1. Copyright 2000. The McQuaig Group Inc. 1 Six Thinking Hats ® As a Problem Solving and Directed thinking Tool Presented by: Suman Datta

2. Copyright 2000. The McQuaig Group Inc. 2 Benefits Of The Six Thinking Hat Framework Parallel Save Time Improve Creativity & Communcation Adversarial Foster Collaboration

3. Copyright 2000. The McQuaig Group Inc. 3 The Originator Dr. Edward de Bono M.D., Ph.D., (philosophy, medicine & psychology), Rhodes scholar World-renowned consultant to business, governments, schools and industry Originator of Six Thinking Hats, Lateral Thinking and Direct Attention Thinking Tools

4. Copyright 2000. The McQuaig Group Inc. 4 Results Around The World In use by many of the largest & most successful organizations worldwide Works well in different cultures Applies at all levels & across disciplines

5. Copyright 2000. The McQuaig Group Inc. 5 The Basics There are six different imaginary hats that you can put on or take off. Think of the “hats” as thinking icons. Each hat is a different color and represents a different type or mode of thinking. Members in the group all wear the same hat (do the same type of thinking) at the same time. When members change hats - they change their thinking.

6. Copyright 2000. The McQuaig Group Inc. 6 The White Hat The information seeking hat. What are the facts? What information is available? What is relevant? When wearing the white hat we are neutral in our thinking.

7. Copyright 2000. The McQuaig Group Inc. 7 White Hat Thinking Think of paper with information on it; paper coming out of a computer printer. Concerned with DATA and INFORMATION.

8. Copyright 2000. The McQuaig Group Inc. 8 White Hat Thinking What information do we have? What information do we need? What information would we like to have? How will we get the missing information? Concerned with INFORMATION matters.

9. Copyright 2000. The McQuaig Group Inc. 9 The Red Hat What do you feel about the suggestion? What are your gut reactions? What intuitions do you have? Don’t think too long or too hard.

10. Copyright 2000. The McQuaig Group Inc. 10 Red Hat Thinking Think of a cozy, warm, red fire. Concerned with FEELINGS and EMOTIONS. Put forward feelings, hunches, intuitions, emotions.

11. Copyright 2000. The McQuaig Group Inc. 11 Red Hat Thinking There is NO NEED to: Apologize for the feelings Explain or justify the feelings Disguise the feelings as logic

12. Copyright 2000. The McQuaig Group Inc. 12 Red Hat Thinking Feelings and intuition are valuable ingredients in discussion. Normally excluded as they are neither fact nor logic. Six hats gives them a valid place in exploring a subject.

13. Copyright 2000. The McQuaig Group Inc. 13 The Yellow Hat The sunshine hat. It is positive and constructive. It is about effectiveness and getting a job done. What are the benefits, the advantages?

14. Copyright 2000. The McQuaig Group Inc. 14 Yellow Hat Thinking Think of sunshine and optimism Represents the LOGICAL POSITIVE Benefits Value Feasibility

15. Copyright 2000. The McQuaig Group Inc. 15 Yellow Hat Thinking Concerned with Logical Positive There must be a sound reason for what is claimed. Must be optimistic, yet realistic Requires deliberate effort

16. Copyright 2000. The McQuaig Group Inc. 16 The Black Hat The caution hat. In black hat the thinker points out errors or pit-falls. What are the risks or dangers involved? Identifies difficulties and problems.

17. Copyright 2000. The McQuaig Group Inc. 17 Black Hat Thinking Think of officers in dark uniforms Concerned with CAUTION Stops us from doing things that are illegal, wrong or dangerous Represents LOGICAL NEGATIVE

18. Copyright 2000. The McQuaig Group Inc. 18 Black Hat Thinking Points out: dangers, weaknesses, faults, difficulties, problems. Why something may not work or be profitable. Without Black hat thinking, thinking could be unrealistic or lead to danger!

19. Copyright 2000. The McQuaig Group Inc. 19 This is the creative mode of thinking. Green represents growth and movement. In green hat we look to new ideas and solutions. Lateral thinking wears a green hat. The Green Hat

20. Copyright 2000. The McQuaig Group Inc. 20 Green Hat Thinking Think of vegetation, growth, natural energy, sprouting and branching. Represents CREATIVITY Makes time for deliberate creative effort

21. Copyright 2000. The McQuaig Group Inc. 21 Green Hat Thinking New ideas and further alternatives Modifications and variations in existing ideas Possibilities, even if remote Does NOT need to have a logical base!

22. Copyright 2000. The McQuaig Group Inc. 22 The control hat, organising thinking itself. Sets the focus, calls for the use of other hats. Monitors and reflects on the thinking processes used. Blue is for planning. The Blue Hat

23. Copyright 2000. The McQuaig Group Inc. 23 Blue Hat Thinking Think of blue sky or overview. Concerned with PROCESS CONTROL. Manages the thinking process.

24. Copyright 2000. The McQuaig Group Inc. 24 Blue Hat Thinking Defines the focus for thinking. Asks for summaries and conclusions. Sets the agenda for thinking. Offers comments on thinking that has taken place.

25. Copyright 2000. The McQuaig Group Inc. 25 Blue Hat Thinking Plans and controls the thinking. Is concerned with METACOGNITION (thinking about thinking).

26. Copyright 2000. The McQuaig Group Inc. 26 Six Thinking Hats Intuitive Informative Constructive Cautious Creative Reflective

27. Copyright 2000. The McQuaig Group Inc. 27 Blue Hat Managing The Thinking Setting The Focus Making Summaries Overviews  Conclusions Action Plans Green Hat Creative Thinking Possibilities  Alternatives New Ideas  New Concepts Overcome Black Hat Problems & Reinforce Yellow Hat Values Black Hat Why It May Not Work Cautions  Dangers Problems  Faults Logical Reasons Must Be Given Yellow Hat Why It May Work Values & Benefits (Both Known & Potential) The Good In It Logical Reasons Must Be Given Red Hat Feelings & Intuition Emotions Or Hunches “At This Point” No Reasons or Justification Keep It Short White Hat Information & Data Neutral & Objective Checked & Believed Facts Missing Information & Where To Source ItFOCUS

28. Copyright 2000. The McQuaig Group Inc. 28 White Hat Information & Data Neutral & Objective Checked & Believed Facts Missing Information & Where To Source It Red Hat Feelings & Intuition Emotions Or Hunches “At This Point” No Reasons or Justification Keep It Short Black Hat Why It May Not Work Cautions  Dangers Problems  Faults Logical Reasons Must Be Given Yellow Hat Why It May Work Values & Benefits (Both Known & Potential) The Good In It Logical Reasons Must Be Given Green Hat Creative Thinking Possibilities  Alternatives New Ideas  New Concepts Overcome Black Hat Problems & Reinforce Yellow Hat Values Blue Hat Managing The Thinking Setting The Focus Making Summaries Overviews  Conclusions Action PlansFOCUS

29. Copyright 2000. The McQuaig Group Inc. 29 Mediator’s Role Define the focus of your thinking Plan the sequence and timing of the thinking Ask for changes in the thinking if needed Handle requests from the group for changes in the thinking Contribute under each hat Form periodic or final summaries of the thinking for consideration by the team x

30. Copyright 2000. The McQuaig Group Inc. 30 Member’s Role Follow the lead of the mediator Stick to the hat (type of thinking) that is in current use Try to work within the time limits Contribute honestly & fully under each of the hats

31. Copyright 2000. The McQuaig Group Inc. 31 Sources www.debonoonline.com www.edwarddebono.com home.um.edu.mt/create/sixhats.ppt www.debonogroup.com/powerpoint/ 6hats_files/frame.htm The Six Thinking Hats by Edward De Bono