Thinking in New Boxes

When BIC, manufacturer of disposable ballpoint pens, wanted to grow, it looked for an idea beyond introducing new sizes and ink colors. Someone suggested lighters.

LIGHTERS?

With an idea that seemed crazy at first, that bright executive, instead of seeing BIC as a pen companya business in the PEN boxfigured out that there was growth to be found in the DISPOSABLE box. And he was right. Now there are disposable BIC lighters, razors, even phones. The company opened its door to a host of opportunities.

IT INVENTED A NEW BOX.

Your business can, too. And simply thinking out of the box is not the answer. True ingenuity needs structure, hard analysis, and bold brainstorming. It needs to start

THINKING IN NEW BOXES

a revolutionary process for sustainable creativity from two strategic innovation experts from The Boston Consulting Group (BCG).

To make sense of the world, we all rely on assumptions, on modelson what Luc de Brabandere and Alan Iny call boxes. If we are unaware of our boxes, they can blind us to risks and opportunities.

This innovative book challenges everything you thought you knew about business creativity by breaking creativity down into five steps:

Doubt everything. Challenge your current perspectives.
Probe the possible. Explore options around you.
Diverge. Generate many new and exciting ideas, even if they seem absurd.
Converge. Evaluate and select the ideas that will drive breakthrough results.
Reevaluate. Relentlessly. No idea is a good idea forever. And did we mention Reevaluate? Relentlessly.

Creativity is paramount if you are to thrive in a time of accelerating change. Replete with practical and potent creativity tools, and featuring fascinating case studies from BIC to Ford to Trader Joes, Thinking in New Boxes will help you and your company overcome missed opportunities and stay ahead of the curve.

This book isnt a simpleminded checklist. This is Thinking in New Boxes.

And it will be fun. (We promise.)

Praise for Thinking in New Boxes

Excellent . . . While focusing on business creativity, the principles in this book apply anywhere change is needed and will be of interest to anyone seeking to reinvent herself.Blogcritics

Thinking in New Boxes is a five-step guide that leverages the authors deep understanding of human nature to enable readers to overcome their limitations and both imagine and create their own futures. This book is a must-read for people living and working in todays competitive environment.Ray O. Johnson, Ph.D., chief technology officer, Lockheed Martin

Thinking In New Boxes discusses what I believe to be one of the fundamental shifts all companies/brands need to be thinking about: how to think creatively, in order to innovate and differentiate our brands. We need to thrive and lead in a world of accelerating change and this book challenges us to even greater creativity in our thinking. One of the best business books Ive read in a long time.Jennifer Fox, CEO, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts

As impressive as teaching new tricks to old dogs, Thinking in New Boxes is both inspirational and practicala comprehensive, step-by-step guide to sharpening ones wits in order to harness creativity in the workplace.Peter Gelb, general manager, Metropolitan Opera


From the Hardcover edition.