Provocation technique

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The provocation technique is an idea generation method introduced by Edward de Bono . It works by calling into question existing assumptions and perspectives with the help of so-called provocations . It exists in many variations and is one of the most important categories of creativity techniques .

provocation

In brainstorming, provocations are used that throw thinking off the beaten track by specifically questioning existing assumptions and experiences or providing unexpected suggestions. They thus help to overcome operational blindness and enable new perspectives. Provocations can be mere random terms or deliberately constructed falsifications of facts or expert knowledge. In order to underline that the effect of the provocations only takes place in the mind and to avoid confusion with the usual meaning of the word, they are also referred to as mental provocations .

(Mental) provocations are never meant to be statements that can be true or false. Rather, they should serve as suggestions - as stepping stones to new ideas. Treating them as normal statements runs the risk of sparking undesirable discussions or rejection. To avoid this, de Bono recommends announcing provocations by prefixing them with the word PO . The word PO has no meaning of its own, it merely provides the following sentence as a suggestion. Accordingly, the following two statements are very different:

  • All professors love their students.
  • PO All professors love their students.

The first sentence is an assertion that could be true or false, while the second sentence is just a suggestion. The easiest way to interpret PO as “what if ...?”, That is

  • What if all professors loved their students?

Use

The usefulness of (mental) provocation lies in considering possibilities that would normally never have occurred because they seem to be contrary to experience or common sense. As a creativity technique in brainstorming workshops, for example, they help to uncover new product or marketing ideas.

The provocation technique is also a valuable exercise for improving mental flexibility. To do this, one observes everyday objects or occurrences, creates a mental provocation from them and then thinks about what ideas or advantages could result from them. It forms an important component of lateral thinking .

Examples of mental provocations from everyday life are:

  • PO The rules of the game are changeable.
  • PO The soccer field is hilly.
  • PO The face of a clock moves, the hands stand still.
  • PO The snack eats the buyer.
  • PO The longer you talk on the phone, the cheaper the call becomes.
  • PO The innkeeper drinks, the guests serve.
  • PO The players cut the cards and display them.
  • PO The Baltic Sea is filled with lemonade.
  • PO Not everyone knows the rules of the game.
  • PO The business card does not contain an address.
  • PO All phone numbers change regularly.

Examples

De Bono describes in his book Serious Creativity how the provocation of PO cars with square wheels led to the concept of the intelligent shock absorber. Because if cars had square wheels, the journey would be very restless. The bumps would be predictable, however, and an “intelligent shock absorber” could compensate for the impending bump. This provocation is an example of a falsification (see below)

A second example from the same book is based on the provocation PO orange juice drinks me for breakfast. One of the participants remembered the image of swimming in a large glass of orange juice. One consequence of this would be that he would smell like orange juice. This gave rise to the idea of ​​producing fragrance tablets that can be inserted into the shower head. Then you would get a pleasant scent by 'bathing in the shower'. This provocation is an example of a reversal (see below)

Methods to win provocations

The following approaches exist to win provocations:

  • Cancel acceptance
  • Ideal case
  • reversal
  • exaggeration
  • coincidence
  • Adulteration

The approaches are explained using the example of a university.

Cancel acceptance

Here one deliberately removes assumptions that one makes about the task, e.g. B.

  • PO There are no books in the university library.
  • PO The university has no buildings.

Ideal case

Here one calls a state that would ideally apply, e.g. B.

  • PO Every new student receives a degree.
  • PO Nobody fails an exam.

reversal

Reversing is turning an issue or relationship on its head, e.g. B.

  • PO students teach professors.
  • PO First you start your career, then your studies.

See also the article headstand technique .

exaggeration

Exaggeration changes a quantitative property, e.g. B.

  • PO The course lasts 20 years.
  • PO Each student only needs to take one exam.

coincidence

Here a random term is simply placed next to the initial situation, e.g. B.

  • University PO Parrot
  • University of PO strawberry yogurt

(This variant corresponds to the random technique .)

Adulteration

Here a qualitative property of the problem is changed, e.g. B.

  • PO The university walls are made of Lego bricks.
  • PO All students and professors wear a uniform.

application

After a provocation has been formed, ideas for solutions must be developed from it. Experience has shown that this is the most difficult part of the technique. Using the university as an example, this could be B. be:

  • From PO The course lasts 20 years , the idea could arise to make offers for working people, who can thereby continuously improve themselves.
  • From PO students teaching professors the idea could arise that students have to give small “lectures” in order to prove their knowledge in an examination.
  • From PO First you start your career, then your studies could give rise to the idea of ​​combining studies with vocational training.
  • From PO the university has no buildings the idea of ​​a distance university could arise.

(These four ideas have all been realized.)

Advantages and disadvantages

The method deliberately breaks old thinking habits and makes it possible to produce highly innovative ideas.

Some people find it difficult to deal with the provocations and become discouraged.

Often, however, the method also fails because the provocations are too far removed from reality and no way is found to derive a useful idea from them.

literature

  • Edward de Bono: Serious Creativity. The development of new ideas through the power of lateral thinking.
  • Edward de Bono: Po: Beyond Yes and No. New York 1972

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Innovation laboratory of the University of Magdeburg: The provocation technique: Finding ideas by questioning knowledge and assumptions