How to Challenge and Refine your Mental Models, Paradigms or "Boxes " about Life, Businesses, Creativity, Innovation?
Introduction
Thinking in New Boxes, A New Paradigm for Business Creativity by Alan Iny and Luc de Brabandere offers a revolutionary approach to business creativity and innovation. Moving beyond the common advice to "think outside the box," this book provides a structured method for generating fresh ideas by creating, reshaping, and discarding mental models or "boxes."
The authors, both senior advisors at The Boston Consulting Group, argue that innovation is not about abandoning all existing frameworks but rather about continuously updating them to adapt to new challenges and opportunities. This process involves breaking down old boxes and thinking within new ones to foster creative solutions and strategies.
Whether you're a business leader, entrepreneur, or creative professional, Thinking in New Boxes offers practical tools to enhance your creative thinking and drive innovation in your organization.
Synopsis of Overall Theme
The central theme of Thinking in New Boxes is the idea that innovation comes from a continuous process of creating, questioning, and refining mental models or "boxes." Rather than simply rejecting existing frameworks, Iny and de Brabandere suggest that true creativity lies in developing new ones that better suit current needs and challenges.
The book presents a five-step process to help individuals and organizations systematically generate and evaluate new ideas, ensuring that they remain agile and adaptable in a rapidly changing business environment.
Review of the Key Points, Ideas or Concepts from the Book
Thinking in New Boxes introduces several key concepts essential for fostering innovation and creative thinking in business. Below are the main concepts along with practical examples of their application:
- Forget Thinking Outside the Box:
The authors challenge the conventional wisdom of "thinking outside the box," arguing that simply abandoning existing frameworks is neither practical nor effective. Instead, they advocate for creating new boxes that offer fresh perspectives and solutions.
Example: A technology company facing declining sales might explore new markets by developing entirely new product categories, rather than merely tweaking existing offerings. This requires them to create new mental models for understanding their business and customers.
- Five-Step Process for Creative Thinking:
The book outlines a five-step process to foster creativity and innovation: (1) Doubt Everything, (2) Probe the Possible, (3) Diverge, (4) Converge, and (5) Re-evaluate Relentlessly.
Example: An organization looking to innovate might start by questioning existing assumptions (Doubt Everything), explore various possibilities without judgment (Probe the Possible), generate a wide range of ideas (Diverge), narrow down options to the most viable ones (Converge), and continually revisit and refine their strategies (Re-evaluate Relentlessly).
- Doubt Everything:
The first step involves challenging your existing assumptions and beliefs. By questioning the status quo, you open the door to new possibilities and ideas.
Example: A retailer might question the assumption that brick-and-mortar stores are essential, leading them to explore and invest in online sales channels that better meet customer needs.
- Probe the Possible:
This step involves exploring all possible options and scenarios, even those that seem unlikely or far-fetched. It's about imagining what could be rather than what currently is.
Example: A car manufacturer might explore the potential of autonomous vehicles, electric cars, or even flying cars as part of their long-term innovation strategy.
- Diverge and Converge:
After generating a wide range of ideas (Diverge), it's crucial to narrow them down to the most promising ones (Converge). This step balances creativity with practicality.
Example: A startup might brainstorm dozens of product ideas, then use customer feedback and market analysis to focus on the top three that have the greatest potential for success.
- Re-evaluate Relentlessly:
Innovation is an ongoing process, and it’s essential to continuously revisit and refine your ideas and strategies. This ensures that your "new boxes" remain relevant and effective over time.
Example: A global corporation might regularly reassess its business models and strategies in response to market changes, ensuring they stay ahead of competitors and continue to innovate.
Questions to Ponder
As you explore the ideas in Thinking in New Boxes, consider the following questions:
- What assumptions about your business or industry need to be questioned?
- How can you create new mental models or "boxes" that better align with emerging trends and challenges?
- What potential opportunities have you overlooked because they didn't fit within your current framework?
- How can you apply the five-step process of creative thinking to your organization or projects?
- How can you ensure that your strategies and ideas remain adaptable in the face of change?
Analysis of the Book with Main Focus: Practical Applications in Daily Life
Thinking in New Boxes offers a structured and practical approach to innovation that can be applied across various industries and personal endeavors. The five-step process helps individuals and organizations systematically explore new ideas, challenge existing assumptions, and create strategies that are both creative and practical.
Whether you're looking to innovate in your business, solve complex problems, or simply think more creatively in your daily life, the principles in Thinking in New Boxes provide a valuable framework for achieving these goals.
Conclusions and Main Takeaways
- Question Assumptions: Always challenge the status quo to open up new possibilities.
- Create New Boxes: Develop new mental models that better align with current and future needs.
- Use a Structured Process: Apply the five-step process to foster creativity and innovation.
- Embrace Continuous Re-evaluation: Regularly revisit and refine your ideas to stay relevant.
- Balance Creativity and Practicality: Generate a wide range of ideas but focus on those with the greatest potential.
Books for Further Reading
- Blue Ocean Strategy by W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne: A guide to creating uncontested market space and making the competition irrelevant.
- Innovator’s Dilemma by Clayton Christensen: Explores why successful companies often fail to innovate and how to avoid this trap.
- Creativity, Inc. by Ed Catmull: Chronicles the creative processes behind Pixar's success and offers lessons for fostering creativity in organizations.
- Made to Stick by Chip Heath and Dan Heath: Examines why some ideas thrive while others die, and how to make your ideas stickier.
