• a) • a’) • a’’)

• b) • b’) • b’’)

• c) • c’) • c’’)

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Establishment three: Pick your own one

Assumptions Reverses Idea/Pitches

• a) • a’) • a’’)

• b) • b’) • b’’)

• c) • c’) • c’’)

P. G. Tello
To read further…

Edward de Bono, Lateral Thinking:

Creativity Step by Step, (1970), Harper &
Row 1973.

Michael Michalko, Thinkertoys: A Handbook

of Creative-thinking Techniques. 2nd ed.
Berkeley, Calif: Ten Speed Press, 2006.

P. G. Tello
 Thank you

Any questions?

P. G. Tello