Creative Problem Solving with

Six Thinking Hats

Presented BY
MD KAMAAL

GOALS OF THIS PROGRAM

Define

parallel thinking Identify each of the six hats Learn how to ask a good question Apply six hats method to problem solving

What is parallel thinking?

At any moment everyone is looking in the same direction.

So the six hats are?

Six

colors of hats for six types of thinking

Each hat identifies a type of thinking Hats are directions of thinking

Hats

help a group use parallel thinking

You can put on and take off a hat

Uses for Six Hats

Problem

solving Strategic planning Running meetings Much more

Six colors
White:

neutral, objective Red: emotional, angry Black: serious, somber Yellow: sunny, positive Green: growth, fertility Blue: cool, sky above
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and six hats

White:

objective facts & figures Red: emotions & feelings Black: cautious & careful Yellow: hope, positive & speculative Green: creativity, ideas & lateral thinking Blue: control & organization of thinking
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General hat issues

Direction,

not description

Set out to think in a certain direction Lets have some black hat thinking
Not

categories of people

Not: Hes a black hat thinker. Everyone can and should use all the hats
A

constructive form of showing off

Show off by being a better thinker Not destructive right vs. wrong argument
Use

in whole or in part

Benefits of Six Thinking Hats

Provides

a common language Experience & intelligence of each person (Diversity of thought) Use more of our brains Helps people work against type, preference Removal of ego (reduce confrontation) Save time Focus (one thing at a time) Create, evaluate & implement action plans 9

Using the hats

Use any hat, as often as needed Sequence can be preset or evolving Not necessary to use every hat Time under each hat: generally, short Requires discipline from each person While using it, stay in the idiom Adds an element of play, play along Can be used by individuals and groups
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The blue hat

Thinking

about thinking Instructions for thinking The organization of thinking Control of the other hats Discipline and focus

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Open with the blue hat

Why

we are here what we are thinking about definition of the situation or problem alternative definitions what we want to achieve where we want to end up the background to the thinking a plan for the sequence of hats
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and close with the blue hat

What we have achieved Outcome Conclusion Design Solution Next steps
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White Hat Thinking

Neutral, objective information Facts & figures Questions: what do we know, what dont we know, what do we need to know Excludes opinions, hunches, judgements Removes feelings & impressions Two tiers of facts
Believed Facts Checked Facts
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Red Hat Thinking

Emotions & feelings Hunches, intuitions, impressions Doesnt have to be logical or consistent No justifications, reasons or basis All decisions are emotional in the end
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Yellow Hat Thinking

Positive & speculative Positive thinking, optimism, opportunity Benefits Best-case scenarios Exploration
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Green Hat Thinking

New ideas, concepts, perceptions Deliberate creation of new ideas Alternatives and more alternatives New approaches to problems Creative & lateral thinking
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Black Hat Thinking

Cautious and careful Logical negative why it wont work Critical judgement, pessimistic view Separates logical negative from emotional Focus on errors, evidence, conclusions Logical & truthful, but not necessarily fair

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Six hats summary

Blue: control & organization of thinking White: objective facts & figures Red: emotions & feelings Yellow: hope, positive & speculative Green: creativity, ideas & lateral thinking Black: cautious & careful
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Asking the right question

We

cant get the right answer if we ask the wrong question Crucial blue hat skill One technique: five whys

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Creative Problem Solving

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Traditional CPS
Mess-finding Data-finding

Problem-finding
Idea-finding Solution-finding Acceptance-finding
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Common idea-finding methods

Brainstorming Mind

Maps Free association Freewriting Incubation

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Six hats & problem solving

A

more deliberate process than CPS Like CPS, uses creativity (green hat) Unlike CPS, provides a mechanism for evaluating ideas & making decisions

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Hypothetical problem solving program using the hats - 1

Blue
Red

hat

Organize the process

hat hat hat

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Emotional issues & feelings

White

What do we know, need to know

Yellow

Proposals & suggestions; what ifs, why nots

Hypothetical problem solving program using the hats - 2

Blue

hat

Focus on the areas that need new ideas

Green Blue

hat

Generate new ideas & concepts

hat yellow & green hats

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Organize ideas & process for evaluation

White,

Constructive thinking

Hypothetical problem solving program using the hats - 3

Yellow hat Positive assessment of viable alternatives Black hat Screening for impossible, unusable Challenge the alternatives Yellow & green hats Overcome objections, correct faults, remove weaknesses, solve problems Black hat Further scrutiny; point out risks, dangers
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Hypothetical problem solving program using the hats - 4

Blue hat Overview of achievements so far Organize choice of route Red hat Express feelings about the choices Yellow & black hats Looking for the best alternative Blue hat Strategy for implementation
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