Aside from the everyday understanding of this phrase, quanto or quantos means 'how much' and 'what quantity' in route latin languages such as Spanish, French and Italian and in normal speech can be used as a question. Therefore Quantos can mean how much, how many and what's that cost? Perfect questions for the beginning of any marketing and business development programme.

But the modern use of the words quanta and quantum also relate to quantum theory and quantum management theory - which bring together and apply the latest scientific thinking on quantum systems to the modern organisation.

quantum theory
The first physicists to begin working on quantum data were the german Max Planck and, following in his footsteps, Albert Einstein, whose famous theory of relativity (incorporating e=mc2) is basically quantum theory.

In tackling a number of known issues with existing theory centred around the unusual properties of light (that light or light energy didn't seem to behave or be restricted by the same rules imposed on other matter), Planck proposed that light consisted of quantas, or individual pulses of energy, that were radiated only when certain levels of heat were generated and that these quantas radiated in unique bursts, corresponding to wavelengths of light.

Einstein added a series of insights, since proven, that extends the properties of light to the properties of sub-atomic particles (and huge systems such as entire galaxies) where atomic data particles are somehow able to relate to or communicate with other atomic data regardless of distance or the theoretical boundaries of space, time and distance as previously understood.

Physicists call this quantum theory and the non-localised effects they represent as quantum activity or quantum jumps.

Recent theoretical physics has taken this a step forward and has proposed that the only known entity capable of causing these apparent contradictions to physics is consciousness. In other words, the physical universe somehow exists or is directly related to or materially connected with conscious thought. This poses some very interesting questions for all of us and also suggests that life as we know it is based on something altogether un-physical.

quantum theory and creativity  
Some scientists think that the human brain is not only capable of quantum processing itself (ie non-localised, neural activity) but that the cognitive process might rely on it.

When new ideas and concepts are introduced to us, our minds rapidly fire neurons (electrical particles) backwards and forwards across the creative-right and logical-left hemispheres of our minds until matching patterns are found, compared, adjusted and 'stored' for future reference. Wholly new ideas create new algorithms that can be called upon and compared in the future. Neurophysicists call this process quantum thinking.

Edward de Bono called a similar idea lateral thinking - the basis of many people's definition of creative thinking today - including Edward de Bono.

the quantum benefit
If you put de Bono's definition of creative and lateral thinking together with the latest understanding of neural and quantum activity you get something you could call quantum creativity. It's the rush of energy we get from a truly new idea and the reason we enjoy them. It's the reason we laugh at jokes and the point of an interesting story. It's the point at which the quantum leap occurs in our mind.

And it's the final part of the reason we say take a quantum leap forward - with The Quantos Consultancy. We hope you will.