Disney method

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The Disney Method, developed by Robert Dilts in 1994, is a complex creativity strategy in which a group uses four specific thinking styles in turn.

Contents

Method

It involves sequential thinking to analyse a problem, generate ideas, evaluate ideas, construct and critique a plan of action. The four thinking styles are – outsiders, dreamers, realisers, and critics:

  1. In the first thinking style the group thinks as "outsiders" to gain an analytical, external view of the challenge.
  2. They then act as "dreamers" to brainstorm ideal solutions. They use divergent thinking to conceive creative and radical ideas.
  3. In the next mode the group adopts a "realiser" viewpoint. They act as pragmatic realists and use convergent thinking to review the ideas left by the dreamers. They select the best idea and construct a plan for it.
  4. The fourth viewpoint is that of "critics". They review the plan made by the realists in order to identify weaknesses, obstacles or risks. They seek to improve the plan.

IGD Learning in "Working collaboratively: The Disney Method Strategy" [1] breaks down these parts and how they can be implemented in the workforce:

Similar methods

The method is comparable to and an alternative to de Bono's method of the Six Thinking Hats. The difference is, that in the Disney method the sequence is constant, whereas the Six Thinking Hats can be used in any appropriate order.

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References

  1. Working collaboratively: The Disney Method Strategy.