CREATIVE CHALLENGE

CLASS

PHASE

Idea generation

APPLICATION FIELDS

Projects: to analyze intermediate focus linked to the project under discussion;
Standing off situations;
Planning;

ASSUMPTIONS

This technique assumes that maybe there are better, or anyway different, ways to do something.

PROS

This technique can be useful to find alternative and better way of performing, discarding the idea that the better solution is always and necessarily the one providing continuity with the past.

CONS

If this technique is not used properly, there may be the risk of focusing on the real explanations motivating the selection of a present procedure, without moving forward to find alternative solutions. Another risk could be to attack with criticism the whole present system without providing alternative solutions.

DESCRIPTION

The creative challenge is one of the most important processes of lateral thinking: it is not an attack, a criticism or a way to demonstrate that the status quo is inadequate, but it is a challenge to “uniqueness”, an explorative research of other possible solutions.
Usually the creative challenge starts with a question: Why do we perform this thing in this way? but the aim is not to find the real explanations: this question is needed simply to discard the idea that the present way to do a thing is the only one possible.
Once launched the creative challenge, the next step consists in seeking alternative methods to perform. The creative challenge consists, therefore, of three steps:

Block: if the present way of doing is prevented, we are forced to find a new method;
Escape: consciously we get rid of the bonds and constraints of the present method of doing things. In other terms, we free our mind from the dominant ideas in order to examine other possibilities;
Desertion: the usual way of doing things is abandoned. In particular, it may be found that the entire procedure was useless or that simply the methods used to implement it were ineffective.

The challenge may concern the factors influencing the way of thinking: dominant concepts, assumptions, constraints, essential factors, factors to be avoided, dichotomous polarizations. With this technique it is possible to directly analyze these elements to ascertain whether they are really necessary or not.
For instance, it is useful to be aware of the assumptions, in order to critically select some of them, narrowing the range to the sole necessary. Also polarizations, it is to say the constrained dichotomies in two extreme solutions, can be challenged enquiring whether they constitute the unique possible solution or not.
Creative challenge questions also “continuity”, which means the habit to operate in a certain way today for the sole reason that also in the past it was done so. Continuity persistence can be due to the following reasons:

Negligence: we don’t try to seek another better way of doing a thing, if this thing does not constitute a contingent problem.
Links: often we do a thing to satisfy someone (clients, customers, retailers, dealers, chiefs, etc.) or to conform to an imposition (i.e. maybe procedural modifications are not compatible with the present informative system). Or, in addition, strength points, style or reputation may constitute constraints.
Uncritical complacence: recurrent past successes inhibit afterthoughts and the discarding or questioning of past concepts’ present value.
Temporal succession: this analysis aims to discard concepts and ideas, which are still surviving simply for historical continuity sake.

CORRELATE TECHNIQUES

REFERENCES

De Bono E., Serious Creativity Using the Power Lateral Thinking to Create New Ideas, The McQuaig Group, 1992 (trad. it. Severo Mosca, Essere Creativi. Come far nascere nuove idee con le tecniche del pensiero laterale, Milano, Edizioni Il Sole 24 ORE, 1998).