Tool 70: Double Reversal

AKA

Reversed Thinking

Classification

Idea Generating (IG)

Tool description

The double reversal is a reversed thinking process that allows teams to continue with idea generating after they have run out of ideas or simply have found no novel way of looking at the problem. This tool requires an issue, idea, or goal to be reversed or stated in a negative form in order to gain more ideas of what could cause the problem. Reversing again each reversed idea should produce potential action steps to consider in the problem solution phase.

Typical application

• To identify the less obvious ideas for problem resolution.

• To expand the list of ideas developed during a classical brainstorming session.

• To search for additional process or quality improvement opportunities.

• To recover from an unproductive brainstorming effort.

• To further clarify a problem to gain more solution ideas.

Problem-solving phase

→	Select and define problem or opportunity
→	Identify and analyze causes or potential change
→	Develop and plan possible solutions or change
	Implement and evaluate solution or change
	Measure and report solution or change results
	Recognize and reward team efforts

Typically used by

	Research/statistics
1	Creativity/innovation
	Engineering
	Project management
	Manufacturing
	Marketing/sales
	Administration/documentation
	Servicing/support
3	Customer/quality metrics
2	Change management

links to other tools

before

• Brainstorming

• Round Robin Brainstorming

• Focus Group

• Crawford Slip Method

• Brainwriting

after

• Sticking Dots

• Opportunity Analysis

• Consensus Decision Making

• Multivoting

• Process Selection Matrix

Notes and key points

• Reversed also means, for this tool application, the negated or negative form of the idea presented.

Step-by-step procedure

• STEP 1 The team reviews the session objective or desired improvement goal. See example Reduce the Percentage of "No Shows" in Scheduled Training Workshops.

• STEP 2 A list of ideas, previously brainstormed, is displayed and discussed.

• STEP 3 The next action taken is to reverse the objective. See example Increase the percentage of "No Shows" in Scheduled Training Workshops.

• STEP 4 The team now brainstorms how to make the condition or problem worse—the reversed or negative form of the objective.

• STEP 5 Once the reversed ideas have been recorded, the team reverses again all ideas—the double reversal process.

• STEP 6 The final step is to add all newly developed ideas to the previous list. The team now has some fresh, different potential solutions to the problem.

Example of tool application

Reduce the Percentage of "No-Shows" in Scheduled Training orkshops