1. “What happened was, 2,400 years ago, the Greek Gang of Three, by whom I mean Aristotle, Plato and Socrates, started to think based on analysis, judgment and knowledge. At the same time, church people, who ran the schools and universities, wanted logic to prove the heretics wrong. As a result, design and perceptual thinking was never developed. People assumed philosophers were doing it and so they blocked anyone else from doing it. But philosophers were not. Philosophers may look out at the world from a stained-glass window, but after a while they stop looking at the world and start looking at the stained glass.”
Edward de Bono

2. Lateral Thinking with special reference to The Six Value Medals
Edward De Bono
Lateral Thinking
with special reference to
The Six Value Medals

3. Objectives What is lateral thinking?
What are the skills taught in the six value medals?
What are the six value medals?

4. What is lateral thinking?
Lateral thinking is thinking for creating value. It is used when;
problem solving
tasks
improvement
simplification
perception; looking at things in different ways

5. Moving across patterns
The components of
lateral thinking
Moving across patterns
Lateral thinking
Creativity
Logical
Value

6. Block = Challenge Extract a concept and challenge it.
An analogy
Block = Challenge Extract a concept and challenge it.

7. Concept
Extraction
Alternative delivery

8. Steps to lateral thinking
Discipline is the willingness to challenge a concept.
Challenge is not an attack but an opportunity.
Alternatives need to be explored.
A tool for considering the alternatives are the six value medals.

9. What are the six value medals?
We can greatly improve our traditional thinking habits. Traditional thinking is all about analysis and judgment. We recognise standard situations and apply standard answers. This is no longer enough. You can analyse the past but you have to design the future.
Values come into all areas of thinking and behaviour. Values are what we consider important but we may not be consciously aware of them.

10. The skills taught in the six value medals
The skills taught in Six Value Medals help people quickly but thoroughly:
scan for values
prioritize which values are the most important to pursue
and then ensure that top values are addressed and maximized every step of the way.
It's like putting on a pair of glasses with six lenses, one for each of the six important value categories.

11. The six value medals
Different types of value are given broad category names: gold, silver, steel, glass, wood and brass.
This makes it easier for us to notice such values, to look for them, to see them and to act upon them.

12. Gold
Gold is precious, and so are an organization people.
How will this decision affect our people?
Human values include pride and a sense of belonging.
Silver
Silver impacts the organization.
What matters to the organization?
How will the decision help/hinder us in pursuit of these goals?
Steel
Steel must be as strong as possible.
What are the implications for quality?
How will the decision impact the quality of what we do?
Glass
Glass makes functional, often beautiful and colorful objects.
Change, innovation, simplicity, and creativity.
What can we do to foster creativity and innovation?
Wood
Wood spotlights ecology values (community, political climate).
Who /what outside the organization might be affected?
Is there a positive or negative impact if we take this decision?
Brass
Brass medal values take consider appearance and perception.
How will this affect our image and reputation?
How will this action be interpreted? What will people think?

13. Value size How large are the values? How significant are the values?
Four degrees of positive value: strong, sound, weak, remote.
Four degrees of negative value: strong, sound, weak, remote.

14. The Value Triangle Simple Visual Notation
Value size +4
Strong +3
Sound +2
Weak +1
Remote -1 -2 -3 -4
Silver
Steel
Gold
Brass
Wood
Glass
Maximum value = 24

15. The challenge is the classroom itself
The challenge is the classroom itself. Do students need a classroom to learn?
Value size +4
Strong +3
Sound +2
Weak +1
Remote -1 -2 -3 -4
Silver
Steel
Gold
Brass
Wood
Glass

16. Conclusions Everyone knows that values are important.
The choice between different alternatives and opportunities depends on value assessment.
In all areas of thinking and action value assessment is crucial.