Classic de Bono …the simple idea…high use value Over the years Dr Edward de Bono has shared great insights through his messages. This series of blogs revisits some of those highlights.

..the simple idea…high use value.

In 1971 I ran a workshop for Shell Oil in London. At that workshop I put forward the suggestion of horizontal drilling. Instead of an oil well just going down vertically, the well would go down to the level of the oil bearing stratum, and then move horizontally along the stratum. Today almost all oil wells are drilled like this, because the yield is three to six times as high as from traditional wells. I have no way of claiming that the change was due to my suggestion. The change may have nothing whatever to do with my suggestion – and may have already been envisaged. The historic point, however, is that the suggestion was made and has proved to be valuable. Several years ago I did a seminar for the Post Office, in London. At that seminar, I put forward the idea of stamps, which had no value printed on them. The stamps would say ‘1st class’ and you would buy the stamp at the prevailing price. A few months later the Post Office put this idea into practice. Again I have no way of claiming that the change was due to my suggestion. But the historic fact remains. The idea was put forward and proved to be useful. In my book ‘Simplicity’, I asked why there was no passport control on leaving the U.S.A., but there was on leaving the U.K. A few months after publication of the book, passport control on leaving the U.K. (at least at Heathrow), was abolished. What these examples show, and there are more, is that a simple idea suggested by someone outside the relevant field, can have a high use value. How often do we seek such ideas?

Edward de Bono nmt

8th July 2001

Sydney

  Dr Edward de Bono is a world leading authority on thinking skills.  Creator of the famous Six Thinking Hats®, Lateral Thinking and many other workshops he has authored over 80 books published in 35 languages. Holst is Dr Edward de Bono’s partner in Europe. Click here for more information about Dr de Bono and his tools. Would you like to change how people think? Consider adding Dr Edward de Bono’s tools to your portfolio and become a certified de Bono trainer.  ]]>