Where Does Novelty Come From?

Analysis and Synthesis.

This quote is from John Boyd’s greatest briefing, Conceptual Spiral:

“Novelty is produced by a mental/physical feedback process of analyses and synthesis that permits us to interact with the world so that we can comprehend, cope with, and shape that world as well as be shaped by it.”¹

Novelty emerges through a continuous feedback loop of analysis and synthesis. This feedback process involves breaking down information and insights. We then synthesize new insights and apply our understanding to decisions and actions.

Analyzing information allows us to break down complex ideas and situations, gaining a deeper comprehension. But analysis is not enough. We need to follow analysis with synthesis, which combines insights from analysis to create new perspectives.

This concept aligns with the idea that knowledge and progress are not static. Rather, they continue to evolve through a dynamic process of learning and application. By interacting with the World, we shape it as it shapes us. This reciprocal relationship emphasizes the need for adaptability. It also requires a willingness to evolve our understanding in response to new information and mismatches.

The quote reminds us why we need a flexible and dynamic approach to decision-making. Analyzing, synthesizing, and adapting based on feedback is crucial for navigating VUCA. We must embrace novelty as an ongoing, dynamic process rather than a one-time event.

Furthermore, emphasizing the mental and physical interplay highlights the holistic nature of feedback loops. It implies that our actions and experiences in our environment must revise our analysis and synthesis abilities. This is how orientation shapes (implicitly guides and controls) how we engage with reality.

This quote captures how novelty emerges through an ongoing feedback process. It encourages us to continue to reorient and embrace continuous learning. This empowers us to adapt as we continue to interact with reality. By understanding how novelty emerges, we can capitalize on it rather than be consumed or defeated by it.

Get your copy of John Boyd’s Conceptual Spiral² here:

Watch John Boyd deliver Conceptual Spiral here, and follow along with the downloaded transcript:

You can watch our episode of No Way Out where we discuss Conceptual Spiral with Chet Richards:

1. John Boyd’s Conceptual Spiral, slide 22

2. Make sure to listen to our discussion of Conceptual Spiral with Boyd’s friend and collaborator Chet Richards by clicking here.