Power Thinking Skill: Think 360, pt 11 of 13
(Continuing series on the innovative thinking competencies needed for innovation.)
All human actions have some unintended consequences. Almost every prescription drug created to solve one problem has some level of adverse effects, and occasionally some unintended positive effects.
The drive to eliminate the adverse effects of alcohol in the 1920s led to Prohibition which had the unintended consequence of strengthening organized crime.
While it may be impossible to eliminate all unintended consequences, we can reduce the number and frequency by systematically thinking about the entire system around a possible new action or concept. We can think about whom an action might impact, about other systems that would be touched, about the entire context around an action. We can create scenarios of things that might happen as a result of a change.
This may take a little more time initially, but it can save a lot of problems in the future. The Titanic was built to be so "unsinkable" that it was believed that lifeboats were unnecessary. The unintended consequence was the death of over 1500 people.
Innovation means change and change means unintended consequences. Systematically "thinking 360" can help avoid small bumps and deadly icebergs.
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Think 360: Avoid unintended consequences by understanding stakeholders and the entire context surrounding a new concept. Think 360 is one of the power-thinking skill sets of the new Innovation
Igniter Thinking Wheel series of 13 innovative thinking competencies.
The 15-minute learning module for this competency is presented by Jonathan Vehar, author, More Lightening; Less Thunder, dubbed an innovation guru by Investors’ Business Daily and popular instructor at the Creative Problem Solving Institute. These thinking skills are critical for innovation and for the creative work required for today’s world. A 15-minute video module on "Engage Energy" is available at http://innovationigniter.com.
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