Rapid Prototyping and the What-if-Idea Outlandish thoughts can provide insights ?how the world works?

We probably know this from very different training courses - the what if question. The experiment with the hypothesis. Allowing all normal, special and totally extreme, completely unrealistic ideas. In group work, this often leads to a lot of “junk ideas”, laughter in the group, head shaking and the often subsequent processing of ideas “with potential”, which obviously show a good probability of success. Do they?

And this is exactly where the double question comes in: what if we didn't necessarily laugh in the experiment, but instead took a balanced look at all the ideas, discussed them and took at least 1 “total exotic” idea into the further processing for the “what if” rounds?

I have had good experiences with this. The agreed joint thought expedition into the probability of the improbable. Jumping over your own shadow, consciously letting go of logic. It takes courage, sometimes several attempts and almost small temporary personal changes of attitude.

Even if these “wild card” ideas are not worked out in the end - this ideation freedom rush motivates a group noticeably. And it also refreshes dull ideation rounds. A kind of legal sniff of lawless creativity.

An example from continuing education practice, topic occupational safety

When checking the brainwriting notes on the magnetic board, the group noticed a “wild card idea”. The connection between daily personal safety and the biorhythm. A kind of “meaningless horoscope”.

The following unstructured notes, polished up for this article, emerged from the ?research in all directions? and discussions of the training group as the chosen craziness in the later follow-up:

a) Explainer

The relationship between daily biorhythms and safety behaviors in industry is a topic that has received some attention in scientific research. Biorhythms refer to the natural, cyclical patterns of physical, mental, and emotional states that occur in humans over the course of a day. These rhythms (highs and lows) are influenced by factors such as circadian rhythms, which regulate sleep-wake cycles, as well as other physiological processes.

b) Findings

Several studies have investigated how variations in biorhythms can impact safety-related behaviors and outcomes in industrial settings. Here are some key findings:

1. Circadian Rhythms and Alertness | Circadian rhythms play a significant role in regulating alertness and cognitive function. Research has shown that safety-related incidents, such as accidents and errors, are more likely to occur during times of decreased alertness, such as during the night shift or during the circadian trough (early morning hours). Workers may experience reduced vigilance, slower reaction times, and impaired decision-making during these times, increasing the risk of accidents.
2. Sleep Deprivation | Disruptions to normal sleep patterns, such as those experienced by shift workers or individuals with irregular schedules, can lead to sleep deprivation and fatigue. Sleep-deprived workers are more prone to errors, accidents, and injuries in the workplace. Chronic sleep deprivation has been linked to decreased cognitive performance, impaired judgment, and increased risk-taking behavior, all of which can compromise safety.
3. Chronotype Differences | Individuals have different natural preferences for sleep timing, known as chronotypes. Some people are "morning types" who prefer to wake up and go to bed early, while others are "evening types" who prefer later waking and sleeping times. Research suggests that mismatches between work schedules and individuals' chronotypes can lead to increased fatigue, reduced alertness, and poorer safety outcomes.
4. Timing of Safety Training and Briefings | Biorhythms can also influence the effectiveness of safety interventions such as training sessions and safety briefings. Studies have shown that scheduling these activities during times of peak alertness, such as in the morning or early afternoon, may enhance learning and retention of safety information.

Closing

While there is scientific evidence suggesting a correlation between daily biorhythms and safety behaviors in industry, it's essential to recognize that individual factors, such as age, health, and lifestyle, can also influence these relationships. Employers can take steps to mitigate the impact of biorhythm-related factors on safety by implementing strategies such as scheduling shifts to align with workers' natural rhythms, providing adequate rest breaks, and promoting healthy sleep habits. Just a few of many other suggestions.

And from a from an unrelated other experiment via a rapid Jelly Working (Amit and Luke, NYC 2006) session about what factors would be helpful to create a daily safety forecast? A condensed summary:

Science

Biorhythms theory suggests that our lives are influenced by three primary rhythmic cycles:

- physical,

- emotional, and

- intellectual.

Each cycle operates at a different frequency and can be plotted on a graph to show highs, lows, and critical points.

Possible Factors (for a Safety App?)

1. Calculate Biorhythms | Use mathematical formulas to calculate the current phase of each biorhythm cycle for a particular individual. This usually involves using their birth date to determine the starting point of each cycle and then applying the relevant mathematical functions to find out where they are in each cycle on a given day.
2. Interpretation | Interpret the calculated biorhythms to understand the predicted highs, lows, and critical points for each cycle on a daily basis. For example, a high point in the physical cycle might suggest increased energy and vitality, while a low point could indicate fatigue or susceptibility to illness.
3. Integration | Combine the interpretations of all three cycles (physical, emotional, and intellectual) to generate a comprehensive forecast for the individual's day. This involves considering how the different cycles might interact and influence each other, as well as accounting for any overarching patterns or trends.
4. Customization | Adjust the forecast based on individual factors such as lifestyle, stress levels, and external circumstances. While biorhythms provide a general framework, each person's experience may vary based on personal factors that aren't accounted for in the basic calculations.
5. Feedback and Refinement | Continuously evaluate the accuracy of the daily forecasts and refine the forecasting model based on feedback and new insights. Biorhythms theory is controversial and not universally accepted, so it's important to approach it with a critical mindset and be open to adjusting the methodology based on evidence and feedback.

P.S. Designed correlations as a formula or visualization model are almost like the eternal dream of finding the crystal-clear and expressive correlation. Especially in human-centered activities such as safety and the possible influences, attention enhancers or changes in habits and behavior, the convincing correlation is often missing in the evaluation. The experiment shown is probably one of 1000 possibilities. At best, the way there can be spiced up with a “cheekily” scaled method with unexpected solution approaches.

And don't forget, the rollercoaster-like what-if exploration of a topic delivers authentic, liberating, group spirit-enhancing and absolutely unfiltered fun as a side effect.