BS3916 Thinking about Management 1: Linear and non-linear thinking

BS3916 Thinking about Management 1: Linear and non-linear thinking Linear thinking is the term which can be applied to applying processes of deduction so as to move from the known to the unknown… Fawlty Towers example… If the cat (having eaten a poisoned steak)is NOT ill then the Food Inspector MAY be poisoned.. As the cat appears to be ill, then the Food Inspector’s steak is sound When the cat is not ill, then its steak is sound and can be served to the Food Inspector etc. etc.

BS3916 Thinking about Management 1: Linear and non-linear thinking Thinking in the West is drawn from ‘The Gang of three’ i.e. Socrates Plato Aristotle (according to Edward de Bono of ‘Lateral Thinking’ fame…)

BS3916 Thinking about Management 1: Linear and non-linear thinking Socrates sought to uncover the truth by a process of constant questioning – in the course of discussions, he would get opponents to discover the weakness of their own arguments Saw his role as a helping to ‘give birth’ to the correct insight

BS3916 Thinking about Management 1: Linear and non-linear thinking Plato We can only have inexact knowledge acquired through the senses, but true knowledge acquired through pure reason Recall the Myth of the Cave The philosophic state: Body Soul State head reason rulers chest will auxiliaries abdomen appetite labourers

BS3916 Thinking about Management 1: Linear and non-linear thinking Aristotle All objects are observed in categories (e.g. animal, vegetable, mineral) The founder of logic in which we define ‘per genus et differentiam’ (what is the category an object is in ? What sets is apart from others?) e.g.Man is the only animal that can talk)

BS3916 Thinking about Management 1: Linear and non-linear thinking Linear thinking has given us… Mathematics Scientific method Superior technology and is not to be dismissed lightly!

BS3916 Thinking about Management 1: Linear and non-linear thinking Proof of Pythagoras… Angle ABC=angle ADB  AB/AD = AC/AB  AB ² =AC.AD Similarly… BC ² =AC.DC AB ² +BC ² =AC.AD+AC.DC = AC(AD+DC) = AC ² B A D C

BS3916 Thinking about Management 1: Linear and non-linear thinking Otherwise called convergent thinking… Question What were the causes of the American War of Independence? Answer The American War of Independence had 6 causes: The first cause was… The second cause was…

BS3916 Thinking about Management 1: Linear and non-linear thinking Divergent Thinking You are constructing a railway line between cities A and B Give an account of the economic,geographical, political, psychological and any other factors that are likely to spell success or failure A B B

BS3916 Thinking about Management 1: Linear and non-linear thinking Exercise… In one minute, write down as many uses as you can for the use of a brick…

BS3916 Thinking about Management 1: Linear and non-linear thinking Attacks have been made upon Convergent thinking in at least two directions… Lateral Thinking (Edward de Bono): examples include… Why not drill for oil down and then sideways Why not discourage cars from parking by making them leave headlights on all day Why not encourage good graffiti (street art) rather than clearing up after it all the time ? Make four triangles from six pencils (or similar)

BS3916 Thinking about Management 1: Linear and non-linear thinking FUZZY THINKING (Bart Kosko) Everything is a matter of degree… Go from an uneaten apple to an eaten apple – is a half-eaten apple still an apple ? Bertrand Russell’s barber (who is bearded) says ‘I shave all, and only, those men who do not shave themselves’….. So who shaves the barber? Hence the possibility of A and Not-A: 

BS3916 Thinking about Management 1: Linear and non-linear thinking BIVALENCE MULTIVALENCE Aristotle Buddha A or not-A A and not-A Exact Partial All or none Some degree 0 or 1 Continuum 0-1 Digital computer Neural network Fortran English (natural) Bits fits

BS3916 Thinking about Management 1: Linear and non-linear thinking De Bono’s CoRT (Cognitive Research Trust) 1: Breadth 2: Organisation 3: Interaction 4: Creativity 5: Information and Feeling 6: Action

BS3916 Thinking about Management 1: Linear and non-linear thinking Example of CoRT 1 (Breadth) PMI (Plus, Minus, Interesting) CAF (Consider All Factors) C&S (Consequences and Sequels) AGO (Aims,Goals, Objectives) FIP (First Important Priorities APC (Alternatives, Possibilities, Choices) OPV (Other People’s Views)

BS3916 Thinking about Management 1: Linear and non-linear thinking De Bono’s ‘Six Hats’ White Objective info (facts and figures) What facts do I need ? How do I get them? Red Feelings, emotions, non-rational feelings How do I Black Why ideas will not work What are downsides ? Yellow Opportunities, possibilities Advantages? Best possible outcome ? Green Creative new ideas Fresh innovative approaches, creative Blue Control of the thinking process – ‘Cool’ Review thoughts, think of next logical step

BS3916 Thinking about Management 1: Linear and non-linear thinking De Bono’s 5 stages of thinking… TO Where are we going to LO ‘Lo and behold’ – what can we see/need PO Lets generate possibilities SO So what is the outcome? GO Go to it – put plans into action

BS3916 Thinking about Management 1: Linear and non-linear thinking Mind Mapping

BS3916 Thinking about Management 1: Linear and non-linear thinking Emotional Intelligence (Daniel Goleman) Emotional intelligence, "is a type of social intelligence that involves the ability to monitor one's own and others' emotions, to discriminate among them, and to use the information to guide one's thinking and actions" (Mayer & Salovey, 1993: 433). According to Salovey & Mayer (1990), EI subsumes Gardner's inter- and intrapersonal intelligences, and involves abilities that may be categorized into five domains:

BS3916 Thinking about Management 1: Linear and non-linear thinking Dimensions of Emotional Intelligence [1] Self-awareness: Observing yourself and recognizing a feeling as it happens. Managing emotions: Handling feelings so that they are appropriate; realizing what is behind a feeling; finding ways to handle fears and anxieties, anger, and sadness. Motivating oneself: Channelling emotions in the service of a goal; emotional self control; delaying gratification and stifling impulses.

BS3916 Thinking about Management 1: Linear and non-linear thinking Dimensions of Emotional Intelligence [2] Empathy: Sensitivity to others' feelings and concerns and taking their perspective; appreciating the differences in how people feel about things. Handling relationships: Managing emotions in others; social competence and social skills.  

BS3916 Thinking about Management 1: Linear and non-linear thinking   Read about EQ… http://eqi.org/history.htm