Concept fan: map the solution space before picking a direction

Expand from specific solutions to the broader concept behind them, then generate alternatives at the concept level.

Why it works

Most problem-solving jumps directly to solutions without examining the implicit concept those solutions share — which means alternatives at the concept level are never considered. The concept fan makes the hierarchy explicit: action → concept → purpose, and then generates multiple alternatives at the concept level before returning to specific actions. This breaks the pattern of generating variants of the same approach rather than genuinely different approaches.

How to do it

1. State one current solution or approach to the problem.
2. Ask: "What concept does this solution embody?" (e.g., "individual accountability" or "speed over quality").
3. Generate three to five different concepts that could also address the same purpose.
4. For each alternative concept, generate one or two specific actions that would enact it.
5. Compare across concepts before selecting a direction.

Evidence

Problem decomposition and hierarchical framing are established elements of structured problem-solving methods; the concept fan operationalizes the insight that solution alternatives are often blocked by shared conceptual assumptions rather than technical constraints. (mechanistic)

The concept fan as a named technique is de Bono’s formulation; the underlying benefit of varying the frame of a problem rather than the details within one frame is consistent with research on analogical and structural problem-solving.

Common mistake

Generating solution variants rather than concept variants — if all alternatives still rest on the same hidden concept, the fan has not actually opened.