False+Faces

ThinkerToys Home FALSE FACES

All warfare is based on deception. Sun Tzu

If you start with incorrect assumptions, your solutions will be poorly constructed.

ADD LINES DIAGRAM

Nine Dots

ADD DOTS

Two Assumptions:

Problems are often salted with assumptions that hinder creativity
 * you must not extend beyond the outside dots
 * the lines must pass through the center of each dot

BLUEPRINT

To reverse a challenge:


 * 1) State your challenge.
 * 2) List your assumptions.
 * 3) Challenge your fundamental assumptions.
 * 4) Reverse each assumption. (Write down the opposite of each one.)
 * 5) Record differing viewpoints that might prove useful to you.
 * 6) Ask yourself how to accomplish each reversal. (List as many useful viewpoints and ideas as you can.)

You are not necessarily looking for one right answer, but for a different way of viewing existing information.

Monkey Example:

Five monkey in a cage Banana hanging from ceiling with a set of stairs underneath it. As soon as a monkey touches the banana all monkeys get sprayed with ice-cold water. Pretty soon all monkeys will try to prevent other monkeys from touching the banana so they won't get spray with water. Replace one monkey and the replacement monkey get in on the beating up action. Pretty soon all monkeys are beating up any monkey that tried to get the banana because that is just what you do. No reason for it except that is the way it has always been done.

Challenge the behaviour and assumption.