Where ideas come from seems pretty much like the holy grail of KM to me.
Some miscellaneous comments
1) The Greeks had one take on it. When Hesiod outlined the family tree for the Gods, he noted that the Goddess Memory was mother of the Muses (the goddesses who were responsible for creative inspiration). Fortune favours the prepared mind etc.
2) There is definitely something about hot showers and baths! Archimides's eureka moment? Might be interesting to compile a list.
3) I don't know enough about the science, but read an interesting book a while ago called "Hare Brain, Tortoise Mind".
The basic idea was staring out of the window/having a shower is productive.
Modern preconceptions have it that simply by applying our brains and concentrating hard enough on a problem (e.g. a crossword clue), we should be able to see the solution. This is the "Hare brain" approach.
The book says that there are two types of solution moments. Yes, one is when we sit down and just think hard. But there is another solution moment which comes seemingly out of nowhere, when we've been staring out the window, or having a shower, going for a walk. This is the tortoise mind approach. This is a result of a) having done the hare brain thinking in the first place and b) just relaxing your frontal lobes, and letting the rest of your brain "background render" the solution.
My gut feeling is that this is right - but PLEASE let me know if anyone manages to persuade their boss of this approach!
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David Gurteen
David having a meal in the Old Singapore Market, October 2008
I help people to share their knowledge; to learn from each other; to innovate and to work together effectively to make a difference!
