The Tools for Thought blog delves into a creative problem solving technique from Edward de Bono that isn’t exactly new, but might be a fresh idea for recent converts to the Getting Things Done school of thinking. When faced with a problem or task, don’t drive immediately toward a single solution, but do an “APC” on it—consider alternative causes or approaches, think up a list of possibilities for accomplishing or fixing it, and come up with a list of your choices. As poster Andre Kibbe explains: Before spending too much time building what may turn out to be the wrong strategy, it’s worth spending some time dedicated to generating alternative strategies, without elaborating on a particular one. After having a variety to choose from, focus on implementing the best elements of one or more approaches.
How do you implement APC thinking into your workflow? What other de Bonot-based thinking helps you tackle your tasks? Offer up your creativity in the comments. Alternatives, Possibilities, Choices [Tools for Thought]
Wired writer Clive Thompson has a thought-provoking piece in this month’s issue on the general decline in fixing and tinkering and how it affects our ingenuity, our thinking, and even our spending habits: You see this on a personal level. If you can’t get under the hood of the gadgets you buy, you’re far more liable to believe the marketing hype of the corporations that sell them. When things break, you toss them and buy new ones; you accept your role as a mere consumer. “I think it makes you more passive as an individual,” says Matthew Crawford, a former motorcycle repair-shop owner (and postdoctoral fellow in cultural studies) who’s writing a book on the demise of mechanical aptitude in America.
Hit the link for a few upbeat signs about the growing resurgence in around-the-house aptitude, fostered by magazines like MAKE and *ahem* DIY-friendly websites. What are you comfortable trying yourself, what would you rather just buy/re-buy, and what do you wish you knew how to do? Share your thoughts in the comments. Clive Thompson on How DIYers Just Might Revive American Innovation [Wired]
Plan a project or map an idea with Exploratree, a free online library of “thinking guides” you can either print out or use online. Templates include the Futures Wheel pictured above, thinking boxes, compare and contrast, and a lot more. Each template is customisable; you can also use them to collaborate on projects with other people.
Exploratree
