shrink-wrapped in our own thinking: non-positional problem...
TRANSCRIPT
Non-Positional Thinking: !!
Thinking Beyond the Obvious!
Today you’ll see!
§ that you don’t really know what you think you know!
!
…and you’ll learn!
§ how to “see” what you’ve never been able to see before!
Shrink-Wrapped in Our Own Thinking: Thinking That Transforms
Presented by Ariane David, PhD Senior Partner The Veritas Group Senior Lecturer California State University, Northridge [email protected]
Non-Positional Problem Solving
ASQ!
Ariane David, PhD THE VERITAS GROUP
California State University, Northridge
[email protected] www.theveritasgroup.com
Ariane David PhD Non-‐posiDonal Thinking [email protected]
The Life of Organizations!
§ Why we think the way we do and why that’s a problem!
§ Principles of non-positional thinking – a better way!
§ Non-positional problem solving!
Today we’ll focus on…!
Ariane David PhD Non-‐posiDonal Thinking [email protected]
The Life of Organizations!
Non-Positional Thinking is Based on !Four Principles!
Ariane David PhD Non-‐posiDonal Thinking [email protected]
Principles of Non-Positional Thinking!
Uncertainty > Intellectual Humility!
Curiosity > Intellectual Openness!
Discernment > Wisdom!
Courage > Commitment!!
and Intellectual Virtues!
Ariane David PhD Non-‐posiDonal Thinking [email protected]
The Science of the Brain!
How we think, and why.!
Ariane David PhD Non-‐posiDonal Thinking [email protected]
Max Wertheimer’s Stroboscope!
The whole is more than the sum of the parts.!
Ariane David PhD Non-‐posiDonal Thinking [email protected]
Sir Frederick Bartlett!
§ The War of the Ghosts – Sydney !
§ “Asian” Mask *!
§ Schemas!
Making Memory, Meaning, & Schemas !
Ariane David PhD Non-‐posiDonal Thinking [email protected]
Sir Frederick Bartlett!
Ariane David PhD Non-‐posiDonal Thinking [email protected]
Sir Frederick Bartlett!
Making Memory, Meaning, & Schemas !
§ The War of the Ghosts – Sydney !
§ “Asian” Mask *!
§ Results: Schemas!
Ariane David PhD Non-‐posiDonal Thinking [email protected]
Elizabeth Loftus!
§ Pre-existing knowledge!
§ Post-event information and language!
Eyewitness Testimony!
Memory is affected by:!
What we remember might never have happened.!
Ariane David PhD Non-‐posiDonal Thinking [email protected]
Perception!
§ Millions of bits of information every minute; we can perceive only a tiny number.!
§ We focus only on what is relevant, what moves us emotionally NOW. The rest is lost. !
§ Present perception is shaped by the past: what we believe is so, not what actually is so. !
The Neurobiology of Thinking!
Ariane David PhD Non-‐posiDonal Thinking [email protected]
Emotions Are:!
§ Body reactions to what’s happening.!
§ Paired with each sensory impression as an !emotional tag at the moment of perception.!
§ The pair become memory.!
Antonio Damasio – Neurobiology!
Ariane David PhD Non-‐posiDonal Thinking [email protected]
Emotions!
§ Purpose: rapid response.!
§ Function: govern decision-making (myth of rational decision-making).!
The Neurobiology of Thinking!
Ariane David PhD Non-‐posiDonal Thinking [email protected]
Have you ever wondered what memory is?!
The Neurobiology of Thinking!
Ariane David PhD Non-‐posiDonal Thinking [email protected]
Memory…!
§ NOT a video. !
§ NOT stored complete anywhere in the brain.!
§ Is “a trick of timing”! (Demasio)!
§ Neurons carry only the pattern code (think TV).!
The Neurobiology of Thinking!
Ariane David PhD Non-‐posiDonal Thinking [email protected]
thus…!
§ Memories are a subjective and creative fabrication.!
§ Memories change every time we recall them.!
§ We can never be certain about what we remember. !
§ Confidence doesn’t mean accuracy: memories can be completely fabricated and seem absolutely real.!
The Neurobiology of Thinking!
Ariane David PhD Non-‐posiDonal Thinking [email protected]
As a result…!
You can never be certain that what you remember
happened the way you remember it.
In fact, you can be certain that it didn't!
The Neurobiology of Thinking!
Ariane David PhD Non-‐posiDonal Thinking [email protected]
Organizing Patterns!
§ Organizing patterns are templates, constructed of beliefs, which allow us to organize everything.!
§ Every thought MUST fit into an organizing pattern.!
§ We start making them at birth; the first are the most persistent, resilient, and powerful.!
§ All future organizing patterns are formed within the first.!
A working model of the brain.!
Ariane David PhD Non-‐posiDonal Thinking [email protected]
Organizing Patterns!
§ The totality of all our organizing patterns creates our constructed universe – our entire reality. !
§ We each live in a universe of our own making. !
§ Its organizing patterns and logic are perfect for physical survival but often hamper good thinking.!
A working model of the brain.!
Ariane David PhD Non-‐posiDonal Thinking [email protected]
Organizing Patterns!
§ No impartial evidence needed. !
§ What we perceive is taken as proof that our position/beliefs are right.!
§ Organizing patterns (beliefs) dictate what we see, what we see reinforces the organizing patterns.!
Reinforce themselves.!
Ariane David PhD Non-‐posiDonal Thinking [email protected]
Organizing Patterns!
Reinforce themselves.!
Ariane David PhD Non-‐posiDonal Thinking [email protected]
Organizing Patterns!
Examples of Simple Organizing Patterns!
Ariane David PhD Non-‐posiDonal Thinking [email protected]
Organizing Patterns!
Ariane David PhD Non-‐posiDonal Thinking [email protected]
Organizing Patterns!
Ariane David PhD Non-‐posiDonal Thinking [email protected]
View from Apollo 17!
Ariane David PhD Non-‐posiDonal Thinking [email protected]
Organizing Patterns!
§ Tyranny of Knowledge!
§ Tyranny of Emotion!
§ Tyranny of Logic!
Positional Thinking … The Tyrant Brain !
Ariane David PhD Non-‐posiDonal Thinking [email protected]
Positional Thinking!
§ Choosing existing knowledge because it’s what we have.!
§ Doing what worked in the past only because it worked in the past.!
§ Assuming the future will be like the past.!
§ Assuming OUR knowledge is better than others’ knowledge.!
Tyranny of Knowledge!
Ariane David PhD Non-‐posiDonal Thinking [email protected]
Positional Thinking!
§ Everything we do and think is permanently grounded in emotions not reason. !
§ Emotions affect logic, but cannot be dealt with logically.!
§ We confuse emotional commitment to an idea with reason.!
Tyranny of Emotion!
Ariane David PhD Non-‐posiDonal Thinking [email protected]
Positional Thinking!
Examples: !
Cognitive shortcuts help us make sense quickly (survival); are often inaccurate.!!
Shortcut errors:!§ Biases!§ Stereotyping!
Tyranny of Emotion!
Ariane David PhD Non-‐posiDonal Thinking [email protected]
Allport & Postman 1942
Tyranny of Emotion!
Ariane David PhD Non-‐posiDonal Thinking [email protected]
Positional Thinking!
Tyranny of Logic!
§ What is logic?!
§ What determines if something is logical?!
§ Can anything be illogical?!
Ariane David PhD Non-‐posiDonal Thinking [email protected]
Positional Thinking!
Tyranny of Logic!
§ Logic is the rules you’ve made up for your constructed universe!!
§ There are as many different systems of logic as there are beings.!
§ Logic is subjective like taste: nothing is ever illogical, !just differently-logical. !
Why does this matter?!
Ariane David PhD Non-‐posiDonal Thinking [email protected]
Positional Thinking!
Tyranny of Logic!
Zero Sum Illusion!!§ It’s either one way or the other.!
§ Life’s a pie. !
Ariane David PhD Non-‐posiDonal Thinking [email protected]
Non-positional Thinking in a Box!
Example:!!
How many “right” points of view/positions are there for any issue?!
Ariane David PhD Non-‐posiDonal Thinking [email protected]
Non-positional Thinking in a Box!
It’s never either/or;!
it’s always both.!
Ariane David PhD Non-‐posiDonal Thinking [email protected]
Principles of Non-Positional Thinking!
Uncertainty > Intellectual Humility!
Curiosity > Intellectual Openness!
Discernment > Wisdom!
Courage > Commitment!
!
and Intellectual Virtues!
Ariane David PhD Non-‐posiDonal Thinking [email protected]
Uncertainty Principle!
§ Uncertainty means realizing our constructed universe is not the world, just a good-enough representation of it that allows us to survive(ish).!
§ Certainty that our constructed universe is the world leads to almost all of the world’s problems.!
§ Humility means acknowledging all of this.!
Uncertainty doesn’t mean being paralyzed by doubt, but rather being aware of the fallibility of our knowledge.
Uncertainty Principle!
Ariane David PhD Non-‐posiDonal Thinking [email protected]
Uncertainty Principle
The uncertainty principle makes us realize that we can’t be certain what color the ball actually is no matter how obvious it seems. !
!
The curiosity principle makes us want to find out. !
!
Uncertainty Principle!
Ariane David PhD Non-‐posiDonal Thinking [email protected]
Openness
Curiosity Principle!
§ Being eager to discover what we don’t know, and…!
§ Being determined to see the merit in the other’s point of view.!
§ Leads to the impartial gathering of relevant information.!
Ariane David PhD Non-‐posiDonal Thinking [email protected]
Skills: The Ability To…!
Curiosity Principle!
§ Enthusiastically and impartially gather information.!
§ Be open-minded with respect to our own beliefs, and the assertions of others. !
§ Honestly answer, “Do I really want to know?” !
§ Honestly ask, “What is it that I am not seeing the seeing of which might change everything?” !
Ariane David PhD Non-‐posiDonal Thinking [email protected]
Wisdom !
Discernment Principle!
§ Attempting to see things truly rather than looking for confirming evidence; the desire to weigh evidence impartially.!
§ Recognizing/questioning our own assumptions and biases, and seeking to go beyond them.!
§ Judging the merits of others’ points of view by the same standards we use to judge our own.!
Ariane David PhD Non-‐posiDonal Thinking [email protected]
Skills: The Ability To…!
Discernment Principle!
§ Be truthful with ourselves, and weigh information fairly.!
§ Recognize when information is factual, provable, anecdotal, or opinion. !
§ Assess the credibility of the all sources. !
§ Identify and question all assumptions. !
§ Seek an impartial solution.!
Ariane David PhD Non-‐posiDonal Thinking [email protected]
Commitment Principle!
§ Being determined to move beyond our own point of view, even in the face of our own fear, and!
§ Having the courage to acknowledge and act on those discoveries, and being willing to change our dearly held position, and !
§ Having tolerance for differing, even opposing, points of view. !
§ Because learning can be pain!
Courage: The Overarching Principle!
Ariane David PhD Non-‐posiDonal Thinking [email protected]
Commitment Principle!
§ Be open new evidence even if it conflicts with our beliefs; have courage to acknowledge it. !
§ Discard inadequate hypotheses. !
§ Adapt oneself to new the facts.!
§ Persevere even when it is uncomfortable.!
§ Operate in a demonstrably fair and tolerant way.!
Skills: The Ability To…!
Ariane David PhD Non-‐posiDonal Thinking [email protected]
Problem Solving!
Ariane David PhD Non-‐posiDonal Thinking [email protected]
The Bridge Bat Problem!
Ariane David PhD Non-‐posiDonal Thinking [email protected]
Bridge-Bats Bind!
Ariane David PhD Non-‐posiDonal Thinking [email protected]
Bridge-Bats Bind!
Ariane David PhD Non-‐posiDonal Thinking [email protected]
Problem:!§ What is the issue or problem?!
Solution:!§ What are the decision criteria? How important are
each of those criteria?!
§ What are possible solutions? What are pros and cons of each solution?!
§ Decide on the best solution!
§ Implement; measure what’s easy to measure!
How we usually solve problems:!
Bridge-Bats Bind!
Ariane David PhD Non-‐posiDonal Thinking [email protected]
The Problem With Rational Problem Solving Method: !
Assumptions of this model:!§ Problem clarity!§ All relevant options are known!§ Preferences are clear and unchanging!§ Maximum payoff is unambiguous and known!
Doesn’t work for a complex problem; never has!!
Bridge-Bats Bind!
Ariane David PhD Non-‐posiDonal Thinking [email protected]
Non-positional Problem Solving: !
Managers fail to solve problems not because they don’t know how, but because
they don’t know what the problem is.
Ariane David PhD Non-‐posiDonal Thinking [email protected]
Non-positional Problem Solving!
Beneath every apparent problem is a condition that enables the problem.!
§ It is usually hard to see. !§ Solving only the apparent problem (symptom) leads to
worse problems.!§ The actual problem involves culture, people, how they think
about the problem. !
Discovering the actual problem is the most important part of finding the solution!
A new way of solving problems.!
Ariane David PhD Non-‐posiDonal Thinking [email protected]
Conventional!Problem Solving!
Non-positional!Problem Solving!
Conventional vs Non-position!
Thinking: Certainty reinforcement of positions no organization learning.
People: Seen as the problem; BLAME
Focus: Finding solution (symptoms; parts)
Action: a) superficial investigation of symptoms and parts
b) seek solutions to symptoms
Result: a) Solutions are short term;
b) problem recurs often worse
Thinking: Uncertainty curiosity organization learning.
People: Seen as the solution; ACCOUNTABILITY.
Focus: Understanding the problem (underlying conditions; whole system)
Action: a) Deep investigation of underlying condition and whole system
Result: a) Problems stayed solved.
Ariane David PhD Non-‐posiDonal Thinking [email protected]
Conventional vs Non-position!
Uncertainty!!
Curiosity!
Identify Symptoms
Find Solutions
Define the Issue
Define Enablers
Understand the System
Examine Personal Dynamics
Design the Solution
Measure What
Matters
Conventional!Problem Solving!
Non-positional!Problem Solving!
Ariane David PhD Non-‐posiDonal Thinking [email protected]
§ What is the issue or problem?!
The Solution!
§ What are the decision criteria? How important are each of those criteria?!
§ What are possible solutions? What are pros and cons of each solution?!
§ Decide on the best solution!
§ Implement; measure what’s easy to measure!
How we usually solve problems:!
Bridge-Bats Bind!
Ariane David PhD Non-‐posiDonal Thinking [email protected]
Parting Thoughts…!
It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble,!!it’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so. !!
– Mark Twain
Ariane David PhD Non-‐posiDonal Thinking [email protected]
Non-Positional Thinking: !!
Thinking Beyond the Obvious!
Today you’ll see!
§ that you don’t really know what you think you know!
!
…and you’ll learn!
§ how to “see” what you’ve never been able to see before!
Shrink-Wrapped in Our Own Thinking: Thinking That Transforms
Presented by Ariane David, PhD Senior Partner The Veritas Group Senior Lecturer California State University, Northridge [email protected]
Questions?!
California State University, Northridge [email protected] www.theveritasgroup.com
Non-Positional Problem Solving
Ariane David PhD Non-‐posiDonal Thinking [email protected]
Non-Positional Thinking: !!
Thinking Beyond the Obvious!
Today you’ll see!
§ that you don’t really know what you think you know!
!
…and you’ll learn!
§ how to “see” what you’ve never been able to see before!
Shrink-Wrapped in Our Own Thinking: Thinking That Transforms
Presented by Ariane David, PhD Senior Partner The Veritas Group Senior Lecturer California State University, Northridge [email protected]
Thank You!!
California State University, Northridge [email protected] www.theveritasgroup.com
Non-Positional Problem Solving