Locking down of a problem leads to frozen thinking

A common problem-solving tendency is to isolate the problem so that it can be deconstructed and analyzed. For complex (or wicked) problems, this tends to lead to entrained thinking:

the locking down of a problem situation, leads to a deeply engrained inability of organizations to step beyond the boundaries of their earlier ways of thinking. Creativity consultants then provide workshops to help people “think outside the box”—which may help a little, but organizations often do not realize what a real change in their own practice will mean, and do not realize that the boxes they are trying to escape from are completely self-made.[1]


#cognition #innovation

See also:


  1. Frame Innovation – Dorst (2015), ch. 1, § “The self-made box.” ↩︎