Alternatives
Generate alternatives before settling on the first plausible interpretation or design. Changing the observer, arrangement, or underlying assumption can reveal possibilities that your initial approach missed.
THE IDEA
Alternatives
Imagine that an eagle has escaped from its cage. Each observer notices a different problem:
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The keeper’s point of view: the bird may fly away and get lost or shot unless it is coaxed back soon. It is uncomfortable having to climb up trees after the bird and one feels a bit of a fool. Someone is to blame for having let it escape.
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The newspaperman’s point of view: the longer the bird stays out the better the story. Can one get close enough to get a good picture? One ought to find some other interest such as different people’s ideas on how to catch the bird.
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The eagle’s point of view: wondering what all the fuss is about. Strange feeling not to be in a cage. Getting rather hungry. Not sure in which direction to fly.
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The onlooker’s point of view: hoping the eagle will fly away and be free for evermore. Amused to see the strenuous efforts being made to catch the bird. The eagle looks so much better out on its own than inside a cage. Perhaps one could show how clever one was by catching the bird when no one else could.
The perspectives reveal different interests rather than a single shared goal.
You can also vary a design instead of changing the observer. To arrange squares, try: a small square surrounded by big squares; a big square with small squares at the corners; a column of large squares pushed sideways to give a staircase pattern; a basic unit made out of one large and one small square; extending the edges of a small square and drawing other small squares on these extended edges; a line divided into thirds with perpendiculars drawn at each third; in a grid pattern, designating and outlining some small squares, then removing lines and filling spaces with big squares; big squares placed against each other so that the side of each one half overlaps the side of every adjacent square; or two overlapped patterns of lines, one at right angles to the other.
To divide a square, consider: cutting into parallel strips; dividing into a 2x2 grid; cutting along diagonals to get four triangles; cutting into a 4x4 grid and reassembling the small squares into shapes like swastikas or L-shapes; and many other divisions. Compare what each division makes possible before choosing one.
You can vary the assumptions in a cultural argument too. A claim that long hair defies masculinity invites several responses: it shows courage to defy conventions; historically, men wore long hair and it was flamboyant, not feminine; why should boys and girls not look alike, which could promote equal rights. These responses question the original assumption without requiring everyone to accept the same interpretation.
When to use it
Brainstorming multiple design layouts for a product or graphical interface.
Exploring different organizational structures or processes in a business setting.
Generating varied solutions in a creative writing or art project by recombining basic elements.
Challenging fixed assumptions in problem-solving by deliberately changing the arrangement of components.
Brainstorming multiple solutions to a design or engineering challenge.
Teaching creative thinking in classrooms by having students generate different ways to partition a space or resource.
Product development: exploring alternative user flows or feature organizations.
Strategic planning: considering different ways to segment a market or allocate budget.
Negotiation: understanding the other party's interests.
Team collaboration: seeing tasks from different roles.
Personal relationships: resolving disagreements by empathizing.
Problem-solving: brainstorming by adopting different personas.
In a business meeting, use the 'alternatives' heuristic to brainstorm products or strategies that defy industry norms.
In education, encourage students to question historical stereotypes by presenting counterexamples (e.g., long hair on men in different eras).
In personal development, consider several interpretations of a criticized trait before deciding whether to change it or defend it.
FROM THEORY TO EVERYDAY LIFE
In practice
Generating Alternatives with Squares
Ways to arrange squares include: a small square surrounded by big squares, a big square with small squares at corners, a column of large squares pushed sideways to form a staircase, a basic unit of one large and one small square, extending edges to draw more squares, dividing a line into thirds and drawing perpendiculars, designating certain small squares in a grid and filling with big squares, overlapping big squares so sides half overlap, and two overlapped line patterns at right angles.
Dividing a square for a mosaic design
An artist uses the 'alternatives' approach to explore ways to subdivide a square tile into smaller sections for a mosaic. Slice cuts yield stripes, quadrants give a classic grid, and diagonal cuts create dynamic triangles. Recombining small squares into L-shapes produces a stair-step pattern.
Alternative layouts for a website homepage
A designer generates multiple layout alternatives for a homepage: a single-column feed, a two-column grid, a diagonal split, or a modular arrangement of small cards. Each alternative leads to different user experiences and trade-offs.
The Escaped Bird
A bird escapes from its cage. The keeper worries about its safety and inconvenience, the newspaperman sees a story, the eagle experiences confusion and hunger, and the onlooker hopes for freedom. Each perspective highlights different values and concerns, demonstrating how Alternatives broadens understanding.
Wearing Long Hair and Colorful Clothes
An argument that long hair and colorful clothes are inherently feminine can be challenged by pointing to men’s fashions in other eras, including the Elizabethan period. Another interpretation is that defying a dress convention takes courage. These are alternatives to examine, rather than proof that a style has one fixed meaning.
A MOMENT TO REFLECT
Put it to work.
How can you apply the method of systematically varying arrangements to a problem you are currently facing?
What other basic elements (e.g., circles, triangles) could you use to generate alternatives in your domain?
When could generating more alternatives help you get past a fixed approach? How would you decide which alternatives deserve further work?
What is the most obvious way to divide your current problem? Now list three completely different alternatives.
How can recombining small components (like the 16 squares) lead to unexpected solutions in your work?
What assumptions about the 'shape' of your problem are you taking for granted?
How can considering different perspectives change your understanding of a problem?
Think of a recent conflict: what would the outcome be if you considered each party's viewpoint?
List at least three alternative perspectives on a decision you face. What does each reveal or miss?
What is a current social norm or assumption that you could challenge by considering an alternative perspective?
How can reinterpreting a familiar behavior or style reveal hidden courage or individuality?
In what ways might questioning conventional dress codes promote equality or self-expression?
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION
Source texts
- Lateral Thinking A Textbook of Creativity (Edward de Bono)
- Lateral Thinking A Textbook of Creativity (Edward de Bono)
- Lateral Thinking A Textbook of Creativity (Edward de Bono)
- Lateral Thinking A Textbook of Creativity (Edward de Bono)