theory of infinitely zoomable page (izp)

THEORY OF INFINITELY ZOOMABLE PAGE

How the World’s Most Inventive People Solve Tough Problems …

And How to Simply Manage Your Breakthrough Questions

Dr. Rod King

FOREWORD

Helping to Make the World More Innovative and Less Wasteful People would no doubt be asking me at least two questions. One is, “Why did you formulate and publish the Theory of Infinitely Zoomable Page?” The other question is, “Why did you decide to freely give away the publication containing the Theory of Infinitely Zoomable Page?”

I’ll start with the first question which deals with why I formulated and published the Theory of Infinitely Zoomable Page (IZP). My foray into the areas of creativity, creative problem solving, and innovation started about a decade ago when I encountered a school of thought in the magic (conjuring) community proclaiming that “Creativity cannot be taught.” These proponents claim that the skill of creating magic tricks can be learned but cannot be taught. Needless to say, I disagreed and continue to disagree with that apparently elitist claim.

To prove that creating magic tricks could be taught, I developed the world’s first software that independently invents magic tricks. My reasoning was that if a ‘computer’ could invent magic tricks, then anyone could systematically learn the invention process and in parti‐cular, the process of creating magic tricks. Surely, there is a structured but tacit process behind inventions. The software, which invents magic tricks, illustrates my assertion.

During the research for development of the software that invents magic tricks, I came across myriad creativity and innovation techniques. The truth was that despite the claims made by authors or practitioners of the creativity, problem solving, and innovation techniques, I could not comprehensively apply them to invent magic tricks. Consequently, I became skeptical of the effectiveness of many existing techniques for enhancing creativity, problem solving, and innovation. I asked myself: “What is a simple best‐practice methodology that can be used for developing breakthrough innovations in any domain?” The Theory of IZP is the result. The Theory of IZP contains a philosophy and “DNA” for enhancing creative problem solving, innovation, and project planning as well as business planning, strategy, and performance management. The Theory of IZP can be used to not only derive breakthrough ideas in the aforementioned areas but also develop breakthrough products, services, and processes.

I notice that this page is running out and I have to answer the second question. I apologize and promise that my answer will be brief. I’m making the publication on the Theory of IZP freely available because of my mission which is “Helping to make the world more inno‐vative and less wasteful.” The world is currently facing a web of crises: recession; energy issues; global warming; terrorism; epidemics; poverty. Wouldn’t it be great for humanity if we could all participate in developing breakthrough ideas for overcoming these crises? So, please feel free to share this e‐book with your colleagues. In this world of increasing connectedness and colla‐boration, “WE” are surely smarter than “I.” Hey, it’s one of eight principles of the Theory of IZP!

I hope you have fun and many breakthrough moments as you apply the Theory of IZP. Rod King, Ph.D. January 2009.

A SHORT QUIZ, PLEASE!

1. Please take a good look at the diagram below.

What does the above diagram represent? List possible uses for the diagram.

2. How many rectangular boxes do you see in the above diagram?

3. Without lifting your pen or pencil, draw three straight lines that touch all boxes in the above

diagram.

4. After reading and digesting the Theory of the Infinitely Zoomable Page (IZP) in subsequent pages, again answer questions 1 and 2.

What are your comments regarding the nature of the answers?

Please, let us hear from you in the IZP community at http://rodkuhnking.wordpress.com and http://www.slideshare.net/RodKing

THEORY OF INFINITELY ZOOMABLE PAGE (IZP)

A Tool for Visually Generating, Organizing, and Answering Breakthrough Questions The progress of individuals, businesses, organizations, and communities strongly depend on how well they continuously generate and answer breakthrough questions. A breakthrough question requires the delivery of an innovative idea, strategy, process, plan, and/or solution for targeted customers. Breakthrough questions usually require novel or non‐routine approaches. Nevertheless, the quality of answers to a breakthrough question should be judged on how well the question’s response maximizes desired experiences of customers. In the literature, there is no explicit methodology for comprehensively answering breakthrough (“impossible”) questions of customers, businesses, organizations, and society. Brainstorming is the most common tool for answering breakthrough questions especially when non‐routine questions are posed to a team. However, brainstorming is an empirical tool that is fraught with many difficulties. Classic brainstorming may produce ‘wild’ ideas but often these ideas do not lead to innovative strategies, plans, or projects in the real world. One reason is that the theoretical underpinnings of brainstorming are little understood. At a deeper level, classic brainstorming is an inadequate implementation of the evolutionary process of natural selection as espoused by Charles Darwin. While Charles Darwin focuses on species in the process of natural selection, brainstorming involves competition between ideas. From this perspective, brainstorming should focus on phases of a process that ensures ‘survival of the fittest idea.’ Also, the process of brainstorming does not cover strategic planning and project management. This booklet presents the first methodology for comprehensively generating, organizing, and answering any type of breakthrough question. The methodology, which is called the “Theory of Infinitely Zoomable Page (IZP),” involves a synthesis of the best ideas on visual systems thinking, creative problem solving, strategic planning, innovation, and performance management. Using the Theory of IZP, anyone can simply learn how to “zoom in and out of the box.” The Theory of IZP reflects the tacit philosophy of highly inventive people. Below are eight principles that define the paradigm of the Theory of IZP. By understanding and applying these principles, anyone can more deeply generate, organize, and answer breakthrough questions in diverse domains. In short, continuous application of these principles makes people and organizations smarter as well as more innovative. The Theory of the IZP also provides a visual framework and common language for organizing and managing breakthrough questions that involve participants in multi‐disciplinary teams. The Theory of IZP can be used in conjunction with other problem solving and innovation tools. From a domain perspective, the Theory of IZP can be used to greatly enhance the work of business executives, strategic planners, project managers, innovators, marketers, researchers, and product developers.

1. INFINITE KNOWLEDGE SPACE 2. BRAIN-FRIENDLY CLUSTERS

3. ANALOGICAL STRATEGIES, TOOLS, AND SOLUTIONS

4. SYSTEMATIC DECISION-MAK-ING, PLANNING, AND IDEA GEN

OVERVIEW OF

PRINCIPLES OF

THE THEORY OF IZP

5. NETWORK MANAGEMENT

6. STAGES OF COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS

7. EVOLUTION TOWARDS THE IDEAL SOLUTION

8. UNEXPECTED CHAOS, NOVEL-TY, AND OPPORTUNITIES

Name: Dr. Rod King – Principles of The Theory of IZP Date: January 2009 Sheet 1 of 1

Zoomable Page. Copyright 2009. Dr. Rod King. [email protected] http://rodkuhnking.wordpress.com

The Eight Principles of the Theory of IZP (for Managing Breakthrough Questions)

1. Principle of Infinite Knowledge Space

The Infinitely Zoomable Page (IZP) is a single page that envelopes both the known and unknown universe, that is, both space and time; see figure. Consequently, the IZP contains an infinite amount of information, knowledge, tools, and states of objects.

Visually, the IZP is a box of 3x3 boxes; see figure. Each box can in turn be a 3x3 box. In short, the IZP is a fractal cluster of 3x3 boxes: a box of 3x3 boxes of 3x3 boxes of ...

Figure: A Fractal Universe of the Infinitely Zoomable Page (IZP)

The above figure facilitates viewing of an object or a system from a matrix of perspectives: spatial perspective (analyst; naturalist; ecologist/cosmologist or micro‐; system; macro‐) and temporal perspective (historian; news‐journalist; futurist). A box could be any object such as a screen.

2. Principle of Brain‐friendly Clusters Any system or object of information including topics, themes, and questions can (repeatedly) be segmented or chunked down using a 3x3 cluster of a Zoomable Page. In the center of the (initial) 3x3 cluster is the description and/or image of the original system or object. The visual 3x3 cluster is more visually appealing than a vertical list of items and reduces the problem of information overload while facilitating short‐term memory.

BIG BANG!

TIME (EVOLUTION/KNOWLEDGE)

Past Present Future

Elements (Parts)

System (Whole)

Environment (Surroundings)

SPACE

The converse of the foregoing statement is that any number of elements can (repeatedly) be aggregated, synthesized, or chunked up using a 3x3 cluster of a Zoomable Page. As before, the center of the 3x3 cluster contains an overarching description and/or image.

From a mathematical perspective, a 3x3 cluster or Zoomable Page with the center describing the category of surrounding elements is a visual representation of a system with the equation, y = f(x) where y refers to the output, central object, or effect and x refers to the inputs, elements, or causal factors of the system.

3. Principle of Analogical Strategies, Tools, and Solutions The best idea, strategy, process, solution, and outcome for any breakthrough question or task already exists and lies on the IZP. Similar ideas, strategies, processes, solutions, and outcomes can be obtained by using relevant systematic tools and templates. There are relatively few trajectories, patterns, and templates for moving from the present to a future state which can be defined by a set of qualitative and quantitative performance indicators. Existing resource constraints are often the limiting factors regarding the achievement of goals and desired states. Breakthrough innovations frequently involve the elimination of apparently impossible constraints while achieving a highly delightful future state.

4. Principle of Systematic Decision‐making, Planning, and Idea Generation At the core of decision‐making, planning, and idea generation as well as the exploration of ideas and the answering of breakthrough questions is the cyclical process of C.O.P.E.: Collect; Organize; Present; Evaluate. The sequence of elements in the C.O.P.E. cycle can be directly linked to phases of the classic creativity process including preparation (immersion/ accumulation of diverse knowledge), incubation, illumination (synthesis), and verification.

5. Principle of Network Engagement (“B.E.A.R.: Bring Every Available Resource”) All problems, solutions, tools, and innovations can be discovered by asking (breakthrough) questions as well as productively exploring and optimally engaging all resources on networks of the IZP especially customers and producers. It is important to note that tangible elements in a business network can be summarized using the acronym, SEMPORCE: Suppliers; Employees; Machinery/Facility; Processes; Outputs (Products/Services); Retailers/ Distributors; Customers; Environment. Intangible elements include functionality, goal, purpose, essence, attributes, knowledge, and experiences (advantages and disadvantages).

6. Principle of Stages of Communication Systems The IZP contains four types of communication systems: discrete (stone‐heap); linear (chain); hierarchy (tree); network (web). Successful and growing systems generally move from discrete through linear and hierarchical to tightly integrated network communication. The life cycle of each system as well as its elements and environment follows the shape of an S‐curve. Phases of an S‐curve include birth, growth, maturity, saturation, and decline.

7. Principle of Evolution Towards the Ideal Solution

Objects on the IZP compete as they evolve towards an ideal‐solution state that is characterized by infinite advantages and zero disadvantage. (The aforementioned statement can be described as the “Law of Ideal Solution.”)

It is important to note that present and future advantages respectively refer to strengths and opportunities while present and future disadvantages respectively refer to weaknesses and threats. Consequently, the ideal solution can be described as the state of an object that has infinite strengths and opportunities on the one hand and zero weaknesses and threats on the other hand. This restatement of the Law of Ideal Solution facilitates innovation in a business network especially for products and services.

As objects evolve towards the ideal solution, their form, structure, and content reflect key evolutionary and revolutionary processes (strategies). Evolutionary processes include substitution, combination, addition, and multiplication of resources in a system, its elements, and environment. In contrast, revolutionary processes involve radical change and include unification of opposites; removal (elimination); “extremization;” idealization (virtually instant, free, and perfect self‐organization or adaptation).

8. Principle of Unexpected Chaos, Novelty, and Opportunities

Sometimes, environmental or internal changes of a system may cause chaos from which there are emergent opportunities and threats. When satisfactory answers to breakthrough questions are not being obtained using the other principles of the Theory of IZP, a ‘chaotic object’ may be formed through ‘forced integration’ of elements in the system with randomly selected elements in the system as well as in its core, peripheral, and remote environment. The chaotic object, which deliberately introduces diversity or change in the system, could be used to generate further ideas and opportunities for emergent customers as well as well as explore the breakthrough question. The best or ‘fittest’ ideas are those with the highest novelty and opportunity in combination with the lowest threat for the system’s goal. Such ideas may lead to the development of disruptive products, services, and/or processes.

Name: ……………………………………………………… Date: …………………………………………… Sheet … of …


(For the Zoomable Page below, start by writing a question, topic, or theme in the gray box at the center. Then, fill the surrounding boxes with related information (text/images).)

Network Elements Analogy

Bipolar Objects Analogy

ANALOGIES

FOR MANAGING

BREAKTHROUGH QUESTIONS

Functionality-Attributes Analogy

Extreme-What if Analogy

Name: Dr. Rod King - Template for Facilitating Analogical Thinking Date: January 20, 2009 Sheet 1 of 1


SOLID/ POWDER/SPECK/PARTICLE

LIQUID/ GEL

GAS/ PLASMA/CELL

MOLECULE MATTER AND SCALE

(Especially For Analogical Thinking –

What if the [object] is a(n) …?)

ATOM

ELECTRON/WAVE/FIELD/FORCE

PROTON/NEUTRON; NEUTRINO/ MESON/etc.

QUARK

Name: Dr. Rod King - Matter and Scale Date: January 2009 Sheet 1 of 1


1. IZP‐DOCUMENTATION

Simply and daily use text and/or images to visually document information on the Zoomable Page in order to facilitate creative thinking, problem solving, and accelerated learning in any discipline

2. IZP‐BRAINSTORMING

Brainstorm ideas for (breakthrough) questions by using the process of C.O.P.E. (Collect; Organize; Present; Evaluate) as well as the Zoomable Page to visually obtain breakthrough strategies in any domain

LEARNING MODULES & TASKS

FOR MASTERING THE THEORY OF INFINITELY

ZOOMABLE PAGE (IZP)

3. STRATEGIC IZP

Learn about the paradigm and Theory of IZP as well as about how to use the Zoomable Page to visually obtain breakthrough strategies and innovations (in a multi-disciplinary team)

4. OPERATIONAL IZP

Use the Theory of IZP and Zoomable Page for visual continuous improvement and innovation as well as adaptive plann-ing, execution, and performance manage-ment of any type of project: business; personal; community; national; global

Name: Dr. Rod King – Learning Modules & Tasks for the Theory of IZP Date: January 2009 Sheet 1 of 1


NANO-COMPUTERS/ NANO-SUPERCOMPUTERS (20XX)

MINI-SUPERCOMPUTERS

SUPERCOMPUTERS

LAPTOPS/HANDHELD (MOBILE) COMPUTERS/SMARTPHONES

COMPUTER PRODUCTS: ***

PERSONAL/DESKTOP COMPUTERS

MODERN MINI-COMPUTERS/ SERVERS

MODERN CALCULATORS

CLASSIC PERSONAL COMPUTERS

CLASSIC MAINFRAME COMPUTERS

RA

M (+

):

Name: Dr. Rod King – Computer Products Date: January 2009 Sheet 1 of 1 ∞


SIZE (-):

IDEAL SOLUTION

SEND ME YOUR COMPLETED ZOOMABLE PAGES FOR THE NEXT IZP‐BOOKLET! I am collecting completed 3x3 Zoomable Pages from various persons and disciplines. If you have breakthrough questions and interesting examples of Zoomable Pages that you have prepared and would like to share, please send them as attached PDF documents to me at: [email protected] Zoomable Pages with relevant images and text will be especially appreciated. Also, Zoomable Pages that deal with the exploration of breakthrough questions will be most highly regarded. The deadline for submissions is April 25, 2009. Submitted Zoomable Pages will be published in the next edition of this booklet. I look forward to receiving your favorite Zoomable Pages. Best, Rod King, Ph.D. http://rodkuhnking.wordpress.com http://www.slideshare.net/RodKing

About Dr. Rod King Dr. Rod King is a leading business strategist and innovator. He is the developer of the Theory of Infinitely Zoomable Page (IZP), which is a methodology for visually generating, organizing, and answering breakthrough questions in any domain. The Theory of IZP reflects the tacit philosophy of highly inventive people. As an expert on IZP‐brainstorming, creative problem solving, innovation, and adaptive planning, Dr. King helps individuals, teams, and businesses to develop strategies and innovations for delightful customer and business experiences. Dr. King also serves as consultant on business network intelligence and management especially for small and medium enterprises. He offers clients a better way to ask and manage breakthrough questions as well as to monitor and manage business performance. The Business Network Dashboard is central to Dr. King’s approach. Using a highly visual approach to business strategy and innovation as well as business network intelligence and management, Dr. King helps customers to simply “zoom in and out of the box” while achieving their business goals. Dr. King is a pioneer of the Infinitely Zoomable Page (IZP), Adaptive Planning and Execution (APEx) methodology, and Business Network Dashboard. He is also the inventor of the “Fractal Grid,” a visual organizer that has pending US and international patents. Dr. King has a multi‐disciplinary background with a bachelor (honors) degree in civil engineering, a master degree in infrastructure planning, and a doctorate in regional development planning. In addition, he holds a post‐graduate certificate in Advanced Academic Studies (Pedagogy). He has authored and presented, at international conferences, papers on inventive problem solving and innovation. Dr. King is also a major contributor to the multi‐author book, Research Methods for Postgraduates. For more information, contact Dr. King at [email protected] Rod King, Ph.D. http://rodkuhnking.wordpress.com

http://www.slideshare.net/RodKing

Fresno, California January 2009.