Theory of Constraints & More Epistemology De Bono Extract

A Guide to Implementing the Theory of Constraints (TOC)
PowerPoints	Preface	Introduction	Contents	Next Step	Advanced

Deming
& Johnson

Taylor & Social Darwinism

Toyota, Kaizen, & Lean

Epistemology

Paradox of Systemism

Extract

From De Bono, E., (1982) De Bono's Thinking Course, pg 12

“Twenty‑five years of experience in the field have convinced me that many people who consider themselves to be highly intelligent are not necessarily good thinkers. They get caught in the intelligence trap. There are many aspects of this trap but I shall mention just two.

A highly intelligent person can take a view on a subject and then use his or her intelligence to defend that view. The more intelligent the person the better the defence of the view. The better the defence of the view the less that person sees any need too seek out alternatives or to listen to anyone else. If you know that you are ‘right’ why should you do either of those things? As a result, many highly intelligent minds are trapped in poor ideas because they can defend them so well.

A second aspect of the intelligence trap is that a person who has grown up with the notion that he or she is more intelligent than those around (possibly a correct view) wants to get the most satisfaction from that intelligence. The quickest and most reliable way to be rewarded for intelligence is to ‘prove someone else wrong.’ Such a strategy gives you an immediate result and also establishes your superiority. Being constructive is much less rewarding. It may take years to show that a new idea works. Furthermore, you have to depend on the listener liking your idea. So it is obvious that being critical and destructive is a much more appealing use of intelligence.”