tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-335566102012-01-24T09:21:36.946-06:00The latest news on Six Thinking Hats, Edward de Bono, and Innovation.Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.comBlogger1271100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-4474301884677285172012-01-24T09:21:00.000-06:002012-01-24T09:21:36.956-06:00

It's not too late to register for the upcoming Innovation Week in New York, Feb. 7-10! We're offering a variety of innovation programs, including Six Thinking Hats on Feb. 7, Lateral Thinking on Feb. 8, and the full Course in Creativity on Feb. 7-8, which covers both Six Hats and Lateral Thinking. This programs will give you a solid grasp of in Dr. de Bono's tools, and you'll receive plenty of

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-62766205996171499522011-12-19T14:37:00.000-06:002011-12-19T14:37:57.862-06:00

Gabrielle Gawne-Kelnar is an Australian therapist who discovered Six Thinking Hats at a recent workshop. She has written a nice summary of the experience, with a good overview of the Six Hats and their usage. Worth a read.

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-18681134566301758862011-11-14T10:50:00.000-06:002011-11-14T10:50:04.441-06:00

Dr. Edward de Bono will be a keynote speaker at Learning Technologies 2012 conference in London on 25-26 January. It promises to be a great event for professionals in the field learning and development. See the conference brochure for full details.

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-12688757200570704112011-11-04T15:54:00.000-05:002011-11-04T15:54:17.016-05:00

Corporate creativity is a hot topic, and innovation determines whether a company lives or dies. So why do people reject creative ideas? Jennifer Mueller, Shimul Melwani, and Jack Goncalo have a theory. In their new paper, The Bias Against Creativity: Why People Desire But Reject Creative Ideas, they explore the idea of covert biases, and they find that uncertainty produces a subconscious

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-59191122119815890552011-10-28T09:39:00.000-05:002011-10-28T09:39:52.572-05:00

Dr. de Bono was recently on BVO, the Business Voice. In this half-hour interview, he addresses the difference between innovation and creativity, why the business sector has been particularly quick to recognize the importance of thinking, what the internet age means for thinking, and more. Highly recommended.

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-55680425127034518222011-07-07T09:31:00.000-05:002011-07-07T09:31:28.764-05:00

"Man's mind, once stretched by a new idea, never regains its original dimension." - Oliver Wendell Holmes

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-9372523860452663202011-07-01T14:15:00.000-05:002011-07-01T14:15:09.772-05:00

"Anyone can be creative provided they learn and develop their skills." - Edward de Bono

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-87056274640660720142011-06-29T17:00:00.000-05:002011-06-29T17:00:26.251-05:00

I recently had dinner with a friend who wished the new company she works for would incorporate the de Bono thinking systems, specifically Six Thinking Hats, into all of their meetings. She has one weekly meeting in particular that lasts two hours or longer. The group inevitably gets derailed discussing details unrelated to the topic at hand. Arguments ensue and the group leaves frustrated, with

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-85015854934382084102011-03-29T10:59:00.000-05:002011-03-29T10:59:33.514-05:00

Does your organization use virtual meetings to save time and money? Recent research by CWT Travel Management Institute reveals that while the use of virtual meetings is on the rise, many people feel that virtual meetings cannot match the quality of face-to-face meetings in terms of attention and interaction between participants. Using Edward de Bono’s Six Thinking Hats® to facilitate meetings

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-59753559609339104182011-02-11T17:16:00.000-06:002011-02-11T17:16:17.303-06:00

"If you wait for opportunities to occur, you will be one of the crowd." - Edward de Bono

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-60345658799942258212011-02-01T17:34:00.000-06:002011-02-01T17:34:14.278-06:00

Make 2011 the year you invest in innovation training to help boost your organization's productivity and profits. Join us at the de Bono Consulting corporate headquarters in Des Moines for the following training seminars. April 4: Lateral Thinking Deliberate, systematic process that sparks creative thinking 7 Lateral Thinking tools lead to innovation in process, product, and problem solving.

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-23813765518598610552010-12-27T15:12:00.000-06:002010-12-27T15:12:37.255-06:00

Kimberly-Clark estimates that the 17 billion toilet paper tubes produced each year in the U.S. generate 160 million pounds of trash. According to a recent USA Today article, the company will launch tube-free Scott toilet paper. This innovation removes an unnecessary element of their product to help the environment and reduce material costs.

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-76468625910406723352010-11-12T10:31:00.001-06:002010-11-12T10:34:02.373-06:00

"Companies can't predict the future, but they can build organizations that will survive and flourish under just about any possible future." - Lowell BryanLowell Bryan is an author and director at McKinsey & Company

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-52185305057741448632010-10-29T10:54:00.002-05:002010-10-29T10:59:16.546-05:00

Did you know . . . There are some 36 million potential trick-or-treaters (children aged 5-13) in the U.S., according to the U.S. Census Bureau.National Geographic News presents the facts on the history of Halloween, highlights this year's most popular costumes for adults and kids, and features fun stats on record-breaking pumpkins. Click to get the white hat info you need to amaze your friends at

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-76364448110921103522010-10-29T10:42:00.004-05:002010-10-29T10:48:52.177-05:00

Edward de Bono argues that if you want to shorten the time people park in one spot you should simply legislate to require them to keep their car headlights on whenever they’re parked. No need for meters, easy to police, and you’re guaranteed they will keep their stay nice and short!Contribute your thoughts about this idea by clicking the Comments link below.

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-76644798677838299102010-10-15T16:30:00.007-05:002010-10-15T16:49:43.375-05:00

Once a month MSEL (Master of Science in Executive Leadership) at the University of San Diego provides a forum to the community featuring exceptional guest speakers presenting information on a variety of relevant and stimulating topics. Barbara Stennes, de Bono Consulting's CEO, has more than 15 years of experience working with teams motivated to increase results through innovation. Barbara

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-33518258450495441992010-10-05T08:43:00.003-05:002010-10-05T09:15:42.619-05:00

de Bono Consulting CEO and President, Barbara Stennes, will meet with Edward de Bono at the Annual International de Bono Thinking Systems Distributor meeting, October 11-13 in Cape Town.Dr. de Bono will also be speaking at the Progress Conference in Cape Town on October 14. The Progress Conference will feature ways to leverage the minds of your employees, colleagues, and customers to facilitate

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-70077833301157976462010-09-30T12:05:00.044-05:002010-10-01T12:46:29.653-05:00

We've received a lot of requests recently from trainers who'd like to certify in more than one of the de Bono Thinking Systems without having to travel to multiple certification events. To meet this need, we've put together an intensive week-long event, November 1-5, which will provide the learning and credentials required to train your employees in our 2 most popular programs, Lateral Thinking

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-78174660268981153932010-09-16T11:08:00.005-05:002010-09-16T11:19:33.162-05:00

The Challenge: Growth Creates Communications RoadblocksThe Solution: Teach and Apply de Bono Communication and Problem-Solving Skills to Rekindle Honest Interaction Between Managers and EmployeesThe Results: Emerson Scroll Compressors generated ideas that were good for the environment & their bottom-line within the first year:- Reduced scrap by 20%, resulting in an annual savings of $48,000-

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-13022172319818536672010-08-23T16:31:00.008-05:002010-08-24T16:21:37.863-05:00

Our September training calendar is packed with great opportunities for you to learn Edward de Bono's Thinking Systems - without having to leave your desk.Simply spend 2 hours with us one day a week, for three consecutive weeks.Visit the links below or call Natalie Jenkins at 866.621.3366 to learn how these powerful thinking systems can help drive business strategies and innovation at your

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-68035646732290357532010-08-11T17:24:00.003-05:002010-08-11T17:30:13.522-05:00

In their recent newsletter, Fort Hill Company defined Learning Transfer as the "process of putting learning to work in a way that improves performance . . . it takes place over time, involves multiple steps, and is influenced by a number of factors; it is not a 'one and done' event."Read the complete article.

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-50761287947679246632010-08-03T10:04:00.005-05:002010-08-03T10:35:02.764-05:00

Using the de Bono thinking tools leveled the playing field between supervisors, engineers, and frontline workers at the Emerson Scroll Compressors LLC plant in Ava, Missouri.Communication improved and positive energy began to flow. The de Bono thinking systems are now used for idea generation whenever they encounter something they don’t know how to deal with. The tools are embedded in various

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-66094888356643040762010-07-26T15:29:00.003-05:002010-07-26T15:33:31.940-05:00

The need for proven creativity tools and techniques is greater than ever . . .For the first time, research shows that American creativity is declining. Read the Newsweek article that discusses what went wrong and how we can fix it.Read The Creativity Crisis

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-4325374682709960062010-07-21T09:59:00.009-05:002011-03-29T10:52:26.151-05:00

Recently de Bono Consulting, interviewed Lynda Curtin, one of only 37 de Bono Master Trainers worldwide and the product development manager on the highly acclaimed Focus on Facilitation workshop, regarding her upcoming involvement with the Health Work & Wellness Conference, Thinking Organization’s Succeed! The Health Work & Wellness Conference was established in 1997 to bring together a

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-58479727738510648452010-05-11T15:26:00.006-05:002010-05-12T13:50:54.010-05:00

Time to Think: WHO-TV 13 News Video

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-44385482545953555722010-05-11T09:23:00.004-05:002010-05-11T09:44:36.144-05:00

Check out the article WHOTV.com posted following last night's segment on the news:TIME TO THINK: Metro company offers help for gridlock by teaching politicians to think

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-54619817661656007092010-05-10T17:27:00.004-05:002010-05-10T17:41:06.125-05:00

Watch the interview on WHO-TV 13 News tonight at 10 where I discuss how Edward de Bono's proven tools help teach people how to think. Click to view a short video teaser.Barbara Stennes

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-53221964647668118782010-05-06T15:57:00.006-05:002010-05-10T10:31:10.361-05:00

We're excited to announce our new Six Thinking Hats Case Study that demonstrates the power of Edward de Bono's proven innovative facilitation tools . . .In 2006, Mary Bula was hired to serve as the sole director for the Growth Partnership division of the Erie (Pennsylvania) Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership (ERCGP). With no additional staff to turn to, Mary knew that success would depend on

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-55108829859237248442010-05-06T02:16:00.002-05:002010-05-06T02:33:20.432-05:00

Edward de Bono is currently in Australia, where he's a keynote speaker at the Happiness & Its Causes conference. In an interview published in the Sydney Morning Herald, Dr. de Bono discusses his views on happiness, the old saying that "ignorance is bliss," and why humans should purr like cats.

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-34821943551820463802010-05-05T17:50:00.007-05:002010-05-05T18:03:57.534-05:00

Yesterday I was interviewed for a story that will air next week on WHO-TV 13 News. The following is from Dave Price's May 4 Blog Post:"I don't want to give away all of my story for next Monday night at 10. But today's interview was fascinating. I haven't been this intrigued by an interview for a while . . .Today, I talked with a CEO of a metro company that teaches people how to think. Yeah, I

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-36017247741530846752010-04-30T06:05:00.002-05:002010-04-30T06:11:08.102-05:00

We are very concerned with 'problem solving.' Major foundations such as the Bill Gates foundation or Warren Buffet pour money into such areas as HIV. All this is very worthy. But it neglects the point that the major problem is our complacency with matters which do not seem problems at all. These are matters which could be greatly improved by more direct attention. Two obvious examples are

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-30061361395343111842010-04-28T02:33:00.002-05:002010-04-28T02:46:03.122-05:00

The Boston Consulting Group just released their annual innovation rankings. Before we get to the winners, it's worth highlighting some of their findings. Very encouragingly for those of us in the innovation industry, they write, "Our survey revealed that, after a moderate retrenchment in 2009, companies have recommitteed to pursuing innovation in 2010. They have pushed it back to the top of their

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-51869620475252961482010-04-26T03:23:00.001-05:002010-04-26T03:28:18.977-05:00

Language and usage may be to blame. We have come to believe that design is mainly a matter of aesthetics - of making something look beautiful. But a medical treatment, a car park, an evening meal, a political campaign can all benefit from a design effort. Like creativity, design is a skill that can be taught and learned. It can be practised at school. Many years ago, I used to run a design

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-37495699821709528202010-04-23T02:33:00.002-05:002010-04-23T03:04:36.401-05:00

Who would have guessed that the cardboard box might be ripe for innovation? Standard shipping boxes are rectangular, which creates a lot of wasted space when you're packaging an unusual-shaped object. The Universal Packaging System lets you fold a cardboard box into precisely the right shape, eliminating this waste. It's a terrific idea.Moreover, there's a broader lesson to be drawn here:

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-89663415832187835862010-04-20T09:51:00.005-05:002010-04-20T10:15:17.060-05:00

With the help of the world's top psychologists, scientists, philosophers, and thinkers, the Happiness & Its Causes Conference explains practical strategies to enhance the happiness of yourself and others.Over 50 speakers including creativity expert, Edward de Bono, will discuss the latest, ground-breaking research into happiness and present practical wisdom, real-life inspiration, and personal

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-48194662743230100502010-04-16T03:54:00.002-05:002010-04-16T04:01:44.312-05:00

The Australian has just published an excellent feature about Dr. de Bono, which covers his upbringing, his life, his work, and his aspirations. Highly recommended.In related news, Dr. de Bono will deliver a keynote address at next month's Happiness & Its Causes conference in Sydney.

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-10216905611768365422010-04-12T02:23:00.002-05:002010-04-12T02:27:21.120-05:00

So we developed a culture of education which was intended to 'find the truth.' This is excellent. But 'thinking to create value' is equally important - but totally neglected. It is neglected from kindergarten level up to and including universities. It is only if you are going to be an archtect or graphic designer that you pay any attention to design.Edward de Bono2 April 2010

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-66291670133336643612010-04-08T16:34:00.002-05:002010-04-09T10:18:53.428-05:00

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-89148986635334916852010-04-08T15:36:00.010-05:002010-04-08T16:38:41.088-05:00

A new case study surveys the experiences documented by GMAC employees who use Edward de Bono's Six Value Medals as a framework for values-based decision making.Check out the case study and join the conversation:How does your company assess values when making decisions?

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-56033221375505515452010-04-05T17:20:00.005-05:002010-04-05T17:35:13.949-05:00

Edward de Bono's Power of Perception Will Teach You To:• Look beyond the boundaries of self-limiting perspectives to uncover hidden opportunities• Quickly and accurately weigh risks against rewards, helping you become a strong and confident decision maker• Assess all angles before making a decision and use "what if" thinking to avoid costly mistakesOur new virtual format allows you to learn the

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-47508549471645574572010-03-30T05:18:00.002-05:002010-03-30T05:51:10.017-05:00

During Edward de Bono's recent trip to India, he spoke with LiveMint about the ongoing use of the Six Hats and the need for governments worldwide to create a "minister of thinking" position. The full interview is available here.

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-23869637900417522122010-03-23T14:40:00.005-05:002010-03-23T15:03:04.003-05:00

As Fast Company reported online last Tuesday, 58 billion paper coffee cups are thrown away unrecycled, every year.Starbucks would like to serve all of its coffee in re-useable or recyclable cups by 2015, so they're sponsoring a Betacup contest, which kicks off April 1.They'll award $10,000 to the winner and $10,000 will be split among the next best five. Now is the time to use your lateral

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-21642170916243937782009-12-04T10:39:00.002-06:002009-12-04T10:45:46.702-06:00

Complacent, adequate, sufficient all imply that something is not wrong or bad. Our normal language and thinking behaviour does not have a convenient way of saying: "That is excellent but not enough." Or we might need to say, "That is excellent, but that is only part of the picture." When I talk about the need for better thinking, I sometimes assume that I am attacking existing thinking as being

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-1582899191220214022009-11-13T09:33:00.003-06:002009-11-13T09:51:20.506-06:00

Edward de Bono was just awarded the inaugural membership of the Creativity Walk of Fame by the European Association of Creativity and Innovation. Congratulations, Edward!

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-45003666899892526672009-11-13T09:28:00.002-06:002009-11-13T09:33:05.783-06:00

There is no natural limit to traffic - which is increasing everywhere. There is no natural limit to communication which is also increasing rapidly. The excellence of the communications channels does not ensure that what goes through those channels is of high value. Perhaps we need some simple code for communication. This might distinguish five areas: reply; vital; important; useful; fun.Edward de

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-7741846313576464022009-09-29T06:36:00.002-05:002009-09-29T06:40:17.001-05:00

In conflict situations we rush to judgement. In courts of law we rush to judgement. We never seek to design a way forward.Design is putting together what you have in order to deliver the value you want.Design is every bit as important in real life as analysis, yet design is nowhere in education outside graphic design, etc.Design should be a key part of education from the youngest age upwards. I

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-75091772395085688782009-09-24T16:27:00.002-05:002009-09-24T16:41:46.040-05:00

The Blue Ocean Strategy Simulation, October 13-14 in London, will teach you the principles, methodologies, and tools of the bestselling strategy book.In a rich, interactive simulation, teams will manage a company facing vicious competition in a declining industry. Using Blue Ocean thinking, you will re-define the industry, launch innovative new products, and learn to make the competition

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-36109252434792284212009-09-20T13:20:00.005-05:002009-09-20T13:31:19.732-05:00

Google is frequently lauded as amongst the most creative companies in the world. This week's Economist describes how Google, like every large organization, has struggled to retain its culture of innovation during its exponential growth from a startup to a hegemon.

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-68639174452723881342009-08-11T11:14:00.002-05:002009-08-11T11:27:31.515-05:00

Kevin Kelly has a nice overview of Brian Eno's concept of "scenius", or collaborative genius. I imagine that Dr. de Bono would approve of Eno's pithy turn of phrase. He would certainly agree with Eno's observation that collaboration enhances innovation. The best new ideas come from groups of individuals who interact and respond to each other, rather than from a solitary genius working in

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-31548703320700859322009-08-11T10:44:00.007-05:002009-08-11T11:04:34.637-05:00

Edward de Bono will open next month's "Women - Small and Mid-Sized Businesses - Multimedia" conference in Warsaw, Poland. The conference's goal is "to present to the SMB sector, especially to women managing their own companies the ways of introducing new (creative) solutions for organisation, management, offered services or products or for the applied technologies, to show methods for project

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-67075589814208958782009-08-11T10:38:00.001-05:002009-08-11T10:40:39.915-05:00

Schools are all about knowledge and analysis. So are universities. Most human thinking is based on analysis which allows us to identify standard situations and then we can apply the standard behaviour or solution. This is like a doctor in a clinic diagnosing the disease and then prescribing the standard treatment.This behaviour is excellent and most useful. But it is ebne. Design is equally

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-51890410410817186972009-07-24T17:51:00.001-05:002009-07-24T17:53:02.266-05:00

My latest book (published July 2nd) is called 'THINK: before it is too late'. In it I suggest that the biggest problem facing humanity is not climate change but inadequate thinking. We are very complacent and even proud of our thinking. We can land men on the moon. WE can tap atomic energy. We have the internet, WE have supersonic flight etc. We have done very well in the area of science and

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-6070838022548142812009-07-14T20:34:00.004-05:002009-07-14T23:33:20.662-05:00

Coca-Cola is rolling out what looks to be a groundbreaking new drinks dispenser: Coke Freestyle. Your standard fountain machine at any fast-food joint has six or eight different types of fizzy drinks - Coke, Diet Coke, Cherry Coke, Sprite, etc. Instead of trifling 6-8 options, the Coke Freestyle machines will give consumers more than a hundred flavors.At first blush, this might seem like a new

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-31355260773064405722009-07-10T11:53:00.003-05:002009-07-10T12:02:53.880-05:00

Edward de Bono's latest book is now available: Think! Before It's Too Late: 23 Reasons Why World Thinking Is So Poor.At present, it's available only in the UK. So far, there's no word on a US release.

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-39812121440556225682009-07-10T10:23:00.004-05:002009-07-10T11:52:59.789-05:00

Could a secret weapon against climate change be hiding in the mountains of South America? According to the New York Times, maybe so.Yesterday's edition includes a fascinating article about public transportation in Bogota. The Colombian capital - a city of some 9 million people - has implemented a high-speed bus network called TransMilenio ("TransMillenium"), which has simultaneously slashed

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-61872901735709500752009-07-09T08:53:00.004-05:002009-07-09T09:07:17.576-05:00

de Bono Consulting CEO and President, Barbara Stennes, is gearing up for the Innovation Summit for Business Leaders in Des Moines on July 23.The interactive and engaging event will explore the skills needed to become more innovative, and how to engage your workforce in strategic innovation during challenging times. Attendees will also participate in the Medici Game, led by simulations expert, Dan

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-30335666854583459482009-07-08T14:39:00.002-05:002009-07-08T14:49:21.616-05:00

Ryanair, Europe's leading discount airline, has an innovative idea for air travel: standing room only. I'm pretty sure that the Onion had this idea years ago, but I can't find in their archives.

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-26376412836254566092009-07-08T13:51:00.001-05:002009-07-08T13:53:12.354-05:00

It is not possible to pay attention to everything at once. In a market there are different stalls so that you need only pay attention to one thing - once you have chosen that thing. The CoRT programme so widely used in schools provides frameworks for directing attention. It is incredible that education has never realised that attention and perception are a much more important part of thinking

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-14551310692870001592009-06-29T08:47:00.007-05:002009-07-16T17:08:17.418-05:00

To celebrate the European Year of Creativity & Innovation Edward de Bono, currently European Ambassador for Thinking 2009, has launched an online competition to find his greatest students.All creative thinkers who use de Bono methods are invited to submit their success stories in a very creative way—by blogging on one of Edward de Bono’s newest websites. Find out more at http://

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-17831671328215679222009-06-26T08:51:00.002-05:002009-06-26T08:52:50.157-05:00

Training magazine is now accepting applications for it's Top 125 contest. Visit http://www.trainingmag.com/msg/training/top125/index.jsp for details and to apply.

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-80088583961583809062009-06-24T11:17:00.003-05:002009-06-24T11:40:06.866-05:00

Here's an innovative new product: inhalable chocolate.

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The OECD has released a new report, Policy Responses to the Economic Crisis: Investing in Innovation for Long Term Growth, which documents the relationship between innovation and economic growth. Specifically, the OECD asks how the recession is likely to affect those factors that are most important for long-term economic growth and development, such as innovation and entrepreneurship. Not

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-73486732125849470582009-06-22T13:00:00.003-05:002009-06-22T13:05:47.578-05:00

Our economic system has sort of evolved. Any new inventions have generally regularised something that was happening anyway. It is generally felt that the impact of any new idea would be so strong that new ideas are risky. Indeed, it could be argued that the creative idea of securitising mortgages was the cause of the present economic crisis.On my website www.debonopost.com I put forward an idea

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Our habits of thinking are too much judgement based and not enough design based. This arises from the origin with the GG3 (Greek Gang of Three). When this thinking came into Europe at the Renaissance the Church ran schools, universities and thinking in general. What the Church needed was truth, logic and argument to prove heretics wrong. So we developed an excellent thinking system for 'finding

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-20531356856562086732009-06-10T09:56:00.009-05:002009-06-10T10:21:22.618-05:00

As promised, here are two more tips on Staying Focused from Mike Michalowicz’s Toilet Paper Entrepreneur website.While reviewing today’s tips, I checked out Claire Tompkins’ blog at http://www.cluttercoachblog.com and found an amazing array of resources for becoming more organized.I’ve also been receiving Mike’s updates on the number of hits the Staying Focused list has received. Here is one

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-7709896495094775262009-06-04T11:26:00.002-05:002009-06-04T12:02:48.162-05:00

BootB is a new website with an interesting premise: a marketplace for creativity. Some users ("Builders") go to the BootB in search of creative ideas. Builders might be anyone: Fortune 500 companies, start-up entrepreneurs, artists or writers looking for inspiration, anybody. They write a project description, offer a fee for the best idea, and post the description.Other users ("Creatives") go to

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-38614523167176930672009-06-02T10:24:00.003-05:002009-06-02T10:37:22.813-05:00

At de Bono Consulting we are always looking for information that will help our clients and colleagues. Recently Mike Michalowicz, author of the best-selling book The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur, asked selected consultants how they stay focused on top priorities during downtimes. I responded and was one of 63 people whose ideas were chosen to appear on his web site http://

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-9521679013080839932009-05-29T16:02:00.002-05:002009-05-29T16:22:32.647-05:00

Over the past ten or so years, incandescent light bulbs have fallen out of favor. New designs - such as the compact fluorescent bulb - are far more energy efficient. In fact, the European Union is in the process of phasing out traditional incandescent bulbs, and many countries around the world are following suit.But the New York Times reports that incandescents may have a new lease on life.

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There is a difference between difficult times and a problem. With difficult times the universe of action is changed. All logics are only relevant in their particular universe - just as the universe of a patterning system is different from a language universe. The recession at the moment qualifies as a difficult time so a rather different thinking is required from traditional problem solving.

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-78378365920497965972009-05-08T11:15:00.003-05:002009-05-08T11:25:17.223-05:00

Barb Stennes' book Innovation: Case by Case will be available at ASTD's International Conference and Expo. The book offers twenty case studies of well-known organizations - such as Boeing, ABN AMRO, Motorola, and 3M - that have used the de Bono thinking tools to solve critical problems.

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In a nice post, BookmarkDevil paraphrases Guy Kawasaki and Michael Axelin's suggestions for using social media to drive innovation. Social networking sites - e.g., Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, and their ilk - are used primarily for non-commercial purposes; after all, there is a reason that they are called social networking. But these tools also have commercial applications, and companies are

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-71945419408056400402009-05-06T09:42:00.004-05:002009-05-06T11:30:26.660-05:00

One of the most exciting innovations I have seen recently is the Espresso Book Machine. In essence, the device is a large printer that can that can print a single copy of virtually any book in only a couple minutes. Think of a vending machine with some two million books inside.This is the type of innovation that could potentially disrupt the entire publishing industry. What Microsoft did for

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-77892325060755364362009-05-04T12:36:00.002-05:002009-05-04T12:42:59.274-05:00

Edward de Bono was recently at the House of Lords, where he led Thinking Evolution, a gathering of experts in a variety of disciplines. Their task? To generate ideas on ways to improve the world.

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The 2009 Edison Awards recently took place. The awards recognize innovation in numerous categories, including:consumer packaged goodslifestyle & social impactliving & working environmentstechnologymedia & communicationsscience & medicalenergy & sustainabilitytransportationelectronics & computersindustrial designWinners include Omnipod (an insulin management system), the Trek Madone 5.2 (a racing

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-31376002702342217752009-04-21T10:05:00.002-05:002009-04-21T10:08:45.733-05:00

I once suggested a change to the rules of soccer. When there is a draw then extra time is played. If there is still a draw there there is a penalty shoot-out. This introduces an element of luck. In addition if one side has a player good at penalty shooting then that side would win.My suggestion would reflect the whole game. Every time the goalkeeper touched the ball that side gets a minus point.

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InnovationTools recently released an Innovation Climate Survey. They find that, despite the recession, companies are by and large continuing to support innovation efforts.Nearly half the respondents reported that in their organizations, the climate for innovation has improved since the economic crisis began. Another one-fourth reported no change. Only one-fourth described a deteriorating

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-48941627194546416322009-04-17T11:05:00.002-05:002009-04-17T11:20:32.222-05:00

The latest BusinessWeek rankings of the world's most innovative companies are out.The winners? Naturally, the top ten are dominated by technology and telecommunications firms: Apple, Google, Microsoft, Nintendo, IBM, HP, Research in Motion, Nokia, etc. But farther down the list, we find a few surprises. Wal-Mart (#10)? McDonald's (#19)? Coca-Cola (#24)? BusinessWeek has also published its

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-90786593325960702009-04-15T11:27:00.003-05:002009-04-15T11:41:27.988-05:00

Today marks the beginning of World Creativity and Innovation Week. In the words of Marci Segal, the co-founder:World Creativity and Innovation Week April 15 - 21 is a celebration of our ability to get new ideas, use imagination and make new decisions to make the world a better place and to make your place in the world better too. Do what you can, do what you like. There’s only one rule: do no

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-15685714088005711652009-04-14T11:34:00.004-05:002009-04-14T12:05:57.301-05:00

Harvard Business School's Working Knowledge, a publication that previews cutting-edge faculty research, has just published Kind of Blue: Pushing Boundaries with Miles Davis. In this interview, Rob Austin and Carl Størmer discuss the radical innovation inherent in Miles Davis' seminal record, the underlying principles that enabled him to achieve it, and the lessons that today's managers can

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-5975034466654255652009-04-14T11:12:00.003-05:002009-04-14T11:17:51.136-05:00

I have been asked to set up a society for motivated thinkers. This is at www.debonosociety.com. Further details are available at this site. There will be occasional podcasts, tasks, suggestions, instructions, team building etc. There are people who are genuinely interested in thinking. They are not only interested in proving they are right or in showing off but also in developing further skills

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Executives, entrepreneurs, educators, consultants, and others will gather in Boston, June 21-24, for the Creative Problem Solving Institute's annual conference The Revolution of Creativity.Participants will choose from keynote presentations, 90-minute breakouts, and elective classes focusing on innovation and creativity.When registering, sign up for the Lateral Thinking for Innovative Leaders

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-5092464125859810912009-04-10T11:39:00.004-05:002009-04-10T11:55:49.534-05:00

And speaking of innovation as a solution to the economic crisis, Deloitte Research and Harvard's Kennedy School of Government have published The Public Innovator's Playbook, which draws the connection between innovation and public policy. More importantly, authors William Eggers and Shalabh Kumar Singh lay out specific ways in which governments can become more innovative and generate better

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-956122708816895122009-04-10T11:21:00.003-05:002009-04-10T11:29:23.970-05:00

Edward de Bono was in Beirut earlier this week, discussing the role of creativity in the economic downturn. Dr. de Bono described his thinking methodology in general, as well specific applications to the economy and to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Lebanese Daily Star covers his visit here.

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-33764952442127887992009-03-03T12:27:00.001-06:002009-03-03T12:29:02.800-06:00

There is a real need to design a framework for 'positive gangs'. Youngsters joining such gangs would get the same significance and achievement satisfaction of the usual negative gangs (crime etc). The effect on society would, however, be positive rather than negative.I would therefore welcome a list of practical suggestions as to what such positive gangs could do. How could members of the gang

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-73712916272147438292009-03-03T11:19:00.002-06:002009-03-03T11:36:20.935-06:00

As part of the European Year of Creativity and Innovation 2009, there is currently an exposition in Brussels entitled Creativity and Innovation: Best practices from European Union programs. The conference showcases dozens of the EU's most successful endeavors in areas such as:Education and trainingCulture and artsYouthCitizenshipThe conference brochure contains a detailed description of each

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-63809763302814812282009-03-02T09:35:00.002-06:002009-03-02T09:42:47.426-06:00

The Times of Malta has a lengthy interview with Edward de Bono in which he suggests some novel solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, illegal immigration, and the worldwide economic crisis. The piece is really quite good.

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-1606734741423515282009-02-25T21:49:00.002-06:002009-02-25T22:02:12.803-06:00

Right now, Microsoft is holding TechFest 2009, an annual event aimed at sharing its researchers' work with product teams throughout the rest of the organization. The Imperial Valley News interviews Craig Mundie, Microsoft Chief Research and Strategy Officer, about the event.Mundie talks about some specific innovations - from robotics to health care - and also discusses the importance of

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-2246851341544601242009-02-24T20:54:00.003-06:002009-02-24T21:17:36.515-06:00

The University of Wales has just launched a new innovation initiative: the Prince of Wales Innovation Scholarship program. The idea is to recruit 100 of the world's top students to a Ph.D. program, in which the students will be posted to research positions in Welsh companies. The scholars receive funding, research experience, and a Ph.D., while the partnering companies gain new ideas, processes,

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Not surprisingly, the financial crisis and global economic turmoil were the main thrust of the recent World Economic Forum in Davos. The New York Times reports that one of the more original ideas to come out of the conference is the possibility of compensating regulators with bonuses, just like the bankers they oversee. The underlying logic makes sense. Wall Street uses fat paychecks to attract

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-69911229457449655362009-02-20T15:11:00.003-06:002009-02-20T15:21:20.057-06:00

BusinessWeek is calling for President Obama to create a Cabinet-level position for innovation and creativity. The Secretary of Innovation would "lead a systematic national innovation process" aimed at ameliorating the economic crisis. The Secretary's other function would be "to create a national innovation mindset, reinvigorating innovation in the private sector."We nominate Edward de Bono. After

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-34675315337430326112009-02-19T10:51:00.001-06:002009-02-19T10:53:06.658-06:00

Education is all about knowledge and analysis. There is a complete lack of 'operacy' and design. Operacy covers the skill of doing and making things happen. Design is putting together what you have to deliver the values you want. Our traditional thinking strongly influenced by Church needs, is concerned with finding the truth. That is ebne (excellent but not enough). We have never emphasised the

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-73158960214984117812009-02-18T15:18:00.002-06:002009-02-18T15:54:08.399-06:00

Across the country, companies are tightening their belts, and corporate training is invariably one of the first targets for budget-cutting. The ASTD Economic Survival Guide offers a number of suggestions for adapting to the recession. Some of the ideas include:Communicating throughout your organization to create a learning cultureReviewing your training budget and decide how to make do with

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-60450147418466956902009-02-10T12:30:00.002-06:002009-02-10T12:46:05.427-06:00

Congratulations to the winners of the 2009 TED Prize: Sylvia Earle (for her underwater research, exploration, and advocacy), Jill Tarter (director of the SETI project and a pioneer of distributive networking), and José Antonio Abreu (founder of El Sistema, a program for using classical music to improve the lives of Venezuelan children).Their success demonstrates the importance of innovative

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-28199427731942011422009-02-10T11:29:00.002-06:002009-02-10T11:31:03.104-06:00

Two Dutch researchers have published an academic study on the problems with brainstorming (How the Group Affects the Mind: A Cognitive Model of Idea Generation in Groups by Bernard Nijstad and Wolfgang Stroebe). They write, “Most people believe that idea generation is best performed in groups… However, controlled research has consistently shown that people produce fewer ideas and ideas of lower

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-90887666516240076672009-02-10T11:27:00.001-06:002009-02-10T11:27:46.505-06:00

The Spanish publisher Paidós is launching the Edward de Bono Library, a series of new editions of Dr. de Bono's classic works. Thus far, the collection includes translations of Six Thinking Hats, The Use of Lateral Thinking, and Creativity Workout. The books are available directly from Paidós and also from Amazon.

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-11218006750435839422009-02-05T14:18:00.002-06:002009-02-05T14:25:17.993-06:00

There is a real need for new words in language. The word 'Po' signals that a deliberate provocation is to follow and that this provocation needs to be used for its 'movement' value not its 'judgement' value. Such a word could not evolve in language until the logic of provocation in a self-organising system had been pointed out. There is also a need for the new word 'ebne' (excellent but not

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-24164611953568159582009-01-30T11:08:00.016-06:002009-02-02T16:15:46.484-06:00

A few weeks back, BusinessWeek released its list of 2008's top innovation books. For those who missed the article the first time around, the winners were:The Back of the Napkin: Solving Problems and Selling Ideas with Pictures by Dan RoamClosing the Innovation Gap: Reigniting the Spark of Creativity in a Global Economy by Judy EstrinDisrupting Class: How Disruptive Innovation Will Change the Way

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De Bono Consulting has added several new dates to its training schedule:March 9-13 in San Diego, CAMay 4-8 in Alexandria, VAAttendees can enroll in the Six Thinkings Hats session, the Lateral Thinking session, or the Course in Creativity, which covers both methods.In addition, we have a session in Mexico City on February 23-27. Note that this session will be conducted in Spanish.See our complete

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In a nod to the current economic climate, Tom Nicholas of Harvard Business School has published a nice piece in the McKinsey Quarterly about innovation during the Great Depression and its implications for innovation today. (Unfortunately, registration is required for access to the full article, but it's free.)Nicholas examines the number of US patent filings between 1921 and 1938 as a measure of

Resources Unlimitednoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33556610.post-64145364611144264662009-01-23T11:53:00.003-06:002009-01-23T11:58:36.052-06:00

I was in Prague on January 7th for the launch of the European Year of Creativity, 2009. The Czech Republic has the presidency of the EU for the first half of 2009.As usual one of the big problems facing creativity in the inability of language to distinguish between artistic creativity and idea creativity. Both involve creating something new which has value. The practical problem is that the Year

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