2013.3.20 1Tad Takenaka 2013

Quadrants for Thinking

“WHY”

Tadashi Takenaka

Kyoto, Japan

2013.3.20 Tad Takenaka 2013 2

Preface

The idea of Quadrants for thinking is inspired

by “TOCfE” work shop by Mrs. Kathy Suerken on

August 16th -19th, 2011 in Kyoto. The following

three thinking tools were presented at the class as

well as CLR, categories of legitimate reservation:

- Branch

- Cloud

- Ambitious target tree

WHY?WHY?WHY?WHY?

WHY?WHY?WHY?WHY?2013.3.20 Tad Takenaka 2013 3

The three tools are based on cause - effect

relationship, or simply based on answers to “Why

did it happen?”, “Why can you say so?”

Branch – puts you in the picture by providing

logical relationships between the facts or opinions.

Cloud – analyzes each needs and common

objective in the structure of a conflict of wants.

Ambitious target tree – finds obstacles before

setting intermediate objectives to achieve a target.

WHY?WHY?WHY?WHY?2013.3.20 Tad Takenaka 2013 4

I noticed that objectives, obstacles, causes,

and reasons are related each other and are all

necessary to think critically.

This article introduces the relationship and

structure of answers to “Why”, namely four aspects

of “Because” divided by a time axis and a border

of the inner mind and the outer world.

2013.3.20 Tad Takenaka 2013 5

WHY?WHY?WHY?WHY?

2013.3.20 Tad Takenaka 2013 6

Quadrants for thinking “WHY”

Inner mind

Outer world

Objectives,Needs

Obstacles,Uncertainty

Lesson,Hypotheses

Experience,Knowledge

Past Future

2013.3.20 Tad Takenaka 2013 7

Features of Thinking Quadrants

The thinking quadrants make a clockwise

cycle: Objective – Obstacle – Experience – Lesson,

then setting a new objective in the next turn.

As growing up, we spread the quadrants

deeper in the inner mind and broader in the outer

world.

Each quadrant is a piece of chain, which could

be a constraint when we think comprehensively. It

should be a good idea to improve thinking ability

keeping the balance of the four quadrants.

2013.3.20 Tad Takenaka 2013 8

Thinking cycle

Inner mind

Outer world

1.Objectives

2.Obstacles

4.Lesson

3.Experience

Past Future

2013.3.20 Tad Takenaka 2013 9

Be ambitious

We all face obstacles in

achieving objectives.

We imagine or deduct to pick

out risks and chances from the sea

of uncertainty and try to find how

to overcome the obstacles.

Big ambitious / Big hurdles.

1. Objectives

2. Obstacles

2013.3.20 Tad Takenaka 2013 10

Fighting spirit

After fighting against difficulties, we get a

result or at least some reactions.

It depends on your view of the world (criteria

and assumptions)whether your action or effort has

resulted in success or in failure.

2.Obstacles3.Experience

2013.3.20 Tad Takenaka 2013 11

Learn a lesson

We learn a lesson from the

outer world through experience

of ourselves and others.

We use our recognition and

induction capability to form a

better hypothesis.

The most important life

lesson would be “Failure

teaches success.”

3. Experience

4. Lesson

2013.3.20 Tad Takenaka 2013 12

Find hope

Based on what we have learned, we set a new

goal, hoping a better life and a better world.

The vector/magnitude and direction of setting

goals depends on our sense of values, mission, or

whatever you may call the aim as human beings.

4. Lesson 1. Objectives

2013.3.20 Tad Takenaka 2013 13

Aim

Think

Action

Objectives

Obstacles

Lesson

Experience

Mission, Value, Vision

What to do, How to do

2013.3.20 Tad Takenaka 2013 14

Way of thinking

Inner mind: belief–opinion basis, speculative,

meditative, integrated, metaphysical

Outer world: observational fact basis, analytical,

scientific, physical

Objectives

Obstacles

Lesson

Experience

Time

2013.3.20 Tad Takenaka 2013 15

Example: Winter playground

Objectives:Lead a healthy and

wealthy life

Obstacles:No work while nursing your child sick in bed

Hypothesis:Lower temperature,

weaker immune response

Experience:Sweat cools the body too much after playing around wearing a coat

Not put a coat on your child

2013.3.20 Tad Takenaka 2013 16

Strategy

Thinking quadrants give you a consistent and

universal strategy before you decide what to do.

Objectives

Risks and Chances

Hypothesis

Experience, Knowledge

What to do, How to do

2013.3.20 Tad Takenaka 2013 17

Example: War

Objectives:Homeland security

Risks and Chances:Enemy invasion

Hypothesis:Winnable force

Experience:Diplomatic failure

Attack the enemy

2013.3.20 Tad Takenaka 2013 18

Versatile frame for thinking

Time axis and inner/outer axis are useful for

analyzing various thinking fields like personal,

business, social, biological issues, etc.

Each quadrant may contain various ideas or

concept from elementary level to matured and

optimized level of thinking.

2013.3.20 Tad Takenaka 2013 19

Versatility

Objectives, Visions, Purposes, Goal,

Target, Efficiency, Security, Solidarity

Obstacles, Risks and Chances, Uncertainty, Absurdity, Surprises

Lesson, Morality, Hypothesis, Theory, Perceived notion,

Instinctive

Experience, Knowledge, Success

and failure

2013.3.20 Tad Takenaka 2013 20

Constraints

Each quadrant is a piece of thinking chain. A

wrong or immature quadrant could distort or bias

rational thinking. Assumption to attribute everything

to a personal effort leads to miss out on kaizen.

The thinking cycle might stop or even reverse

by many factors for example; physical conditions,

mental shrink at failure, thick shell of past success,

burn-out syndrome, etc.

2013.3.20 Tad Takenaka 2013 21

Constraints

Evil passions, Likes and dislikes, Egotism,

Own interests

Excuses, Evasion, Few allowances,

Cover-up

Mere assumption, Limited premise,

Shoulds and Musts, The laws of jungle

Shrink at failure, Waver between hope and despair at every

event

rational thinking

2013.3.20 Tad Takenaka 2013 22

Grow up

In childhood, you live in the center of a fantasy

world.

As you grow up, you spread your field of thinking.

Meanwhile, you increase the characters who you

put on the stage of your mind and put yourself in

his/her shoes.

In due course, you become open-minded, think

about the past and future roll in the society, and

strengthen your faith by spiraling up your thinking

quadrants.

2013.3.20 Tad Takenaka 2013 23

Grow up: Child

You are in the center of the world and see the

surroundings from only your point of view.

Fun, Challenges,Adolescence

Dangers, Chances

Fantasy (believe St. Claus), Need more

lessons

Under the care and protection of family

and society

2013.3.20 Tad Takenaka 2013 24

Grow up: Adult

You put yourself in other people’s shoes and

share your thought or faith with others

Social purposes, Common interests

Chances and risks,

Innate goodness, Realistic teachings,

Modesty

Our culture and history

2013.3.20 Tad Takenaka 2013 25

End

2013.3.20 Tad Takenaka 2013 26

First presentation in Japanese:

January 22, 2012 at TOCfE Japan Conference,

Tokyo

Recent presentation in Japanese:

November 19.2012 at TOCfE Japan sectional

meeting, Osaka

Updated and translation to English:

March 20, 2013 on Slideshare

(https://www.facebook.com/2012Tad)