What is this method - the synectic? Purpose and essence

The methods of developing new creative ideas are in demand today in different spheres. With their help, heads of large companies and organizations increase their efficiency in a competitive environment, and creative groups stimulate non-ordinary thought processes. There are many ways and practical ways to implement the idea of a non-trivial approach in solving problems - from classical brainstorming to the technique of six hats. Recently, another method has become popular: the synectic, the effectiveness of which has long been proven in practice. A feature of this technique is the possibility of employing various techniques, the totality of which broadens the search for original solutions.

General information about synectics

The author of the method is William Gordon, who in the early 1950s actively worked on improving the technique of brainstorming. The fruit of the scientist's work was the synectic approach to solving problems. This word means "joining different elements", which reflects the peculiarity of this method. Although the method of synectics refers to methods of activating creative skills, it is used in a variety of spheres, including even industrial enterprises.

The first acquaintance with the technique can make a wrong opinion about it as an accessible technique. In fact, it requires a complex organization and serious training from the participants in the Synectic Group. It should also be noted that the synectic solves specific problems and does not involve the use of patterns in the development of different systems. As already noted, this technique is based on the method of brainstorming. To be more precise, it represents its modified version, designed for professionals.

Social significance of the method

As studies show, modern companies and organizations are governed by certain laws that determine their policies. Often a strong commitment to a particular course does not allow the use and even consideration of ways to solve problems that could increase the efficiency of activities, but are contrary to the statute. Often, the adopted rules and regulations do reflect reality and work for good. But there are reverse cases, when corporate laws are represented by nothing more than a set of habits from the past. In turn, innovative ideas are able to change the situation from within without destructive processes, the main thing is to use the method correctly. Even at the lowest management levels, the synec- tics allows achieving good results in the decision-making process.

The essence of the method

In practice, this method is implemented on the basis of the principles of analogy. That is, to solve the task posed, experience from another sphere is adopted, in which a similar problem has already been solved. To illustrate this approach, we can give an example, which was solved by Gordon's group. Before the creator of the method was the task of how to put the chips in the packaging with the greatest compactness, so that they would not crumble at the same time. The way out was found with the help of an analogy, which demonstrated the essence of the method of synectics as a method of comparison. The group of scientists used the principle of stacking the leaves, which at the same time retained the structure, because they were wet. In the case of chips, special molding and wetting technology were used, which allowed to save space in the package. So there was the famous brand "Pringley".

Creation of a synectic collective

The process of forming the members of the group, which will implement the method, includes several stages. At the first stage, potential participants in the synec- tical exercise are tested. During the tests, general erudition, level of education, flexibility of thinking, experience of participation in various experiments are determined. Tests for specialized knowledge that determine the specific purpose of the methods of the synectics in a certain field may be required. For example, building tasks may require knowledge of architecture, and in the food industry - chemistry. Then the members of the group are trained. It should be noted that in the West, this method is actively used in a variety of ways, and therefore the training centers for synectics are quite common. The final stage is the introduction of the prepared group into the real environment for work on the assignment.

Procedure for implementing the method

Like any other method of generating new ideas, the synectic involves several phases of work on the task. To begin with, in order to maintain the abstraction of thinking, a general idea of the problem is given without specifying the requirements for the result. Then the problem is subdivided into several simplified parts, after which the group is working on an independent search for possible tasks and ways to solve them.

It is important to note that in this phase, participants also deal with the problem in the form in which they understand it, that is, without clarification. At the basic stage, the solution of problems by the method of synectics presupposes the consideration of analogies closest to the problem posed. This phase ends with the decision making about the choice of analogy, and the task is compared from another area and the problem posed. It is worth emphasizing the important difference of this approach from the classical method of brainstorming. In the case of the synectic, it is also planned to criticize the proposed idea on the part of experts, as well as to bring the decision to practice.

Operational mechanisms of the synectics

Participants in synectic groups have to work with a wide range of tools, including operational mechanisms. In particular, it can be a game with metaphors, in which, again, analogies similar to the posed problem are applied. Usually, among the main goals of this work is the transformation of a friend into an unfamiliar one. In other words, the frames and barriers are eliminated, which makes the method more efficient. Synectics gives the possibility of understanding the problem in a new form and from an unusual point of view. It is noteworthy that it is impossible to teach psychological tools. Such mechanisms as a game with intuition, suggest the possibility of their use by each person on a conscious level.

Kinds of analogies in synectics

Analogies are the key mechanism that provides a synectic result. There are several types of this tool, including direct, fantastic, personal and symbolic comparisons.

Direct analogies suggest that a third-party object will be maximally similar in certain properties to the problem. Analogies of a personal property set the goal to search on the basis of their own impressions, emotions, memories, etc. The symbolic method of analogies is also popular. The cinectics in this case instructs participants to express the problem through the language of metaphors and symbols. In the process of such searches, the object is transferred from the real world to a system of abstract concepts. The method with the use of fantastic analogies possesses similar features. Participants endow objects with special properties and qualities, which also allows them to more effectively solve their tasks.

Pros and Cons of Synectics

The advantages of the method include its universality, effectiveness in comparison with alternative methods of development of abstract thinking, as well as the improvement of individual qualities, including intuition and imagination. Also, the synectic is one of the methods of activating thinking, which provides critical assessments in the preparation of the result, which increases the quality of the work of experts. If we talk about the disadvantages, the main one will be complexity. Although the tools and machinery mechanisms seem to be simple, arranging a synectic at a professional level is a rather complex exercise.

Conclusion

The basic principles of the synectics assume the use of various means of developing imagination and thinking. And the very nature of this technique does not exclude its improvement. To date, there are several areas in which the method develops. The synec- tics in the simplest models are available for implementation by one person who, through the same analogies, finds, at least, original and new ways of solving problems. Another thing is that the effectiveness of such an approach will be low. The traditional approach to synec- tics still involves group work on a problem in which criticism of sentences is not ruled out.