After years of teaching others how to think creatively, I find the best way to answer these questions is through learning and using the creative tools to experience what thinking outside the box really means. Assumption Reversal Method, which ideas are triggered from assumptions that are reversed from those currently ruling the situation, is an excellent ideation technique that enables us to obtain such enlightenment.......

1. Series ‘ Thinking Outside the Box’ Series is a set of Slideshares that helps individuals think about things in an unconventional manner. This series is produced by ThinkInnovation. Copyright 2010. Anthony Mok. All Rights Reserved. ‘ Thinking Outside the Box’ Series

2. Series No Such A Thing As Brainstorming Most brainstormings are organised as idea dumping and not idea creation sessions. To generate creative ideas in brainstorming sessions, we need techniques that force us to think outside the box. http://fnsingapore.blogspot.com/2008/09/moving-from-idea-dumping-to-idea.html Copyright 2010. Anthony Mok. All Rights Reserved.

3. Series Assumption Reversal Method Assumption Reversal is an ideation technique, which ideas are triggered from assumptions that are reversed from those ruling the current situation. Copyright 2010. Anthony Mok. All Rights Reserved.

5. Dirty after dark, says expat couple Does S’pore deserve its reputation for cleanliness? Letter from Zsolt Vasvari I WOULD like to comment on the issue of cleanliness and littering that was recently discussed in Today’s Voices pages. I am from New York and my wife is Australian and we have lived in the Clarke Quay/Robertson Quay area for the past five years. It is appalling how dirty Clarke Quay has become during this time. We quite frequently exercise early in the morning along the Singapore River. We are usually out of the house by 6.30am and at that time of the morning, more often than not, the place looks as if a garbage truck had exploded, spilling its contents everywhere. Copyright 2010. Anthony Mok. All Rights Reserved. Applying Assumption Reversal Method Read the Following Newspaper Article

6. There are empty bottles, hamburger wrappers, soda cups, vomit and urine on the walls. There are young people loitering in small groups, obviously having been there the whole night. There is a small army of cleaners with pressure hoses cleaning the sidewalks, but even after they are done, it is absolutely disgusting how dirty the place looks. Let me compare it with New York, which, in my opinion, would be an overall cleaner place if it weren’t for the cleaning crews in Singapore. In the Big Apple, the majority of bars, clubs and other nightspots, close at 2am. In Singapore, many such outlets stay open until dawn. In New York, it is illegal for anyone under 21 to consume alcoholic beverages in public, a rule which is strictly enforced. On most nights, the sale of wine and liquor is banned after midnight. Not being able to drink in public takes away one reason for loitering. Copyright 2010. Anthony Mok. All Rights Reserved. Applying Assumption Reversal Method Read the Following Newspaper Article

7. In America, young people are not brought up with maids who follow them around picking up after them. In the United States, leaving your garbage on the table after a meal at a fast food restaurant is completely unheard of, and is viewed as socially unacceptable behaviour. Singapore claims to be the world’s cleanest city. For about 18 hours a day, it’s probably a true statement, but only because of the hardworking cleaners. Copyright 2010. Anthony Mok. All Rights Reserved. Applying Assumption Reversal Method Read the Following Newspaper Article

8. Young Singaporeans who loiter late into the night tend to litter. Copyright 2010. Anthony Mok. All Rights Reserved. Applying Step 1: What is the Problem?

9. In what ways might we reduce littering in the night in Singapore ? Copyright 2010. Anthony Mok. All Rights Reserved. Applying Step 2: State the Challenge

13. Series Copyright 2010. Anthony Mok. All Rights Reserved.