Getting out of the box

An interesting read on how makeshift ideas can lead to long-lasting innovation

- MADAN SABNAVIS

THE NAMES OF Billy Fisher and Teresa Hodge will not mean much to the reader when this book Alien Thinking is picked up, but will constantly be referred to as some kind of role models that the authors have presented when explaining the concept of alien thinking. In short, the authors show that there are no limits to imagination, and we can achieve a lot if we want to. For this, we need to think differently. This holds for entrepreneurs, scientists, doctors or artists, and hence even companies.

Alien Thinking by Bouquet, Barsoux and Wade is a very interesting book that is meant more for individuals, which when applied at the macro level, will translate to affirmative action in companies. As the word ALIEN suggests, it has something to do with out-of-the-box thinking. This works better if you are not directly in the business but are able to conceptualise, take your chances and deliver the final product or service. If one is already immersed in doing any specific work, it is less likely that such thinking will come naturally as we get into a routine way of thinking and need to break out of it. This is easier said than done because otherwise all companies and individuals would be successes.