Shrink-Wrapped in Our Own Thinking: Non-Positional Problem ...asqorangeempire.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/QD...Uncertainty Principle!! Uncertainty means realizing our constructed

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 ADavid@TheVeritasGroup.com

Non-Positional Problem Solving

Ariane David, PhD THE VERITAS GROUP

California State University, Northridge

ADavid@TheVeritasGroup.com www.theveritasgroup.com

Ariane David PhD Non-‐posiDonal Thinking ADavid@TheVeritasGroup.com

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…!

The Life of Organizations!

Non-Positional Thinking is Based on !Four Principles!

Principles of Non-Positional Thinking!

Uncertainty > Intellectual Humility!

Curiosity > Intellectual Openness!

Discernment > Wisdom!

Courage > Commitment!!

and Intellectual Virtues!

The Science of the Brain!

How we think, and why.!

Max Wertheimer’s Stroboscope!

The whole is more than the sum of the parts.!

Sir Frederick Bartlett!

§ The War of the Ghosts – Sydney !

§  “Asian” Mask *!

§ Schemas!

Making Memory, Meaning, & Schemas !

§ The War of the Ghosts – Sydney !

§  “Asian” Mask *!

§ Results: Schemas!

Elizabeth Loftus!

§  Pre-existing knowledge!

§  Post-event information and language!

Eyewitness Testimony!

Memory is affected by:!

What we remember might never have happened.!

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!

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!

Emotions!

§  Purpose: rapid response.!

§  Function: govern decision-making (myth of rational decision-making).!

Have you ever wondered what memory is?!

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).!

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.!

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!

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.!

§  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.!

§  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.!

Examples of Simple Organizing Patterns!

View from Apollo 17!

§ Tyranny of Knowledge!

§ Tyranny of Emotion!

§ Tyranny of Logic!

Positional Thinking … The Tyrant Brain !

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!

§  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!

Examples: !

Cognitive shortcuts help us make sense quickly (survival); are often inaccurate.!!

Shortcut errors:!§  Biases!§  Stereotyping!

Tyranny of Emotion!

Allport & Postman 1942

Tyranny of Emotion!

Tyranny of Logic!

§ What is logic?!

§ What determines if something is logical?!

§ Can anything be illogical?!

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?!

Tyranny of Logic!

Zero Sum Illusion!!§  It’s either one way or the other.!

§  Life’s a pie. !

Non-positional Thinking in a Box!

Example:!!

How many “right” points of view/positions are there for any issue?!

Tyranny of Logic!

Non-positional Thinking in a Box!

It’s never either/or;!

it’s always both.!

Principles of Non-Positional Thinking!

Uncertainty > Intellectual Humility!

Curiosity > Intellectual Openness!

Discernment > Wisdom!

Courage > Commitment!

and Intellectual Virtues!

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

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. !

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.!

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?” !

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.!

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.!

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!

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.!

Problem Solving!

The Bridge Bat Problem!

Bridge-Bats Bind!

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!

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!

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.

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.!

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.

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!

§  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!

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

Today you’ll see!

Questions?!

California State University, Northridge ADavid@TheVeritasGroup.com www.theveritasgroup.com

Today you’ll see!

Thank You!!

California State University, Northridge ADavid@TheVeritasGroup.com www.theveritasgroup.com

Shrink-Wrapped in Our Own Thinking: Non-Positional Problem ...asqorangeempire.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/QD...Uncertainty Principle!! Uncertainty means realizing our constructed

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