Dunbar concluded that the diversity of expertise and experience in lab A allowed for more divergent thinking, which quickly led to an innovative solution. Lab managers are uniquely challenged when attempting to foster a culture of divergent thinking within their labs. Odon wasn’t just thinking outside the box; he was thinking outside his domain. Divergent thinking requires the use of analogies to reveal connections and commonalities across unrelated fields and disciplines. Developing divergent thinking across a team requires practice and a culture that encourages not just outside-the-box thinking, but outside-the-domain thinking.

Source: New York Times May 31, 2024 19:16 UTC