The Cognitive Challenges of Innovation

Amit Mayer

Amit Mayer

Duncker’s Experiment

Amit Mayer

Duncker’s Experiment

Amit Mayer

Duncker’s Experiment

Amit Mayer

Functional Fixedness

Functional Fixedness | Definition

The tendency to create a strong association between an element (physical or other) and its designated function , resulting in difficulty to consider additional functions for that element.

Amit Mayer

The Bad, the Good and the Great News…

The BAD news: Functional Fixedness is an omni-present cognitive force that limits our innovative capacity, i.e. our ability to develop truly innovative ideas.

The GOOD news: Understanding Functional Fixedness gives us a clearer sense of what we are up against. It is a piece of ‘counterintelligence’.

The GREAT news: Based on this understanding we can identify simple tools and strategies to mitigate the limiting effects of Functional Fixedness!

Amit Mayer

Systematic Inventive Thinking - Task Unification

Task Unification | Definition

Assigning a new task to an existing resource .

Amit Mayer

Systematic Inventive Thinking - Task Unification

Task Unification | Definition

Assigning a new task to an existing resource .

Candle

Thumbtacks

Matches

Wax

Wick

Outer match box

Inner match box

…

Amit Mayer

Systematic Inventive Thinking - Task Unification

Task Unification | Definition

Assigning a new task to an existing resource .

The Walkman

Amit Mayer

Systematic Inventive Thinking - Task Unification

Task Unification | Definition

Assigning a new task to an existing resource .

Sprinklers

Amit Mayer

Systematic Inventive Thinking - Task Unification

Task Unification | Definition

Assigning a new task to an existing resource .

VW Beetle water pump

Amit Mayer

Systematic Inventive Thinking - Task Unification

Task Unification | Definition

Assigning a new task to an existing resource .

Espresso coffee machine

Amit Mayer

Systematic Inventive Thinking - Task Unification

Task Unification | Definition

Assigning a new task to an existing resource .

Police Barrier

Amit Mayer

Systematic Inventive Thinking - Task Unification

Task Unification | Definition

Assigning a new task to an existing resource .

Airplane lavatory

Amit Mayer

Structural Fixedness

Structural Fixedness | Definition

The tendency to create a strong association between an element or a process and its structure , resulting in difficulty to consider an alternative structure/order.

Amit Mayer

The Bad, the Good and the Great News…

The BAD news: Structural Fixedness is another omni-present cognitive force that limits our innovative capacity, i.e. our ability to develop truly innovative ideas.

The GOOD news: Understanding Structural Fixedness gives us even clearer sense of what we are up against. It is another piece of ‘counterintelligence’.

The GREAT news: Based on this understanding we can identify additional tools and strategies to mitigate the limiting effects of structural Fixedness!

Amit Mayer

Systematic Inventive Thinking - Division

Division | Definition

Rearranging the components of a product or a process in space or in time.

Amit Mayer

Systematic Inventive Thinking - Division

Division | Definition

Rearranging the components of a product or a process in space or in time.

Street lamps and reflectors

Amit Mayer

Systematic Inventive Thinking - Division

Division | Definition

Rearranging the components of a product or a process in space or in time.

Refrigerator with bottom freezer

Amit Mayer

Systematic Inventive Thinking - Division

Division | Definition

Rearranging the components of a product or a process in space or in time.

Blinkers on mirrors

Amit Mayer

Systematic Inventive Thinking - Division

Division | Definition

Rearranging the components of a product or a process in space or in time.

Http cookies

Amit Mayer

Systematic Inventive Thinking - Division

Division | Definition

Rearranging the components of a product or a process in space or in time.

Divided antibiotic prescription

Amit Mayer

Systematic Inventive Thinking - Division

Division | Definition

Rearranging the components of a product or a process in space or in time.

Andersen's Easy-Install storm doors

Amit Mayer

SIT Helps …

Amit Mayer

Amit Mayer

…a Treasure Hunt? …the Gold Rush!

Innovation Should be Like …

Amit Mayer

A m i t M a y e r

a m i t . m a y e r @ g m a i l . c o m

w w w . s i t s i t e . c o m

Thank you