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ALIEN Thinking: The Unconventional Path to Breakthrough Ideas
How do people come up with truly original ideas? The answer is to think outside the box—way outside.
For the past decade, Cyril Bouquet, Jean-Louis Barsoux, and Michael Wade, professors of innovation and strategy at IMD Business School, have studied inventors, scientists, doctors, entrepreneurs, and artists. These people, or “aliens,” as the authors call them, are able to make leaps of creativity, and use five patterns of thinking that distinguish them from the rest of us.
These five patterns— A ttention, L evitation, I magination, E xperimentation, and N avigation—lead to a fresh and flexible approach to problem-solving. Alien thinkers know how to free the imagination so it can detect hard-to-observe patterns. They practice deliberate ways to retreat from the world in order to see the big picture underlying a problem. And they approach ideas in systematic ways that reflect the constraints of reality.
Through surprising and compelling stories, the authors show how readers can use this method to develop out-of-this-world ideas. ALIEN Thinking can help any of us find innovative solutions to the most difficult problems.
For the past decade, Cyril Bouquet, Jean-Louis Barsoux, and Michael Wade, professors of innovation and strategy at IMD Business School, have studied inventors, scientists, doctors, entrepreneurs, and artists. These people, or “aliens,” as the authors call them, are able to make leaps of creativity, and use five patterns of thinking that distinguish them from the rest of us.
These five patterns— A ttention, L evitation, I magination, E xperimentation, and N avigation—lead to a fresh and flexible approach to problem-solving. Alien thinkers know how to free the imagination so it can detect hard-to-observe patterns. They practice deliberate ways to retreat from the world in order to see the big picture underlying a problem. And they approach ideas in systematic ways that reflect the constraints of reality.
Through surprising and compelling stories, the authors show how readers can use this method to develop out-of-this-world ideas. ALIEN Thinking can help any of us find innovative solutions to the most difficult problems.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published March 16, 2021
55 people are currently reading
511 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
August 19, 2021
Q:
ALIEN stands for Attention, Levitation, Imagination, Experimentation, and Navigation. (c)
Q:
...unconventional thinkers focus their attention closely and with fresh eyes. At various times, they also step back and/or step away from the creative process to gain perspective and enrich their understanding, a process we have dubbed levitation. In addition, unconventional thinkers hone their ability to recognize hard-to-see patterns and to connect seemingly disparate dots. This allows them to imagine unorthodox combinations and to experiment quickly and smartly. Finally, they learn to navigate potentially hostile environments outside and within their organizations. This enables them to safely incubate their ideas and recruit powerful allies, so their ideas aren’t shot down during the embryonic stage. The challenge in every part of this framework is to overcome biases and mental models that can constrain creativity or doom a great idea.
We don’t offer a literal genie or bottled da Vinci. But with the ALIEN framework, we do offer a set of innovation tools that can be applied to any endeavor. No longer do you need to wait for inspiration to strike—if it ever does. You can use the ALIEN model to catalyze original thinking and fast-track your ability to spot patterns and make the right mental connections. (c)
Q:
Neural networks are not new. They’ve been around in one form or another since the 1960s. The idea behind them is to roughly simulate the way that biological systems work, particularly brains, where multiple streams of data are mathematically weighted and analyzed iteratively through a series of layers. (c) Well, I wouldn't go THAT far. We don't know for sure just how brains work. We aren't really able to understand just how 'mathematically' we think. Or even if we do, considering all the heuristics and behaviouristic science findings pointing how just how illogical we are, oftentimes.
ALIEN stands for Attention, Levitation, Imagination, Experimentation, and Navigation. (c)
Q:
...unconventional thinkers focus their attention closely and with fresh eyes. At various times, they also step back and/or step away from the creative process to gain perspective and enrich their understanding, a process we have dubbed levitation. In addition, unconventional thinkers hone their ability to recognize hard-to-see patterns and to connect seemingly disparate dots. This allows them to imagine unorthodox combinations and to experiment quickly and smartly. Finally, they learn to navigate potentially hostile environments outside and within their organizations. This enables them to safely incubate their ideas and recruit powerful allies, so their ideas aren’t shot down during the embryonic stage. The challenge in every part of this framework is to overcome biases and mental models that can constrain creativity or doom a great idea.
We don’t offer a literal genie or bottled da Vinci. But with the ALIEN framework, we do offer a set of innovation tools that can be applied to any endeavor. No longer do you need to wait for inspiration to strike—if it ever does. You can use the ALIEN model to catalyze original thinking and fast-track your ability to spot patterns and make the right mental connections. (c)
Q:
Neural networks are not new. They’ve been around in one form or another since the 1960s. The idea behind them is to roughly simulate the way that biological systems work, particularly brains, where multiple streams of data are mathematically weighted and analyzed iteratively through a series of layers. (c) Well, I wouldn't go THAT far. We don't know for sure just how brains work. We aren't really able to understand just how 'mathematically' we think. Or even if we do, considering all the heuristics and behaviouristic science findings pointing how just how illogical we are, oftentimes.
March 22, 2021
I enjoyed this book way more than I thought I would. Sometimes, books like this are way too anecdotal and seem more like subjective self-help "woo woo", but these authors did a great job. I'm someone who has a million ideas a day, and I need help organizing those thoughts to get them off the ground. ALIEN Thinking provided practical advice with case studies, and even though there are plenty of anecdotes, they tied in really well with the strategies. I found myself taking some time after each chapter to wrestle with an idea I had using one of their strategies and made some great strides with different projects I'm working on. I can definitely see myself reading this book again in the future.
November 24, 2020
There are a number of books on innovation, and this one is pretty good and might be a good one to add to an innovation library. While a bit repetitive, it does provide a solid approach to creative thinking. It includes helpful stories and examples, as well as summaries of key points. This is well-written and very clear. Recommended.
I really appreciate the ARC for review!!
I really appreciate the ARC for review!!
December 29, 2020
I received a digital electronic galley of this book in exchange for a fair review.
The authors use the mnemonic ALIEN (Attention, Levitation, Imagination, Experimentation, Navigation) to advocate an approach that businesses can use for creative thinking in innovation and problem solving. Five of the chapters expound on the particular category by explaining the topic, using business examples for emphasis and at the end of the chapter provide a summary and some exercises that readers can use to further understand the concept. Later chapters address how digital strategies can complement ALIEN thinking and how the 5 categories conceptually fit together.
Overall, the book is well-written, thematically well-arranged and the exercises are practical and thoughtful. Critically important (but not enough attention is paid to) is how multiple variables can stymie the implementation (or Navigation) of breakthrough thinking in organizations. Furthermore, the authors write, "ALIEN thinkers may need to fly under the radar while their innovations are in the early stages of development, recruit influential supporters, and position their offerings in ways that don't overtly threaten the status quo." Doesn't this stymie iconoclastic thinkers-- to have to navigate politics and culture which is the biggest reason why companies fail to adapt? I think the better solution is to recognize the organization you are in and if it doesn't reward this type of thinking then move to one that does or develop your entrepreneurial skills and try to partner with similarly committed individuals. There are enough people in organizations who are skilled in the art of politics. To think that an innovative individual should then be skillful in the use of political machinations to adopt something that would ultimately be beneficial to the company seems to me a waste of their talents. Paradoxically, the authors' examples of these types of situations further highlight this problem as most of the companies they write about have already internally embraced the idea but are now expending their energy toward regulators, external stakeholders, etc. There is a huge difference between a path breaking idea that is squashed internally and never gets accepted versus one that is accepted and has the whole organization on board to overcome externally-related challenges. The story the authors tell of Steven Sasson, who while at Kodak developed and understood the promise of a digital camera, almost makes it seem as if he was somehow culpable for Kodak refusing to embrace the technology because of not being a deft politician skilled at navigating alliances, upsetting prominent individuals or using company-appropriate language. He had the audacity to call his invention 'filmless photography,' which apparently in the Kodak culture was more destructive than a nuclear bomb. Instead, the blame in my opinion goes solely to Kodak leadership who missed this opportunity because of a calcific culture and should serve as an example of how this culture won't win in the era of disruptive innovation. Instead Kodak's leaders, and other autocratic cultures should be hoisted on their own petard to be made an example of how poor leadership sucks the soul out of its employees and ruins jobs.
There is also some dissonance about the use of technology in implementing this type of thinking. On one hand the authors write, "Overreliance on technology interferes with her awareness of her surroundings, her ability to feel, to make connections, to learn as she goes, and to adapt." Whereas later in the book the authors write, “The most successful ALIEN thinkers today...understand the power of digital technologies to inspire, test, improve, and promote their ideas." Although technology can assist companies in developing insights in new markets, explore new products and improve operations, I think the biggest trap companies can fall into is burying themselves analyzing big data and then creating a story based on this retrospectively collected data rather than talking to employees, customers, critics, etc. Even the type of sensors that collect bodily data at this point have not been scaled to where there is widespread adoption. Weight loss and exercise apps have not been successful in medical studies, which highlights what successful ideas are meant to do, which is change behavior. In order to do this there are multiple explanatory variables that encompass psychology, decision-making, motivation, etc. within complex adaptive systems that contribute to a true understanding of introducing a successful idea that solves a big problem. However, this book, as much as possible, gives a wide lens to at least be able to think about these problems in a quasi-disciplined way.
The authors use the mnemonic ALIEN (Attention, Levitation, Imagination, Experimentation, Navigation) to advocate an approach that businesses can use for creative thinking in innovation and problem solving. Five of the chapters expound on the particular category by explaining the topic, using business examples for emphasis and at the end of the chapter provide a summary and some exercises that readers can use to further understand the concept. Later chapters address how digital strategies can complement ALIEN thinking and how the 5 categories conceptually fit together.
Overall, the book is well-written, thematically well-arranged and the exercises are practical and thoughtful. Critically important (but not enough attention is paid to) is how multiple variables can stymie the implementation (or Navigation) of breakthrough thinking in organizations. Furthermore, the authors write, "ALIEN thinkers may need to fly under the radar while their innovations are in the early stages of development, recruit influential supporters, and position their offerings in ways that don't overtly threaten the status quo." Doesn't this stymie iconoclastic thinkers-- to have to navigate politics and culture which is the biggest reason why companies fail to adapt? I think the better solution is to recognize the organization you are in and if it doesn't reward this type of thinking then move to one that does or develop your entrepreneurial skills and try to partner with similarly committed individuals. There are enough people in organizations who are skilled in the art of politics. To think that an innovative individual should then be skillful in the use of political machinations to adopt something that would ultimately be beneficial to the company seems to me a waste of their talents. Paradoxically, the authors' examples of these types of situations further highlight this problem as most of the companies they write about have already internally embraced the idea but are now expending their energy toward regulators, external stakeholders, etc. There is a huge difference between a path breaking idea that is squashed internally and never gets accepted versus one that is accepted and has the whole organization on board to overcome externally-related challenges. The story the authors tell of Steven Sasson, who while at Kodak developed and understood the promise of a digital camera, almost makes it seem as if he was somehow culpable for Kodak refusing to embrace the technology because of not being a deft politician skilled at navigating alliances, upsetting prominent individuals or using company-appropriate language. He had the audacity to call his invention 'filmless photography,' which apparently in the Kodak culture was more destructive than a nuclear bomb. Instead, the blame in my opinion goes solely to Kodak leadership who missed this opportunity because of a calcific culture and should serve as an example of how this culture won't win in the era of disruptive innovation. Instead Kodak's leaders, and other autocratic cultures should be hoisted on their own petard to be made an example of how poor leadership sucks the soul out of its employees and ruins jobs.
There is also some dissonance about the use of technology in implementing this type of thinking. On one hand the authors write, "Overreliance on technology interferes with her awareness of her surroundings, her ability to feel, to make connections, to learn as she goes, and to adapt." Whereas later in the book the authors write, “The most successful ALIEN thinkers today...understand the power of digital technologies to inspire, test, improve, and promote their ideas." Although technology can assist companies in developing insights in new markets, explore new products and improve operations, I think the biggest trap companies can fall into is burying themselves analyzing big data and then creating a story based on this retrospectively collected data rather than talking to employees, customers, critics, etc. Even the type of sensors that collect bodily data at this point have not been scaled to where there is widespread adoption. Weight loss and exercise apps have not been successful in medical studies, which highlights what successful ideas are meant to do, which is change behavior. In order to do this there are multiple explanatory variables that encompass psychology, decision-making, motivation, etc. within complex adaptive systems that contribute to a true understanding of introducing a successful idea that solves a big problem. However, this book, as much as possible, gives a wide lens to at least be able to think about these problems in a quasi-disciplined way.
March 22, 2021
An excellent book. Well written and highly enjoyable. A great framework that can be immediately applied (at the same time as it being a life's work)!
June 23, 2021
Alien Thinking (2021) is a simple guide to having great ideas.
Rather than simply waiting for inspiration to strike, it lays out five key skills that enable anyone to innovate on demand.
Rather than simply waiting for inspiration to strike, it lays out five key skills that enable anyone to innovate on demand.
October 1, 2021
ALIEN Thinking by IMD Professors of innovation and strategy - Bouquet, Barsoux, and Wade is the effort of a decade of studying "alien" innovators who pushed the boundaries of the 5 thinking patterns that makes up ALIEN - Attention, Levitation, Imagination, Experimentation, and Navigation. The authors propose ALIEN Thinking as an alternative to linear innovation processes like Lean or Design thinking, on the premise that the innovation process observed for breakthrough solutions is never a sequence, but lateral play between the 5 patterns. And, they are convincing in their arguments!
The authors dedicate 1 chapter each to the 5 patterns, then cover digital capabilities that support the ALIEN methodology, and finally a chapter dedicated to how innovators can overcome challenges and deal with setbacks. There are probably upwards of 50 well researched case examples across the book, most ones we would not hear or read in the other contemporary writing on the topic of innovation, so that is indeed a breath of fresh air
Even as you progress through the book, you will, like I felt, start thinking differently, trying to align your thought process with the ALIEN methodology, which in essence is mostly application of common sense to the innovation process. This is a book that, for me personally, should be ranked alongside other giants on the topic like Lean Startup, Beyond Entrepreneurship 2.0 and The Innovation Stack to name a few
This is a not-to-be-missed, once-in-a-lifetime kind of book, if you areas of interest lie on innovation and entrepreneurship!
The authors dedicate 1 chapter each to the 5 patterns, then cover digital capabilities that support the ALIEN methodology, and finally a chapter dedicated to how innovators can overcome challenges and deal with setbacks. There are probably upwards of 50 well researched case examples across the book, most ones we would not hear or read in the other contemporary writing on the topic of innovation, so that is indeed a breath of fresh air
Even as you progress through the book, you will, like I felt, start thinking differently, trying to align your thought process with the ALIEN methodology, which in essence is mostly application of common sense to the innovation process. This is a book that, for me personally, should be ranked alongside other giants on the topic like Lean Startup, Beyond Entrepreneurship 2.0 and The Innovation Stack to name a few
This is a not-to-be-missed, once-in-a-lifetime kind of book, if you areas of interest lie on innovation and entrepreneurship!
June 7, 2021
The Book revolves around core principle of embracing ALIEN thinking for constant innovation
A-attention.-to see the world with fresh eyes and from multiple angles.To spot anomalies,unmet needs,emerging trends
L-levitation- To pause and step back to make sense of entire sutuation and come out with creative solution
I-imagination- To avoid conventional solution, challenge status quo and combine different concepts
E-experiment- TO test your idea in real situation to find whether it is workable,to avoid an undercooked solutions
N-navigation- to avoid solution that fails to make an impact, collaborate with critical stakeholders & find ways to survive challenges and thrive at unseen opportunities.
This book have discussed various innovators or companies who adopted ALIEN thinking and sthrived in their journey of innovation like
Agripreneur Narayana peespatty in India who strived to solve ground water crisis in india
or examples of teressa hodge who was committed to help former prisoners to reconnect back to society in a meaningful way and many more examples
But there were also many companies who couldnt able to survive due to their lack of flexcibility or not able to see things in a meaningful way like there was example of segway vehicle - why it couldnot take off or example of kodak what went wrong?
This is undoubtedly engaging read ,i find last 2-3 chapter was b enig drag ,but initial 6 chapters was very exciting
A-attention.-to see the world with fresh eyes and from multiple angles.To spot anomalies,unmet needs,emerging trends
L-levitation- To pause and step back to make sense of entire sutuation and come out with creative solution
I-imagination- To avoid conventional solution, challenge status quo and combine different concepts
E-experiment- TO test your idea in real situation to find whether it is workable,to avoid an undercooked solutions
N-navigation- to avoid solution that fails to make an impact, collaborate with critical stakeholders & find ways to survive challenges and thrive at unseen opportunities.
This book have discussed various innovators or companies who adopted ALIEN thinking and sthrived in their journey of innovation like
Agripreneur Narayana peespatty in India who strived to solve ground water crisis in india
or examples of teressa hodge who was committed to help former prisoners to reconnect back to society in a meaningful way and many more examples
But there were also many companies who couldnt able to survive due to their lack of flexcibility or not able to see things in a meaningful way like there was example of segway vehicle - why it couldnot take off or example of kodak what went wrong?
This is undoubtedly engaging read ,i find last 2-3 chapter was b enig drag ,but initial 6 chapters was very exciting
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
June 22, 2021You don’t have to wait for inspiration to strike. By using the ALIEN technique, you can disrupt your everyday ways of thinking, see past your blind spots, and make having great ideas feel like second nature to you.
Actionable advice: Leverage technology and data to overcome your biases.
Biases in our ways of seeing the world can stop us from identifying problems, generating solutions, and putting great ideas into practice effectively. One way you can overcome your own blind spots is by partially removing yourself from the equation. To do this, rely on objective data and technology to form hypotheses and reality-test your assumptions. It’s better to realize that you had things wrong when the data doesn’t add up at an early stage, rather than months or years down the line!
Actionable advice: Leverage technology and data to overcome your biases.
Biases in our ways of seeing the world can stop us from identifying problems, generating solutions, and putting great ideas into practice effectively. One way you can overcome your own blind spots is by partially removing yourself from the equation. To do this, rely on objective data and technology to form hypotheses and reality-test your assumptions. It’s better to realize that you had things wrong when the data doesn’t add up at an early stage, rather than months or years down the line!
July 7, 2021
This book is for those who want to see the world through fresh eyes. If you want to envision that which is not and approach things not as an expert, but as an explorer, you need to read this book. Additionally, the reader will learn how to use the “outsider” and outsider status to their advantage. The ALIEN model is immediately useable for creating your own innovation legacy. As person who believes that in order to get more innovation we need more creativity and wild ideas, this book provides a way to do that.
June 7, 2021
Instead of placing too many theoretical concepts , author categorises the innovation and entrepreneurial challenges in ALIEN thinking and explains each of them with live examples. Nice to know the struggle behind every successful innovation. Nice read.
October 30, 2023
Loved it as it explores and open ended thought to how to think creativity and innovatively and the intricacies involved in order to get a successful product until the end. I loved how every loophole was covered... However i guess there could be more loopholes facing innovation in other industries.
June 22, 2021
Bit of refreshment for understanding your brain 🧠
December 16, 2025
Blinkist ...
October 12, 2021
I’ll be honest, I didn’t make it 100% of the way through this book. I couldn’t. It was so incredibly boring. I got to page 200 (out of 253), and finally decided to give it up.
A.L.I.E.N. Thinking was recommended by a leadership book club I belong to, so I expected it to be really good. It wasn’t.
The idea behind the book is that “A.L.I.E.N. Thinking” (Attention, Levitation, Imagination, Experimentation, and Navigation) is the key to breakthrough ideas in business. There were a lot of good stories in the book of people who came up with breakthrough ideas that changed industries. All were very interesting, but the overall delivery for me was just flat.
Needless to say, I don’t recommend this book.
A.L.I.E.N. Thinking was recommended by a leadership book club I belong to, so I expected it to be really good. It wasn’t.
The idea behind the book is that “A.L.I.E.N. Thinking” (Attention, Levitation, Imagination, Experimentation, and Navigation) is the key to breakthrough ideas in business. There were a lot of good stories in the book of people who came up with breakthrough ideas that changed industries. All were very interesting, but the overall delivery for me was just flat.
Needless to say, I don’t recommend this book.
March 21, 2022
A.L.I.E.N. Thinking: The Unconventional Path to Breakthrough Ideas by Cyril Bouquet, Jean-Louise Barsoux, Michael Wade
I have mentioned LeaderBooks nearly every month in my book reviews because it is the program that I use to guide me in my business reading. I have been using this program for a couple of years. Each month, I read one book in the business and development category slowly throughout the month. I answer critical questions each chapter, write down my own thoughts and insights, highlight and annotate throughout the book, talk with other people about the insights we have, and build a detailed action plan to take the best aspects of the book and apply them to my own life. Most of the time, the books are ones that I consider “okay”. I don’t get a lot out of any individual book, but I get something out of every book. But there are always one or two books each year that stand out to me. I find that books that center around “thinking” are often the books that stand out to me. This makes sense because Ideation is my number one strength in the StrengthsFinder program. (My top 5: Ideation, Strategic, Learner, Activator, Achiever) Since this is an area where I am naturally inclined, the actions that I take see better results and the message of books about thinking resonate with me more.
A.L.I.E.N Thinking strategically breaks down ways to encourage breakthrough ideas with five patterns: Attention, Levitation, Imagination, Experimentation, and Navigation. There are compelling stories scattered throughout the book to highlight this method in action. I enjoyed the structure, the telling, and the concept. I suspect that this book is one that will leave a mark on me. I would recommend it to anyone who is looking to boost their ability to creatively look at problems. I do not rate non-fiction books, but if I did this would be highly rated by me. Subjectively, this is a book that I am happy to have on my shelf.
CAWPILE Score NA
Star Rating NA
Read in Print, 304 Pages
I have mentioned LeaderBooks nearly every month in my book reviews because it is the program that I use to guide me in my business reading. I have been using this program for a couple of years. Each month, I read one book in the business and development category slowly throughout the month. I answer critical questions each chapter, write down my own thoughts and insights, highlight and annotate throughout the book, talk with other people about the insights we have, and build a detailed action plan to take the best aspects of the book and apply them to my own life. Most of the time, the books are ones that I consider “okay”. I don’t get a lot out of any individual book, but I get something out of every book. But there are always one or two books each year that stand out to me. I find that books that center around “thinking” are often the books that stand out to me. This makes sense because Ideation is my number one strength in the StrengthsFinder program. (My top 5: Ideation, Strategic, Learner, Activator, Achiever) Since this is an area where I am naturally inclined, the actions that I take see better results and the message of books about thinking resonate with me more.
A.L.I.E.N Thinking strategically breaks down ways to encourage breakthrough ideas with five patterns: Attention, Levitation, Imagination, Experimentation, and Navigation. There are compelling stories scattered throughout the book to highlight this method in action. I enjoyed the structure, the telling, and the concept. I suspect that this book is one that will leave a mark on me. I would recommend it to anyone who is looking to boost their ability to creatively look at problems. I do not rate non-fiction books, but if I did this would be highly rated by me. Subjectively, this is a book that I am happy to have on my shelf.
CAWPILE Score NA
Star Rating NA
Read in Print, 304 Pages
June 30, 2024
Might have been a better option for 2021. I read it in 2024. The information is outdated for this day and age.
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