Luc de Brabandere and Alan Iny, "Thinking in New Boxes..." | Talks at Google

"Thinking in New Boxes: A New Paradigm for Business Creativity"

In "Thinking in Boxes: A New Paradigm for Business Creativity," the Boston Consulting Group's Luc de Brabandere and Alan Iny argue that we cannot help using mental models—or "boxes"—to organize our thinking; they are hardwired into the human brain. That is why the frequently stated maxim to "think outside the box" is not nearly as effective for brainstorming, solving problems creatively, and seeing potential opportunities.

De Brabandere and Iny have created a systematic way to help organizations assess their current business assumptions, isolate ways of thinking and functioning that are falling out of date, and replace them with ideas and perspectives that can lead to growth. Their approach is based on five steps that will help readers work around cognitive biases, dismantle preconceptions, and lead themselves and their organizations toward a wide range of what the authors call "extraordinary futures."