Functional Fixedness

Impact on LEADERSHIP AND BUSINESS

Treasure:

In leadership and business, functional fixedness can be a “treasure” when it comes to routine tasks or when following standard procedures. It can help maintain efficiency and consistency because it promotes sticking to known methods.

In certain contexts, especially where safety or regulations are concerned, adhering to the traditional use of equipment and processes can ensure stability, reliability, and compliance.

This bias is useful in the case of proven solutions. It can lead to a focus on tried-and-tested solutions, which can be beneficial in situations where innovation is less critical than reliability or speed.

Risk:

However, there are “risks” associated with functional fixedness including stifled creativity and innovation this bias can severely limit creative problem-solving and innovation by making it difficult to see alternative uses for resources or new approaches to challenges.

It also leads to an inability to adapt. In rapidly changing markets or unexpected situations, this bias can make it hard for businesses to adapt, when they remain fixated on traditional methods and solutions.

Functional fixedness can also lead to missed opportunities. By not considering alternative applications of resources, ideas, products and services, organizations might miss out on opportunities for growth, efficiency, or competitive advantage.


KNOW YOUR KNOTS - Learn to recognize when Functional Fixedness is taking the lead.

Ask yourself:

Am I considering only the conventional use of this resource or tool?

How would someone from a different background or industry approach this?

Am I dismissing ideas because they don’t fit the traditional way of doing things?

What are the underlying assumptions about how things ‘should’ be done?

Can I break down the problem or resource into its basic components?


STRATEGIES to manage this bias: Pause – Perspective – Practice - Progress

Pause:
Reflect on past situations where an unconventional use of a resource proved beneficial and led to success.

Be open to ideas that may initially seem impractical or unconventional.

Reflect on diversity of thought and how it leads to innovative solutions.

Think about the potential of your products and services outside their normal context.

Analyze the fundamental elements of your products or services to see them in a new light, and with the potential to solve new problems.


Perspective:
Create teams with diverse backgrounds to bring different perspectives and challenge conventional
thinking.

Learn from case studies or practices in different industries to inspire new ways of thinking. Drawing inspiration from distant domains can generate novel ideas and more creative solutions to problems.

Review and question current processes and tools to explore potential improvements or alternative uses.


Practice:
Arrange brainstorming sessions where all ideas are welcomed, regardless of how unconventional they may be.

Encourage team members to reframe problems in different ways to see new solutions.


Progress:
Provide training in creative problem-solving methods like lateral thinking or design thinking.

By proactively managing functional fixedness bias, leaders can foster a more innovative, adaptable, and creative environment in their organizations, leading to greater problem-solving capabilities and competitive advantages.