Framework
Innovation

Lateral Thinking

Provocations to break logic

Best for
escaping obvious solutions
Time
30–60 min
Difficulty
Intermediate

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Lateral Thinking diagramSchematic of the Lateral Thinking framework: Provocations to break logic.LinearLateral
The Lateral Thinking diagram — Provocations to break logic.
Example

Stuck on a feature: how to surface insight without alert fatigue

Provocations to break logic
  1. Reversal — "What if we sent fewer alerts than people want?"
  2. Wishful thinking — "What if alerts knew which one mattered today?"
  3. Random word "library" — what if insights were curated like a librarian?
  4. Exaggeration — "What if there was only ONE notification per week?"
  5. Escape — "What if we removed the notification feature entirely?"

Related frameworks

Innovation

Reverse Brainstorming

How could we cause the problem?

Innovation

SCAMPER

Substitute, combine, adapt, modify, put to other use, eliminate, reverse

Innovation

Mind Map

Radial branching of associations

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