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

2. 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.

3. 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…)

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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)

7. 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!

8. 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

9. 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…

10. 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

11. 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…

12. 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)

13. 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: 

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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)

17. 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

18. 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

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

20. 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:

21. 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.

22. 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.

23. BS3916 Thinking about Management 1: Linear and non-linear thinking
Work out your own EQ ….
Read about EQ…
young/emotion.htm