APC (Alternatives, Possibilities, Choices) | Maltese Mental Models

“Either they leave for opportunities elsewhere, or they stay and we find a new path,” his wife had said. But Joseph knew this was false binary thinking. Their traditional farming methods couldn’t compete with imports, but there had to be other options. There always were—if you knew how to look.

This is where APC (Alternatives, Possibilities, Choices) becomes essential—the systematic method for breaking free from “either/or” traps.

🔬 Why APC Matters: Breaking Free from Limited Options

When Joseph first considered his children’s futures, he saw only two paths: they leave Gozo for better opportunities elsewhere, or they stay and the family finds a new business model since traditional farming couldn’t compete with cheap imports. This binary thinking affects us all. Our brains, wired for efficiency, grab the first viable options and stop searching. But in complex situations, the first options are rarely the best options.

APC matters because it reveals the ability to pivot—to transform constraints into opportunities, to find paths others miss, to create rather than just choose.

APC doesn’t just add options—it systematically reveals possibilities hidden by habitual thinking.

🧭 The APC Method: Three Stages of Expansion

De Bono structured APC as a deliberate progression from narrow to wide thinking:

🔄 Stage 1: Alternatives (Different Routes to Same Destination)

Core Question: “What other ways could we achieve this goal?”

Joseph’s goal: Keep the family together while ensuring prosperity.

Initial alternatives Joseph generated:

• Traditional farming with modern techniques
• Convert to organic certification
• Agritourism with farm stays
• Greenhouse rentals to other farmers
• Direct-to-consumer vegetable boxes

Key principle: Stay focused on the same end goal but vary the means.

🌟 Stage 2: Possibilities (Removing All Constraints)

Core Question: “What if we had no limitations?”

Joseph imagined unlimited resources, changed regulations, new technologies:

• What if we could become the sustainable farming model for all Mediterranean islands?
• What if tourists paid premium for authentic farm experiences?
• What if we developed technology that other farmers wanted to buy?
• What if the greenhouse became a research and education center?
• What if we could grow tropical produce in Gozo’s climate?

Key principle: Dream first, filter later. Today’s impossibility often becomes tomorrow’s innovation.

🎯 Stage 3: Choices (Practical Options for Decision)

Core Question: “Which of these could actually work given our real situation?”

From dreams to decisions—Joseph filtered possibilities into real choices.

🔧 APC Tools: How to Generate Options Efficiently

Tool 1: The Systematic Variation Method

Change one element at a time to generate alternatives:

Tool 2: The Concept Extraction Method

Extract the core concept and apply it differently:

Core concept: Using land to support family

• Traditional application: Grow crops, sell produce
• Alternative applications:
  • Education: Teach sustainable farming
  • Experience: Offer farm-to-table dining
  • Innovation: Test new growing methods
  • Community: Create local food hub

Tool 3: The Challenge Method

Challenge every assumption to reveal alternatives:

Tool 4: The Stepping Stone Method

Use wild ideas as stepping stones to practical ones:

Wild idea: Turn the greenhouse into Gozo’s “eco space station”

Step back: What’s useful about this?

• High-tech image → Modern farming methods
• Self-contained system → Closed-loop aquaponics
• Futuristic appeal → Educational destination
• Research focus → Partnership with university

Practical option: High-tech aquaponics facility with educational component

Note: This Stepping Stone Method is similar to de Bono’s PO (Provocative Operation) technique, where absurd statements lead to practical innovations.

💡 Joseph’s Complete APC Process

The Full Option Generation

Using all APC tools, Joseph generated 23 options over three sessions:

From Options to Reality: The Implementation Path

Joseph’s journey from idea to operating business shows how APC options evolved:

The Power of Multiple Revenue Streams

By not choosing just one option, Joseph created an integrated business model:

• Direct Sales: Bio-vegetables, microgreens, and fish to health-conscious consumers
• Educational Programs: Hosting San Andrea School, Italian exchange students, JobPlus mature students
• Media & Awareness: TV appearances on ONE Breakfast, Let’s Talk Farming, podcast features
• Community Impact: Donations to Caritas Malta, supporting local food security
• Innovation Hub: Developing patented agritech solutions, showcased at EU-Startups Summit

Filtering to Final Choices

Joseph used CAF to evaluate factors and PMI to assess top options:

🎯 APC Integration with Other Tools

The Complete Decision Sequence

1. Start with AGO (Aims, Goals, Objectives): Joseph clarified his aim (family unity + prosperity), goals (sustainable business within 2 years), and objectives (evaluate options by March)
2. Apply APC (Alternatives, Possibilities, Choices): Generate full spectrum of options (23 possibilities)
3. Use CAF (Consider All Factors): Consider all factors affecting each option:
   • Initial investment required
   • Children’s interests and skills
   • Market demand in Gozo and Malta
   • Seasonal variations
   • Regulatory requirements
4. Apply PMI (Plus, Minus, Interesting): Evaluate top 5 options thoroughly
5. Check with C&S (Consequences and Sequels): Project 5-year consequences of each choice
6. Filter through FIP (First Important Priorities): Which option best serves first important priorities?
7. Consider OPV (Other People’s Views): How do the children see each option? The community? Potential customers?

⚠️ Common APC Mistakes and Solutions

🎮 Practice Exercises: Building APC Skills

Exercise 1: The Systematic Variation Drill

Take Joseph’s greenhouse. Generate 5 alternatives by varying:

• WHAT is grown (not vegetables, but…?)
• WHO it serves (not local market, but…?)
• HOW it operates (not traditional farming, but…?)
• WHEN it produces (not seasonal, but…?)
• WHY people buy (not just food, but…?)

Exercise 2: The Assumption Challenger

List 5 assumptions about any problem you face. For each:

1. Write the assumption clearly
2. Ask “What if the opposite were true?”
3. Find one practical option from this reversal

Exercise 3: The Concept Extractor

Take a successful solution from another field:

• Extract the core concept (what makes it work?)
• Apply to your situation
• Example: Uber’s concept (unused assets + technology) → Greenhouse sharing app

Exercise 4: The 15-Minute APC

For any decision:

• 5 minutes: Generate alternatives (same goal, different methods)
• 5 minutes: Explore possibilities (no constraints)
• 5 minutes: Filter to choices (practical options)

Exercise 5: The Family APC Session

Like Joseph’s family meeting:

1. State the challenge clearly
2. Each person generates 3 alternatives silently
3. Share without judgment
4. Build on each other’s ideas
5. Use voting or PMI to select top choices

🌟 The Outcome: From Options to Operating Business

Joseph’s story shows how APC thinking transforms possibilities into reality. Starting with an abandoned greenhouse and limited resources (government disability pension), the family built Bio Aqua Garden into a thriving operation.

The Integrated Solution (2022-2025)

Key Success Factors

• Started small: Just 4-6 fish initially, proving the concept before scaling
• Multiple revenue streams: Production + education + innovation + social impact
• Community integration: Donations to Caritas, school visits, local sponsorships
• Continuous innovation: From basic aquaponics to AquaSoilPonics hybrid systems
• Media savvy: Active on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, plus traditional media

The abandoned greenhouse that once symbolized failure now hosts school groups learning about sustainable agriculture, produces chemical-free food for the community, and employs all three children in different roles—one managing technology, another handling education programs, the third overseeing business operations.

Joseph’s journey proves that between “leave Gozo” and “stay poor” lay dozens of unexplored options. APC helped him find them.

📊 Summary: Your Option Expander

APC transforms decision-making from a narrow corridor into an open field. Like Joseph discovering 23 options where he initially saw only two, you can break free from limited thinking.

🎯 Next Steps

Joseph used structured thinking to expand his options. But sometimes breakthrough solutions require breaking structure entirely. In the next article, we’ll explore Lateral Thinking—de Bono’s most famous tool for generating revolutionary ideas.

For now, practice APC on a decision you’re facing. Use the systematic variation method. Challenge your assumptions. Generate at least 10 options before choosing. Remember Joseph’s lesson: there’s always another way—usually several—if you know how to look.