Chapter 8 Synectics

1
Chapter 8 Synectics

• State the problem
• Take keyword from statement and use an analogy
  (take an EXCURSION)
• Personal analogy
• Direct analogy
• Symbolic analogy
• Fantasy analogy
• Look for ways of solving problems posed in the
  analogy situation
• Take the ideas generated and examine how they can
  be related back to the original problem

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PERSONAL ANALOGY

• Describe the object by listing its basic
  characteristics
• Describe the emotions the object might have in a
  given situation
• Describe how someone feels when using the object
• Describe what it feels like to be the given object

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Personal analogy - glass of wine

• Characteristics
• clear,fruity
• Emotions
• happy at dinner
• friendly at parties
• Feeling when using
• sophisticated
• tired
• Object's feelings
• wanted, important

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DIRECT ANALOGY

• Make comparisons with analogous facts,
  information or technology.
• Attributes of atoms and molecules provide
  interesting analogies for studying the management
  of information.
• The idea is to describe a clear, straightforward
  relationship between the problem and some object,
  thing or idea.

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Direct analogy paths across marshes and decision
making

• Decision-making can be likened to finding ones
  way across paths over a marsh.
• What are seemingly paths across the marshes often
  lead you the wrong way.
• Unfamiliar and potentially hazardous options need
  careful analysis when making decisions in order
  to ensure that good choices are made.

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SYMBOLIC ANALOGY

• Make use of objective and personal images to
  describe a problem.
• Examples are like an Indian rope trick, like a
  thief in the night, like a pirate.
• Seeking insights on how to deal with the problem.

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Symbolic analogy the scarlet pimpernel

• Getting hold of the boss is like finding the
  scarlet pimpernel. "We seek her here, we seek her
  there, we seek her everywhere!"

8
FANTASY ANALOGY

• How do we in our wildest fantasy want..... (the
  problem to be solved)
• Example major surgery. How do we IOWF want the
  removal of a tumour to be carried out? Answer
  without leaving any marks on the patient's skin.
• This might lead to the use of two or more laser
  beams intersecting at a malignant tumour and
  destroying it.

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Fantasy analogy peaceful management

• How do we IOWF want to manage the office?
• So that peace reigns all the time?
• Solutionuse style of management based on
  conflict avoidance.