Six Thinking hatsSix Thinking hats
Why use it?– encourages full spectrum thinking– separates ego from performance– encourages innovation and creativity– Improves teamwork– Solves problems faster– Implements change
Developed by: Edward de Bono
Used by the following companies: Prudential Insurance, IBM, DuPont, FedEx, Polaroid, & Pepsico
White HatWhite Hat
Encourages facts, figures, data, gaps
Ask these questions:...What information do we have
here?
...What information is missing?
...What information would we like to have?
...How are we going to get the information?
Red hatRed hat
Covers intuition, feeling, hunches,& emotion
Possible dialog:... Putting on my red hat, this is
what I feel about the project.
...My gut-feeling is that it will not work.
...I don't like the way this is being done.
...My intuition tells me that prices will fall soon.
Black hatBlack hat
Covers judgment and caution, prevents silly mistakes
Possible dialog:... Why something won’t fit the
facts
... The regulations do not permit us to do that.
...We do not have the production capacity to meet that order.
...When we tried a higher price the sales fell off.
...He has no experience in export management.
Yellow hatYellow hat
Think of sunshine: logical positive view, optimism, feasibility
Possible dialog:... Why something will work.
... What benefits it will offer.
... This might work if we moved the production plant nearer to the customers.
...The benefit would come from repeat purchases.
...The high cost of energy would make everyone more energy efficient.
Green hatGreen hat
Think of rich growth: creative thinking, alternatives, what is interesting, changes, new ideas
Possible dialog:... We need some new ideas here.
...Are there any additional alternatives?
...Could we do this in a different way?
...Could there be another explanation?
Blue hatBlue hat
Think of the sky and overview: sets the agenda, summarizes, asks for other hats, thinks about “thinking”, conclusions, decisions
... We have spent far too much time looking for someone to blame.
...Could we have a summary of your views?
...I think we should take a look at the priorities.
...I suggest we try some green hat thinking to get some new ideas.