Think through opposites to assess and solve problems - Seesoc & Co. UPGRADE IN PROGRESS

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DECISION & PROBLEM SOLVING

Think through opposites to assess and solve problems

Examples of opposites

Top-Down

From broad overview to details.

Bottom-Up

From details to broad overview.

Short-term

Quick effects or immediate considerations.

Long-term

Long-range planning, future impacts, sustainability.

Internal

Factors or processes originating within the organization.

External

Factors or processes originating outside the organization.

Current state

Existing condition or status.

Future state

Desired or projected condition or status.

Local

Pertaining to a specific, limited area or region.

Global

Pertaining to a broad, comprehensive scope.

Objective

Based on facts, observations, or measurable criteria.

Subjective

Personal opinions, perspectives, or experiences.

Sequential

Tasks occur in a linear order, one after the other.

Concurrent

Tasks occur simultaneously or overlap in time.

Individual

Individual entity, person, or component.

Systemic

Multiple interconnected components, interdependencies.

Theoretical

Ideas, principles, frameworks.

Practical

Real-world application, hands-on experience.

Robust

Withstand changes without breaking or failing.

Sensitive

Easily affected or responsive to changes.

Risk

Potential for loss or adverse outcomes.

Opportunity

Potential for gain or positive outcomes.

Reactive

Deal with problems as they arise.

Proactive

Address issues before they become problems.

Centralized

Concentrated decision-making authority.

Decentralized

Distributed decision-making authority.

Technical

Tools, techniques, or specialized areas.

Organizational

Organization, culture, and human dynamics.

Manual

Processes requiring human intervention and oversight.

Automated

Processes operating with minimal human intervention.

WHY IT MATTERS

Questioning through opposites fosters a more comprehensive understanding of the situation at hand, even if the terms/concepts used are not strictly opposite or mutually exclusive.

It empowers you to navigate complexity with mental agility and creativity, driving more effective strategies and solutions for your and your clients’ problems.

WHAT TO DO

Use the opposite ends of a spectrum within a concept to characterize a situation or element under consideration.

“Is it … or is it…?”; “We are talking about…, then how about…”.

E.g., Next steps (Short-term / Long-term); Approach (Top-down / Bottom-up); Governance (Centralized / Decentralized); Issue (Technical / Organizational), etc.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Aristotle. (c. 350 BCE). Categories.
Aristotle. (c. 350 BCE). Metaphysics.
de Bono, E. (1970). Lateral Thinking: Creativity Step by Step. Harper & Row.

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