PO (Provocative Operation) | Maltese Mental Models
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PO (Provocative Operation) | Maltese Mental Models


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💥 PO (Provocative Operation): Advanced Pattern Breaking

Part 11 of the Maltese Mental Models series on Edward de Bono’s thinking tools

About the Series: Explore de Bono’s revolutionary tools, from PMI to Six Thinking Hats, designed to unlock creativity and solve problems in the AI age. Learn more about de Bono’s legacy here.

🚫 The Word That Changed Thinking Forever

In 1968, Maltese thinker Edward de Bono invented PO—a thinking operator as fundamental as YES and NO, designed to shatter rigid mental patterns. Part of his Lateral Thinking framework, PO is your key to breakthrough ideas.

🔑 Key Insight: PO is a mental reset button, like CTRL+ALT+DELETE for frozen thinking, unlocking new possibilities.

The Problem PO Solves: Language traps us. When someone says “cars should have square wheels,” the brain judges: “That’s stupid.” PO signals: “Don’t judge—use this as a stepping stone.”

What PO Means:

  • Provocative Operation (technical definition)
  • Provoking Operation (how it works)
  • Possibility Opening (what it does)
  • Pattern Overcoming (why it matters)

Derived from hypothesis, suppose, possible, and poetry, PO invites exploration beyond reality’s limits.

🧠 Why Your Brain Needs PO: The Neuroscience Made Simple

Neuroscience shows that some thoughts are unreachable without a bridge like PO, which rewires your brain for creativity.

🧠 Analogy: Your brain is a city with well-worn roads (neural pathways). PO is a helicopter, letting you land anywhere to forge new paths.

How PO Rewires Your Brain
Without PO With PO Neural Result
“Square wheels are stupid” “PO: Square wheels” Judgment suspended, exploration begins
Critical networks dominate Creative networks activate New brain regions engage
Old pathways deepen New connections form Neuroplasticity increases
Reinforces patterns Breaks patterns Novel solutions emerge

🎯 The Four Laws of PO

PO is a disciplined tool, governed by four laws for maximum impact:

The Fundamental Laws of PO
Law Principle Example Why It Works
1. No Judgment PO statements aren’t judged PO: Planes land upside down Bypasses critical thinking
2. Movement Only Moves thinking forward Upside-down landing → new gear Forces value extraction
3. Operational Concrete, not abstract Not: PO: Better justice
Yes: PO: Courts meet at midnight		 Images spark ideas
4. Temporary Stepping stones, not goals Discard PO after use Prevents absurd fixation

🔧 The Six PO Techniques: Your Breakthrough Toolkit

Master these six provocation techniques to never be stuck again:

PO Techniques Overview
Technique Method When to Use Quick Example
🔄 Reversal Flip relationships Breaking conventions PO: Customers serve waiters
📏 Exaggeration Multiply by 100/1000 Uncovering assumptions PO: Restaurant has 10,000 dishes
🎭 Distortion Alter sequences/relationships Questioning processes PO: Pay after eating next week
✂️ Dropping Remove essentials Radical simplification PO: Restaurant with no food
✨ Wishful Thinking State ideal fantasy Imagining perfection PO: Food appears instantly
🎲 Random PO Combine with random word When totally stuck PO: Restaurant + Elephant

🔄 Technique 1: Reversal

Method: Flip normal relationships completely.

Reversal in Action
Normal PO Reversal Movement Ideas Real Innovation
Customers come to shops PO: Shops go to customers Mobile services, delivery Food trucks, mobile banking
Teachers teach students PO: Students teach teachers Peer learning, feedback Flipped classrooms
Police catch criminals PO: Criminals catch police Self-reporting incentives Amnesty programs
Planes fly through air PO: Air flies through planes Wind tunnel testing Ground-based testing

💡 Practice Tip: Reverse a Maltese tradition, like “PO: Tourists plan festas,” to spark new event ideas.

📏 Technique 2: Exaggeration

Method: Multiply any dimension by 100 or 1000.

Exaggeration Formula
Dimension PO Exaggeration Insights Gained Practical Application
Quantity: Restaurant has 20 tables PO: Restaurant has 20,000 tables Self-service, automation Food courts
Time: Delivery in 30 minutes PO: Delivery in 30 seconds Pre-positioning, drones Ghost kitchens
Cost: Coffee costs €3 PO: Coffee costs €300 Luxury positioning Coffee ceremonies
Size: Phone fits in pocket PO: Phone is size of building Shared devices, cloud Smart city tech

💡 Practice Tip: Exaggerate a daily task, like “PO: 1,000 buses to Valletta,” to rethink transport.

🎭 Technique 3: Distortion

Method: Change sequences, relationships, or qualities.

Distortion Patterns
Type Example PO Movement Result Innovation Example
Sequence PO: Pay before you order Subscription models Meal kits
Geography PO: Airport in city center Vertical airports Urban air mobility
Dependency PO: Cars run without fuel Solar, gravity power Regenerative braking
Permanence PO: Houses dissolve in rain Recyclable buildings Biodegradable architecture

💡 Practice Tip: Distort a Maltese process, like “PO: Fireworks at dawn,” to reimagine festas.

✂️ Technique 4: Dropping

Method: Remove an essential element.

Dropping Process:

  1. List essentials
  2. Drop one with PO
  3. Make it work
  4. Find new approaches

Maltese Example: PO: Pastizzi shop with no pastizzi → Pastizzi-making classes for tourists.

Dropping Essential Elements
Industry Drop This PO Statement Innovation
Banking Physical money PO: Bank with no money Digital banking
Education Teachers PO: School with no teachers Peer learning
Retail Products PO: Shop with no products Experience stores
Transportation Drivers PO: Cars with no drivers Autonomous vehicles

✨ Technique 5: Wishful Thinking

Method: State an ideal fantasy outcome.

From Wishes to Reality
PO Wish Movement Question Practical Innovation Malta Example
PO: Customers tell us their thoughts How might they communicate? Feedback apps Tourist experience tracking
PO: Products fix themselves What could self-repair? Self-healing materials Smart building maintenance
PO: Time moves backward What would this enable? Version control Heritage restoration
PO: Everyone speaks same language How to bridge understanding? Real-time translation Multilingual tourism apps

🎲 Technique 6: Random PO

Method: Combine your focus with a random word, building on Random Entry.

Formula: [Challenge] + PO + [Random Word]

Example: Improving bus service + PO + “Elephant”

  • PO: Buses have elephant memory
  • Movement: Remember passengers’ destinations
  • Innovation: Smart cards with route memory

⚠️ Tip: Use a truly random word via a generator or Random Entry.

➡️ Movement: The Critical Second Step

PO sparks ideas; movement turns them into breakthroughs. Use these techniques to extract value:

The Five Movement Techniques
Movement Type Key Question Example: PO: Cars Have Square Wheels
1. Extract Principle What concept is here? Controlled resistance → Better braking
2. Focus on Difference What changes? Bumpy ride → Active suspension
3. Moment to Moment What happens next? Car jumps → Rough terrain vehicles
4. Positive Aspects What’s useful? Can’t speed → Speed limiters
5. Special Circumstances When would this work? Soft ground → Sand/snow vehicles

⚠️ Rule: Don’t defend the PO—focus on the ideas it inspires.

🌍 PO in Modern Malta: Real Breakthroughs

Maltese innovators have applied PO-like thinking to create impactful solutions:

Case 1: Tuk-Tuks in Gozo – Transportation Reversal

Traditional Thinking: Modern transport needs modern vehicles

PO: Gozo uses Asian three-wheelers for tourism

Movement:

  • Appeal: Novelty, open-air experience
  • Circumstances: Small island, tourist demand
  • Positives: Low emissions, job creation

Result: Tuk-tuks as tourist attractions

Case 2: Cart Ruts – Ancient PO Thinking

Challenge: Moving stones across rocky terrain

PO: Make permanent tracks in rock

Movement:

  • Permanence: Efficiency over time
  • Rocks as solution: Carve bedrock guides
  • Circumstances: Limestone properties

Legacy: Cart ruts, a testament to ancient ingenuity

Case 3: Cultural Festivals Reimagined

Expectation: Party island = techno/EDM

PO: Malta hosts classical and jazz festivals

Movement:

  • Advantages: Baroque venues
  • Audience: Cultural tourists
  • Positioning: Unique opera settings

Result: Premium cultural festivals

Case 4: Blockchain Island Initiative

Traditional Thinking: Malta is too small for tech leadership

PO: Malta becomes the world’s blockchain capital

Movement:

  • Requirements: First-mover regulations
  • Advantages: Agile governance, EU membership
  • Circumstances: Small = fast decisions

Result: Global blockchain leadership

Case 5: Tackling Over-Tourism

Challenge: Too many tourists strain resources

PO: Tourists pay to leave Malta

Movement:

  • Incentives: Fund local projects
  • Experience: Make departure memorable
  • Positives: Sustainable tourism

Result: Potential for eco-tourism initiatives

💡 Global Examples:

  • Southwest Airlines: PO: No assigned seats → Faster turnarounds
  • IKEA: PO: Customers assemble furniture → Affordable design
  • Netflix: PO: No late fees → Subscription model

💡 Integrating PO with Other de Bono Tools

PO supercharges other tools in the Maltese Mental Models series:

PO Power Combinations
Tool Combo How to Use Example Result
PO + PMI Create PO, analyze with Plus/Minus/Interesting PO: No cars in Malta → PMI evaluation Better air, transport innovation
PO + CAF Provoke, then consider all factors PO: Schools open 24/7 → CAF implications Safety, costs considered
PO + OPV PO from others’ viewpoints PO: Reverse tax → OPV stakeholders Broader perspectives
PO + C&S Map PO idea consequences PO idea → C&S long-term impact Future-proof solutions
PO + AGO Align POs with goals PO: Free houses → AGO clarity Focused innovation
PO + FIP Prioritize PO ideas PO ideas → FIP ranking Actionable priorities
PO + APC Generate PO alternatives PO: No teachers → APC options Expanded possibilities
PO + Six Hats Green Hat for POs, others develop Green: POs, Yellow: Benefits Structured innovation

📊 Evaluating PO Ideas: From Wild to Workable

Assess PO-generated ideas systematically:

Quick Evaluation Using PMI

PO Idea Evaluation with PMI
PO Idea Plus (+) Minus (-) Interesting (!) Score
Underwater restaurant Unique, premium, tourist draw Costly, safety risks Education, events 7/10
24-hour school Flexible, resource use Burnout, safety Shift workers, global links 6/10

Advanced Scoring System

  1. Originality (1-5): How unique?
  2. Feasibility (1-5): Can it be done?
  3. Impact (1-5): How big a difference?
  4. Resources (1-5): Do we have what’s needed?
  5. Timing (1-5): Is the world ready?

Threshold: 18+ merits development.

🎯 Your PO Mastery Practice Plan

PO has driven billions in global innovation. Make it work for you with this plan:

Week 1: Foundation Building

Day Technique Practice Challenge Success Indicator
Monday Reversal Reverse 5 aspects of your morning commute 1 useful idea
Tuesday Exaggeration Exaggerate 5 work/study aspects Uncover 1 assumption
Wednesday Distortion Distort a Maltese festa process Question 1 “must be”
Thursday Dropping Drop essentials from a local business Simplify 1 process
Friday Wishful Thinking Dream up ideal solutions 1 visionary idea
Saturday Random PO Combine problem with random word 1 surprising insight
Sunday Integration Combine techniques on 1 problem 10+ ideas

Week 2: Movement Mastery

Apply all five movement techniques to Week 1 POs. Document the best outcomes.

Week 3: Real Application

Tackle real challenges with this template:

Challenge: __________

PO Technique: __________

PO Statement: __________

Movement Technique: __________

Ideas:

  1. __________
  2. __________
  3. __________

Most Promising: __________

Next Action: __________

Downloadable Worksheet: Want a printable PO template? Get it here.

⚠️ Troubleshooting Common PO Problems

Overcome these hurdles to master PO:

Common PO Challenges and Fixes
Problem Why It Happens Solution Pro Tip
Can’t think of POs Logical mode stuck Start silly, no pressure PO: Chair made of clouds
POs too reasonable Fear of absurdity Push to extreme PO: Negative-cost coffee
Movement feels forced Judging instead Ask “What if true?” Assume it works
Group resistance Critical culture Set PO ground rules Assign a “PO protector”

🏛️ PO for Malta’s Future Challenges

Apply PO to Malta’s pressing issues:

National Challenges → PO Solutions
Challenge PO Statement Movement Ideas Potential Innovation
Water Scarcity PO: Malta exports water Atmospheric harvesting Water generation hubs
Traffic Congestion PO: Cars banned, people fly Personal mobility Urban cable cars
Housing Costs PO: Houses are free New ownership models Work-for-housing programs
Brain Drain PO: Students paid to study Education investment Future-skills contracts
Energy Dependence PO: Citizens are power plants Human energy harvesting Kinetic infrastructure

📚 Advanced PO Techniques

Elevate your skills with these advanced methods:

PO Chains

Use one PO’s output as input for another:

  1. PO: Restaurants have no food
  2. Movement: Social experience focus
  3. PO: People pay to cook for others
  4. Movement: Cooking classes + social dining
  5. Result: Community kitchen concepts

Nested POs

Apply PO within PO statements:

  • PO: Schools where (PO: students are teachers)
  • PO: Banks that (PO: give money before you earn it)
  • PO: Hospitals where (PO: patients treat doctors)

PO Scenarios

Create worlds based on PO:

Base PO World Implications Business Opportunities
PO: Money expires Use-it-or-lose-it economy Experience businesses boom
PO: Sleep unnecessary 24-hour productivity Night services
PO: Telepathy exists Instant communication Mental firewalls

👥 Running PO Sessions in Groups

PO thrives in collaborative settings. Try this 90-minute workshop:

Time Activity Key Points
0-10 min Explain PO concept and rules No judgment, movement only
10-20 min Warm-up with silly POs PO: Meetings underwater
20-40 min Generate POs for real challenge Use all 6 techniques
40-60 min Movement in small groups Each group takes 2-3 POs
60-80 min Share and build Cross-pollinate ideas
80-90 min Select for action Vote on most promising

💡 Facilitation Tips:

  • Write POs on a whiteboard
  • Ban “but” during generation
  • Redirect PO defense to movement
  • Celebrate wild POs

🌟 PO in the AI Age: Your Unique Advantage

As AI masters logic, PO empowers humans to create new patterns:

Why PO Matters Now:

  • AI optimizes patterns—PO creates them
  • AI uses existing data—PO imagines new possibilities
  • AI follows probability—PO embraces impossibility
  • AI refines—PO generates breakthroughs
PO + AI Synergy Examples
Human PO Creates AI Optimizes Result
PO: Buildings that grow Material science calculations Self-assembling structures
PO: Reverse aging Genetic pattern analysis Longevity breakthroughs
PO: Think without brain Distributed computing Swarm intelligence
PO: Energy from nothing Quantum simulations Zero-point energy research

📚 Further Resources

  • Books: Lateral Thinking (1970), PO: Beyond Yes and No (1972) by de Bono
  • Courses: de Bono Thinking Systems
  • Videos: de Bono’s TED Talk on creativity

🚀 Next Steps

PO is the crown jewel of Lateral Thinking, but it shines brighter with de Bono’s full system. Next, explore Six Thinking Hats for structured group thinking, or dive into Simplicity for elegant solutions.

Call to Action: Try PO today! What’s your wildest idea? Share it in the comments or test it with our PO worksheet.

In Malta, we say: “Min ma jirriskjax, ma jirbahx”—Who doesn’t risk, doesn’t gain. PO is your risk in thought. Your impossible idea awaits.