DR. ROGELIO DAVILA PEREZITESM, CAMPUS GUADALAJARA

Concept Fan

Concept Fan

Originated by Edward de Bono in his book Serious Creativity, they develop the principle of 'taking one step back' to get a broader perspective.

Widening the Search for SolutionsConcept Fans help you find new approaches

to problem solving, when you have rejected all obvious solutions.

Concept Fan

How to Use the Tool:

Concept Fan

How to Use the Tool:To start a Concept Fan

Concept Fan

How to Use the Tool:To start a Concept Fan, draw a circle in the

middle of a large piece of paper.

Concept Fan

Write the problem you are trying to solve into it.

Clean up sea water at local beach

Concept Fan

To the right of it radiate lines representing possible solutions to the problem.

Clean up sea water at local beach

Extend sewage outfalls

Concept Fan

To the right of it radiate lines representing possible solutions to the problem.

Clean up sea water at local beach

Filter sea water

Extend sewage outfalls

Concept Fan

To the right of it radiate lines representing possible solutions to the problem.

Clean up sea water at local beach

Filter sea water

Litter patrols on beach

Extend sewage outfalls

Concept Fan

But …

Clean up sea water at local beach

Filter sea water

Litter patrols on beach

Extend sewage outfalls

Concept Fan

But …

It may be that the ideas you have are impractical or do not really solve the problem.

Clean up sea water at local beach

Filter sea water

Litter patrols on beach

Extend sewage outfalls

Concept Fan

But …

… If this is the case, take a 'step back' for a broader view of the problem.

Clean up sea water at local beach

Filter sea water

Litter patrols on beach

Extend sewage outfalls

Concept Fan

Do this by drawing a circle to the left of the first circle:

Clean up sea water at local beach

Filter sea water

Litter patrols on beach

Extend sewage outfalls

Concept Fan

Write a broader definition into this new circle.

Clean up sea water at local beach

Filter sea water

Litter patrols on beach

Extend sewage outfalls

Control pollutio

n entering the sea

Concept Fan

Link it with an arrow to show that it comes from the first circle:

Clean up sea water at local beach

Filter sea water

Litter patrols on beach

Extend sewage outfalls

Control pollutio

n entering the sea

Concept Fan

Use this as a starting point to radiate out other ideas:

Clean up sea water at local beach

Filter sea water

Litter patrols on beach

Extend sewage outfalls

Control pollutio

n entering the sea

Reduce pollution from ships

Concept Fan

Use this as a starting point to radiate out other ideas:

Clean up sea water at local beach

Filter sea water

Litter patrols on beach

Extend sewage outfalls

Control pollutio

n entering the sea

Reduce pollution from ships

Free all dumps & rubbish dumps at ports

Concept Fan

and other ideas:

Clean up sea water at local beach

Filter sea water

Litter patrols on beach

Extend sewage outfalls

Control pollutio

n entering the sea

Reduce pollution from ships

Control agricultur

al and industrial pollution

Free all dumps & rubbish dumps at ports

Concept Fan

and other ideas:

Clean up sea water at local beach

Filter sea water

Litter patrols on beach

Extend sewage outfalls

Control pollutio

n entering the sea

Reduce pollution from ships

Control agricultur

al and industrial pollution

Free all dumps & rubbish dumps at ports

River water monitoring

Concept Fan

and other ideas:

Clean up sea water at local beach

Filter sea water

Litter patrols on beach

Extend sewage outfalls

Control pollutio

n entering the sea

Reduce pollution from ships

Control agricultur

al and industrial pollution

Free all dumps & rubbish dumps at ports

River water monitoring

add rubbish contenders

Concept Fan

And more ideas:

Concept Fan

If this does not give you enough new ideas, you can take yet another step back (and another, and another…):

Fan Concept

Key points:

The Concept Fan is a useful technique for widening the search for solutions when you have rejected all obvious approaches. It gives you a clear framework within which you can take 'one step back' to get a broader view of a problem.

Fan Concept

Key points: (cont.)

To start a concept fan, write the problem in the middle of a piece of paper. Write possible solutions to this problem on lines radiating from this circle.

Fan Concept

Key points: (cont.)

If no idea is good enough, redefine the problem more broadly.

Fan Concept

Key points: (cont.)

If no idea is good enough, redefine the problem more broadly: Write this broader definition in a circle to the left of

the first one.

Fan Concept

Key points: (cont.)

If no idea is good enough, redefine the problem more broadly: Write this broader definition in a circle to the left of

the first one. Draw an arrow from the initial problem definition to

the new one to show the linkage between the problems.

Fan Concept

Key points: (cont.)

If no idea is good enough, redefine the problem more broadly: Write this broader definition in a circle to the left of

the first one. Draw an arrow from the initial problem definition to

the new one to show the linkage between the problems.

Then radiate possible solutions from this broader definition.

Fan Concept

Key points: (cont.)

Keep on expanding and redefining the problem until you have a useful solution.