Six Thinking Hats

Argument vs. Parallel Thinking

Six Thinking Hats

Framework

Confusion is the biggest enemy of good thinking

We try to do too many things at a time
Juggling with six balls at a time is rather difficult Tossing up one ball at a time is much easier

Six Hat Thinking does one thing at a time and in the end the full picture emerges

Six Thinking Hats

Western Thinking = Argument

Western thinking was designed about 2300 years ago by the Greek Gang of Three:
Socrates simply point out what is wrong Plato we see only shadow truths Aristotle things fit into boxes (categories)

Western thinking is concerned with what is determined by analysis, judgment and argument.

Six Thinking Hats

Adversarial vs. Parallel Thinking

Adversarial Thinking A B

Parallel Thinking A B

Adversarial Thinking
- Each sides take different position and then seeks to attack the other side. - Each side seeks to prove that the other side is wrong. - Lack constructive, creative/design element. - Obejctive was to discover truth not to bulid anything.

Parallel Thinking
- Both sides (or all parties are thinking in parallel in the same direction.

- There is co-operative and co-ordinated thinking.

- The direction itself can be changed in order to give a full scan of the situation. But at every moment each thinker is thinking in parallel with all the other thinkers. -There does not have to be agreement. - Statements or thoughts which are indeed contradictory are not argued out but laid down in parallel.

In the final stage the way forward is 'designed' from the parallel thought that have been laid out.

Six Thinking Hats

Parallel Thinking
It was six men of Indostan To learning much inclined, Who went to see the Elephant (Though all of them were blind), That each by observation Might satisfy his mind.

John Godfrey Saxe's ( 1816-1887) version of the famous Indian legend

Six Thinking Hats

Parallel Thinking
Wall Fan Spear

Snake

Rope
Tree

And so these men of Indostan Disputed loud and long, Each in his own opinion Exceeding stiff and strong, Though each was partly in the right, And all were in the wrong!

Six Thinking Hats

Parallel Thinking

A wise man was passing by and he saw this. He stopped and asked them, "What is the matter?" They said, "We cannot agree to what the elephant is like. The wise man calmly explained to them, "All of you are right. The reason every one of you is telling it differently is because each one of you touched a different part of the elephant. So, actually the elephant has all those features. "Oh!" everyone said. There was no more fight. They felt happy that they were all right.

Six Thinking Hats

Parallel Thinking

Using parallel thinking they could all walk around and look at each part of the elephant together. So at each moment each person is looking in parallel from the same point of view and in the same direction. This is almost the exact opposite of argument, adversarial, confrontational thinking
Each party deliberately takes an opposite view Each tries to prove the other wrong

Six Thinking Hats

Directions and Hats By using standard labels (like; front, back, left side, right side, north, south, east, west) we can choose which direction we want to look. What are the different directions thinkers can be invited to look? This is where the hats come in: Why hats?

There are six colored hats corresponding to the six directions of thinking: white, red, black, yellow, green, blue. A hat indicates a role (i.e. I see you have your thinking cap on) A hat can be put on or taken off with ease A hat is visible to everyone around

Six Thinking Hats

The Six Hats
White Hat Blue Hat Red Hat

Green Hat

Black Hat

Yellow Hat

Six Thinking Hats

The WHITE Hat = Facts and Data

The White Hat calls for information known or needed.

Think of white paper, which is neutral and carries information:
What information do we have? What information is missing? What information would we like to have? How are we going to get missing information?

When you are asked for White Hat thinking, you are being asked to put aside proposals and arguments - and to focus directly on the information.

Six Thinking Hats

The RED Hat = Feelings / Intuition

The Red Hat signifies feelings, hunches, and intuition.

Think of red and fire and warm:
Putting on my red hat, this is what I feel about the project My gut feel is that it will not work I dont like the way this is being done

Because the Red Hat signals feelings, they can come into the discussion without pretending to be anything else.

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The BLACK Hat = Issues / Concerns

The Black Hat is judgment the devils advocate or why something may not work.
Think of a stern judge wearing black robes who comes down heavy on wrong-doers. The Black Hat is the caution hat.
The regulations do not permit us to do that We do not have the capacity to meet the demand

The Black Hat is very valuable but overuse can be a problem.

Six Thinking Hats

The Yellow Hat = Benefits

The Yellow Hat symbolizes brightness and optimism.

Think of sunshine. The Yellow Hat is for:
The logical positive view of things Feasibility and how something can be done Benefits that are logically based:
This might work if we moved the plant nearer the customers The benefit would come from repeat customers

Yellow Hat thinking requires a deliberate effort. Benefits are not always immediately obvious and we might have to search for them.

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The GREEN Hat = New ideas / Possibilities

The Green Hat focuses on creativity; the possibilities, alternatives, and new ideas.
Think of vegetation and rich growth. The Green Hat is for:
New ideas and additional alternatives Putting forward possibilities and hypotheses Creative efforts
We need some new ideas here Could we do this a different way?

The Green Hat makes time and space available for creative thinking.

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The BLUE Hat = Managing the Thinking

The Blue Hat is used to manage the thinking process.

Think of the sky and an overview. The Blue Hat:
Is for process control Sets the agenda for thinking Suggests the next step in the thinking Can ask for other hats:
I suggest we try some green hat thinking Could we have a summary of your views?

The Blue Hat is for thinking about thinking. It is used for organizing and controlling the process so that it becomes more productive.

Six Thinking Hats

Framework

Encourages parallel thinking Directs thinking in discrete segments Switches thinking from one mode to another Explores a subject more thoroughly Makes specific time and space for creative thinking Separates ego from performance

Six Thinking Hats

White Hat: Looks objectively at data and information. Is

neutral and concerned with facts and figures.

Red Hat: Legitimizes feelings and gives an emotional view,

hunches, and intuition.

Yellow Hat: Is positive and constructive. The yellow color

symbolizes sunshine, brightness and optimism.

Black Hat: Is logical, negative, judgmental, and cautious. Is

gloomy, suggests why it cannot be done.

Green Hat: Is about new ideas and creative thinking. Blue Hat: Controls the thinking process. The blue hat is
concerned with control and the organization of the thinking process.

Six Thinking Hats

White Hat: Information
Information we know Information we would like to know Information we need Information that is missing How are we going to get that information Includes hard facts to doubtful information

Red Hat: Feelings, Intuition, Emotions

Permission to express feelings No need to justify Represents feelings right now Keep it short A key ingredient in decision making

Black Hat: Logical Negative

The pessimistic view Reasons must be given Points out thinking that does not fit the facts, experience, regulations, strategy, values Points out potential problems

Yellow Hat: Logical Positive

The optimistic view Reasons must be given Needs more effort than the black hat Looks for the concept behind the idea

Green Hat: New Ideas, Possibilities

Creative thinking Seeking alternatives and possibilities Removing faults Doesnt have to be logical Generates new concepts

Blue Hat: Managing the Thinking

Control hat Organizes the thinking Sets the focus and agenda Summarizes and concludes Ensures that the rules are observed

The directors of a property company are looking at whether they should construct a new office building. The economy is doing well, and the amount of vacant office space is reducing sharply. As part of their decision they decide to use the 6 Thinking Hats technique during a planning meeting.
Looking at the problem with the White Hat, they analyze the data they have. They examine the trend in vacant office space, which shows a sharp reduction. They anticipate that by the time the office block would be completed, that there will be a severe shortage of office space. Current government projections show steady economic growth for at least the construction period. With Red Hat thinking, some of the directors think the proposed building looks quite ugly. While it would be highly cost-effective, they worry that people would not like to work in it.

Example

When they think with the Black Hat, they worry that government projections may be wrong. The economy may be about to enter a 'cyclical downturn', in which case the office building may be empty for a long time. If the building is not attractive, then companies will choose to work in another better-looking building at the same rent. With the Yellow Hat, however, if the economy holds up and their projections are correct, the company stands to make a great deal of money. If they are lucky, maybe they could sell the building before the next downturn, or rent to tenants on long-term leases that will last through any recession.

With Green Hat thinking they consider whether they should change the design to make the building more pleasant. Perhaps they could build prestige offices that people would want to rent in any economic climate. Alternatively, maybe they should invest the money in the short term to buy up property at a low cost when a recession comes.
The Blue Hat has been used by the meeting's Chair to move between the different thinking styles. He or she may have needed to keep other members of the team from switching styles, or from criticizing other peoples' points.

Hats Ranking
High

Control Success
Creative Positive Thinking

Facts
Negative Logic Low Emotion Low

Self Development
11

High

Activity - 1
Use the six hat thinking strategy to write a character profile of either Harry Potter or Snow White.

Activity - 2
Research has shown that the best way to stimulate the creative part of the brain, is to stimulate it with practice. You have 60 seconds to write as many uses as you can think of for wire coat hangers

Activity - 3
Your collaborative thinking task You and your companions have just survived the crash of a small plane. Your task is to list the 12 items listed in order of importance for your survival. You must come to an agreement as a group (See information sheet for help)