The Explainer: Solving Problems by Starting with the Worst Idea Possible
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- Опубликовано: 10 сен 2024
- Sometimes wrong thinking can lead to the right answer.
There are many creative tools a designer uses to think differently, but none is more counter-intuitive than “wrong thinking,” also called reverse thinking. Wrong thinking is when you intentionally think of the worst idea possible - the exact opposite of the accepted or logical solution, ideas that can get you laughed at or even fired - and work back from those to find new ways of solving old problems.
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Only possible in an organisation that are people centric and not afraid to take risks and face possible failure to find that serendipity.
Although this exercise seems counter intuitive, it often does provide the insights and opportunities required to solve a problem. Of course, you have to have the time, or the flexibility, and it can't have dire consequences, like losing your job or getting sued. Like most of the actions and exercises within creative problem solving, you can't leave out common sense ;-)
I'm not sure about this one, there doesn't seem to be enough substance behind the concept or examples of it working.
exactly, don't follow the advice on this video. Bordering on silly
It do apply in the field of software development. If you need to find a solution start with the first solution pop it in your head. Don't cling into finding the best solution. Over time try to optimise your solution :)
It should have been noted that the worst ideas should only be conceptual and attempted hypothetically or at minute scales unless the appropriate conditions exist within the workplace. The overall notion is correct however: if you can clearly understand what is bad, then you can arrive more effectively at what performs well.
Problem that could get me fired or in a lawsuit if I ignore it. What is the worst thing I can do? Ignore it. I ignore it and get fired and have a lawsuit on me.
Lost a bit of respect from HBR with this video. Normally their videos are more practical and applicable.
precondition is you can afford the result from the bad idea no matter how tough it will be
Bad idea,good iQ.
This sounds ridiculous but a good idea
2026 May 06 HBR youtube channel - The Explainer: Solving Problems by Starting With The Worst Idea Possible. Comment Part1
(Dialogue. GG and the Senior Sentinel were alone now at Tigom. Their companions, the People of the Ten Directions, the last batch have all departed and gone back home to their enumerable worlds). Waving their hands at the distant pricks of lights that seemed like a Trillion stars lighting the limitless expanse of the heavens, they turned towards their respective quarters to retire.
GG: No! It is the worst idea possible. It took a wise man almost 4 decades to prepare his disciples for his highest teaching. It took him almost a decade to finish his lecture of it at that particular mountain peak. Indeed the records show, after a thousand years, two wise men emerged and defeat the foremost major schools (representing the entire intellectual field) of the most advanced civilization of their time in a debate sponsored by their respective emperors, just to prove it is the highest of all teachings. And approximately just a little after the fifth 500 years after that first lecture at that mountain peak, it took another wise man, almost 3 decades of earnest struggle just to compress the ultimate teaching into a practice even an ordinary child of any gender, color, creed, faith or race can do. And he and all his disciples almost perished for the attempt while sharing it. No wonder someone was quoted saying: “It is the most difficult to believe and the most difficult to understand”. It took a highly dedicated organization, almost 100 years to “spread it widely and never allow its flow to cease” in the entire land of Jambudvipa. Now, as an ordinary person of peasant stock, it took me almost 4 decades to learn just a tiny-weeny portion of the leadership lessons, and understand them from and practice it with you and my other mentors. And even then, we feel we all are still learning it. And now the goal is to share what we’ve all struggled to learn, I mean, all of it in less than 12 months? All of it? (his hands spreading out, covering the entire cosmos)- the preparation, the leadership lessons and the training; something that even the most persevering of our leaders spent decades, probably kalpas of lifetimes to achieve? No…,(shaking his head) it is the worst idea possible. Yes? It… is… the… worst… idea… possible.
Senior Sentinel: It is. I do not deny that. It is also almost certain we will fail. But even then, we must. Even if we fail.
(A very long silence ensued)
GG: Why?
Senior Sentinel: It is their birthright. Since kuon ganjo. As much as it is ours.
(Part1 of “nth” number of comments)