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Subject: Fourth Generation Thinking
Date: Wed, 3 Jul 2002 09:14:58 +0530
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From: "Bala Pillai"
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http://www.profitclinic.com/MLM/advanced/index.html
What Fourth Generation Thinking is really about
In almost all areas of human achievement, we're either at - or rapidly
approaching - what I've chosen to call the Fourth Generation. (This has
nothing to do with the computer industry, by the way, although the concept
does apply to that industry.)
The Fourth Generation is significantly different to all preceding
generations.
The first three generations represent a straight-line progression in
development, in which the emphasis is usually on making the process more
efficient - to reduce the work, the risk, the cost, the discomfort, the time
and other undesirable or unnecessary attributes.
The Fourth Generation always represents a breakthrough to the "Big Picture".
the whole concept. the accurate perspective from a higher vantage point.
Here's a simple example:
Take the concept of moving people from one level of a building to another,
in either direction. What would represent the different generations in
development?
First Generation: The Ladder
This simple device was much more efficient than trying to climb by hand from
one level to another. But it wasn't particularly efficient, safe,
comfortable, effortless or quick, and you couldn't carry large loads easily.
Only a limited number of people could move in one direction at a time. So,
before long, when a permanent solution was required, we developed the second
generation.
Second Generation: The Staircase
Much safer, more efficient (more people could move in either direction,
carrying bigger loads), less work, faster and more comfortable. And larger,
physically. It took up a sizeable portion of the building.
Then some bright spark concluded that we could speed up the process, make it
safer, more efficient, comfortable and easier to carry loads by automating
the staricase, giving us.
Third Generation: The Escalator
This was a lot more fun, too! But it required even more space and resources
than an ordinary staircase, and they often broke down because of wear and
tear, mechanical misfunction or power failure. Still, they simply reverted
in such instances to being static staircases.
Then some lateral thinker decided to take a step sideways and look back to
the roots of the process and re-assess exactly what it was we were trying to
achieve. The purpose of it all was to move as many people as possible
(within reason), as quickly, effortlessly, safely, comfortably and
efficiently as possible, from one level of a building as possible.
Why not put the people in a small room and move the room? Thus was born.
Fourth Generation: The Elevator
No question about it - this was much better in every way. Especially when
high rise buildings became common. But, like every preceding generation,
although this was an exponential, quantum leap forward in achievement, the
physical dimensions grew even largerin order to actually implement the
concept. (What's the first part of a high rise building to go up? And it's
usually the core of the building - and up to 50% of total floor space!)
This is fairly typical of Fourth Generation solutions. They're a
breakthrough, but they're bulky.
Blue-skying this whole concept, the Fifth Generation would logically see a
reduction of the physical dimension to almost nothing, while the Sixth
Generation would see the elimination of the physical dimension altogether.
mind over matter?
So Fifth Generation of moving people from place to place within the same
building might be a doorway with a keypad. Punch the co-ordinates, step
through the portal and you enter the desired level (Stargate, here we
come!).
The Sixth Generation could be simply "wishing" yourself to whatever
destination you desire. (Leaving out any thoughts about why you'd even have
a building with such technology, or any security questions.) You get the
picture.
So Fourth Generation Thinking is partly lateral thinking, in terms of
results and human development. But it's a lot more than just lateral
thinking. And in every aspect, it's about the concept of Four Generations to
the breakthrough. and four generations within each generation. It's a
pattern that's consistent in every context, as you'll see.
©1998 The Profit Clinic. All rights reserved. This page updated 25 June
2002.
Bala Pillai
"Networking Minds in Halls Without Walls Since 1995"
Founder, The Asia Pacific Internet Company http://www.apic.net
Founder, Thamil Innaiyam http://groups.yahoo.com/group/erumbugal
Sydney, Australia
Yahoo Instant Messenger: bala2pillai
