Thinking in New Boxes

I have been working with students and teachers on shifting paradigms this year and was definitely interested in seeing a new book from BCG consultants de Brabandere and Iny: Thinking in New Boxes.  The five step process they suggest (summarized as (1) Doubt Everything; (2) Probe the Possible; (3) Diverge; (4) Converge; and (5) Reevaluate Relentlessly) could be applied in many situations, not just the business ones they most often describe.  Perhaps we might even want to consider Thinking in New Boxes as an all-Department read so as to “challenge rigid rules and tired frameworks” as we consider what a newly renovated library of the future should contain?

The importance of shifting perceptions and Eureka! moments are discussed and contrasted with those Caramba! ones where someone else is taking the lead in developing new models and strategies. I can readily see using the simple exercise in Chapter Two with my research students.  They would look at these two sentences:

An example of a bird is …. or

A bird is an example of …..

Then, they would consider how they answered each AND, from there, how following too narrow, deductive thinking could be blocking some exciting connections in their research and future papers.  Students tell us they need help creating keyword lists and formulating a thesis; how refreshing to use activities in this book in order to more actively support our students in taking risks and asking deeper questions.

In  any case, Thinking in New Boxes will definitely be added to my student non-fiction booktalks next year since it fits so well with several titles which they often choose to read and research further: Switch, Made to Stick or Decisive (by the Heath brothers), Why We Make Mistakes (Hallinan), Drive (Pink), Mindset (Dweck), and Paradox of Choice (Schwartz). Maybe Thinking in New Boxes should even be considered as a summer read for the whole school community?