Why DO we do that anyway? One technique for breaking through assumptions

In an AutoWeek news story, the author mentioned that auto maker Mazda is considering using accelerator pedals that are hinged on the bottom, rather than what has become widespread in mass-market cars over the last 30-40 years, which is an accelerator that hangs from a pivot point above the pedal.

Mazda says that this "new" concept makes for more natural motion which reduces foot fatigue.  Sounds good.

"NEW" THINKING ON A COMMONLY ACCEPTED SOLUTION

I put "new" in quotes, because there was a time when that was the commonly accepted way of doing things (and many still do).  Yet most cars today have the pivot at the top, since it made running the cable from the pedal that gives more gas to the engine more direct, and didn't require a hole in the floor of the car.  So, it made sense to hang the accelerator from above. 

But wait!!

Nowadays, most new cars don't have cables!  There is no physical connection (throttle cable) between the pedal and the engine (it's electronic), which has become the norm in autos in the last few years.  So why do we still have hanging pedals if the bottom-hinged ones are more ergonomic?

Surfing around various discussion groups on the topic (yes, there are discussion groups on the topic), there are two reasons: 1) people are used to the hanging pedals so it's more familiar to them, 2) because it's the way it's always been done.

These two reasons are big blocks to innovation and creative thinking.  The first reason is that old "habit" thing, which we've talked about at length in other places. The second raises the question of how do we break out of traditions?

BREAK ON THROUGH TO THE OTHER SIDE

Assumptions are the innovation equivalent of the four-minute-mile.  No one thought it was possible to run a mile in under four minutes, and no one did it.  Until one amazing day in 1954 when Roger Bannister demonstrated that it was possible, and then lots of people did it (current record is under 3 and 3/4 minutes).

Assumptions also keep us from achieving winning results.  The trick is to identify the assumptions and then break them down.  It’s not an easy task, but here’s a technique that, with a healthy dose of deferred judgment, can create some brilliant new ways to look at the initiative.

WHEN TO USE IT:

This is probably something we should look at every day of our lives!  It’s most useful when there don’t seem to be any great ideas with which to solve the problem.  Use it when you’re stuck on an issue and you really need some breakthrough ideas.

But be aware that the technique is not sufficient by itself.  It truly requires you to give up your prejudices, your assumptions, your attitude of “I know how it works.”  Does that sound difficult?  Yup.  It is!

HOW TO DO IT:

Here’s how to facilitate “Smashing Assumptions”
1)    Brainstorm a list of “Assumptions” by generating answers to the following questions:

• “What are all of the things you KNOW are true about the situation? 
• “What do we know HAS to be?”
• “What CAN’T we do?”
• Review the data about the challenge to see if there are any mandates, or things we “can’t” do, or assumptions that have been made.  Chances are there are lots of them.

2)    After you’ve generated a sufficient list, have the group generate ideas to overcome each of the list of “assumptions” they just generated.

3)    Assign each group member one “assumption” from the list and have him/her generate three ideas to overturn the mandate.  If they’re stuck, have them generate a solution that starts with “Eliminate…”

4)    Encourage them to be as wild as necessary.  No, tell them that they must think like radical revolutionaries!

I remember (nervously) trying this technique for the first time during an ideation session for a new ice cream product.  I asked for "what had to be" and the one we chose to work on was, "ice cream has to come in a package."  Now I was really nervous. I asked for ideas for how to overcome that assumption and someone immediately chimed in, "put the package in the ice cream -- ice cream on a stick!" 
And so was born the idea of ice cream bars.  Okay, not really, but the simplicity of the solution pointed out to me how my own thinking was limited.

So try this technique, and see if you can't accelerate the pace of innovation by breaking through the barriers of what's always been done before!

(Note: bottom-hinged pedal photo from MCS, not Mazda: http://www.mcs-belgium.com/en/accueil.html)

Comments

[Bob Eckert]

You may have facilitated the invention of ice cream on a stick, but I invented the stick. Here on my own tree farm. And, I now have invented 28 varieties of stick, one for each flavor of icecream at the Howard Johnsons in Lake Placid. Now, if we could just solve the splinter problem....