---
name: challenge-operation
description: "Non-threatening 'Why?' questioning of current practices (de Bono Challenge)"
execution: strategy
used-by: lateral-thinking
---
# Challenge Operation
Apply de Bono's Challenge technique: non-threatening questioning of why things are done the way they are. Not criticism — genuine curiosity about whether current approaches are the only way.
## State Ledger
| Resource | Target | Current | % |
|----------|--------|---------|---|
| web-search | 20 | 0 | 0% |
| web-research | 8 | 0 | 0% |
| paper-overview | 20 | 0 | 0% |
| paper-search | 12 | 0 | 0% |
| paper-research | 5 | 0 | 0% |
## HARD-GATE
Cannot exit strategy until ≥80% of each budget line is consumed OR yield targets are met with justification for remaining budget.
## Available Tactics
| Tactic | Role |
|--------|------|
| concept-hierarchy | Organize challenged practices into concept levels |
## Available SOPs
| SOP | Role |
|-----|------|
| challenge-questioning | Apply non-threatening 'Why?' to current practices |
| escape-technique | Escape from dominant patterns revealed by challenge |
| alternatives-generation | Generate alternatives to challenged practices |
| lateral-synthesis | Synthesize challenge operation outputs |
## Execution Guidance
1. **List practices**: Identify current practices, methods, and assumptions
2. **Challenge each**: Apply challenge-questioning SOP — "Why is it done this way?"
3. **Distinguish**: Separate necessary constraints from historical accidents
4. **Escape**: For historical accidents, use escape-technique to find alternatives
5. **Generate alternatives**: Produce concrete alternatives to challenged practices
6. **Synthesize**: Produce structured output via lateral-synthesis