Analogies and Metaphors
Reference model
Connecting the known to the unknown can spark innovation.
About this model
Analogies and metaphors are cognitive tools that help in understanding and generating ideas by linking new concepts to known experiences.
Originator not stated.
How to read it
- Look for connections between familiar and unfamiliar concepts.
- Identify key insights that emerge from the comparisons.
What this does
Uses comparisons to clarify complex ideas, stimulate creative thinking, and generate new insights by relating familiar concepts to unfamiliar problems.
When to use it
Use it when teams struggle to understand a problem or need fresh ideas by connecting different domains or experiences.
Not when: Do not use it when the problem is straightforward or requires precise technical language without ambiguity.
What happens next
Explore the generated ideas with a prioritization tool to decide which to pursue.
Golden thread
Builds on ←
- Problem statement
- Idea generation techniques
Feeds into →
- Action plan
Use this tool, free
Sign in to open the worksheet. Your work saves as you type, the AI can draft the parts you have not filled in, and you finish with an analysis and a 30/60/90-day action plan.
Drafted with AI and reviewed by Eccellere on 04/11/2026. Guidance, not advice: apply your own judgement.