Edward de Bono

Edward de Bono - the man who introduced the term 'lateral thinking'

Edward de Bono is regarded by many as the leading authority in the field of creative thinking, innovation and the direct teaching of thinking as a skill. He is equally renowned for his development of the very popular Six Thinking Hats® technique.

Edward de Bono is the originator of the concept - and formal tools - of Lateral Thinking, which is now a part of language enjoying an entry in the Oxford Dictionary.

Dr. de Bono was born in Malta. He was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford, holds an M.A. in psychology and physiology from Oxford, a D. Phil in Medicine, a Ph.D. from Cambridge, a D. Des (Doctor of Design) from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology; an LL.D. from Dundee. He holds professorships at the Universities of Malta, Pretoria, Dublin City University, and the University of Central England. The New Univeristy of Advancing Technology in Phoenix, Arizona appointed Dr. de Bono Da Vinci Professor of Thinking in May 2005.

His techniques and work focus on improving the elements that constitute a perception and the formal design and application of the frameworks required towards innovative and creative action. One may easily say that all the recent (past thirty years) focus on thinking, on creativity, on innovation, on frameworks beyond 'x-storming' etc has taken its lead from Edward de Bono's work.

Whereas Rene Descartes propounded "cogito ergo sum' (I think therefore I am), Edward de Bono proposes 'ago ergo erigo' (I act therefore I construct/ act). It is not enough to sit, (talk) and think: Action, together with an intentional design of the thought process, is required to constructively advance towards results and change.

He has written over 70 book with translations into 40 languages and has been invited to lecture in 58 countries.

His methods are now mandatory on the school curriculum in many countries and widely used in others.

The appeal of Dr. de Bono's work is its simplicity and practicality. It can be used by four year olds and by senior executives; by Down Syndrome youngsters and Nobel Laureates. Dr. de Bono acts as advisor to various Governments, cities, regional Governments and global organisations dealing on a macro level with diverse topics including economy, unemployment, social policy, recidivism, pensions, health care, finance, transportation, education, conflict resolution, judicial processes, foresight scenario design etc.