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are shown below, each hat is typically used for approximately 2 minutes at a time—although at the start of a process an extended white hat session is common to get everyone onto the same page, and the red hat is recommended to be used for a very short period to get a visceral gut reaction—about 30 seconds, and in practice often takes the form of
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Because everyone is focused on a particular approach at any one time, the group tends to be more collaborative than if one person is reacting emotionally (Red hat) while another person is trying to be objective (White hat) and still another person is being critical of the points which emerge from the
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Sequences always begin and end with a blue hat; the group agrees together how they will think, then they do the thinking, then they evaluate the outcomes of that thinking and what they should do next. Sequences (and indeed hats) may be used by individuals working alone or in groups. Example programs
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De Bono believed that the key to a successful use of the Six
Thinking Hats methodology was the deliberate focusing of the discussion on a particular approach as needed during the meeting or collaboration session. For instance, a meeting may be called to review a particular problem and to develop a
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thinks in a number of distinct ways which can be deliberately challenged, and hence planned for use in a structured way allowing one to develop tactics for thinking about particular issues. De Bono identifies six distinct directions in which the brain can be challenged. In each of these directions
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toward a distinct goal. A number of these are included in the materials provided to support the franchised training of the six hats method; however it is often necessary to adapt them to suit an individual purpose. Also, programs are often "emergent", which is to say that the group might plan the
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by the act of putting on a colored hat, either literally or metaphorically. This metaphor of using an imaginary hat or cap as a symbol for a different thinking direction was first mentioned by De Bono as early as 1971 in his book "Lateral
Thinking for Management" when describing a brainstorming
27:
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the brain will identify and bring into conscious thought certain aspects of issues being considered (e.g. gut instinct, pessimistic judgement, neutral facts). Some may feel that using the hats is unnatural, uncomfortable or even counterproductive and against their better judgement.
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A compelling example presented is sensitivity to "mismatch" stimuli. This is presented as a valuable survival instinct because, in the natural world, the thing that is out of the ordinary may well be dangerous. This mode is identified as the root of negative judgement and
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Typically, a project will begin with an extended white hat action, as facts are assembled. Thereafter, each hat is used for a few minutes at a time only, except the red hat which is limited to a very short 30 seconds or so to ensure that it is an instinctive
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hat thinking in order to collect opinions and reactions to the problem. This phase may also be used to develop constraints for the actual solution such as who will be affected by the problem and/or solutions. Next the discussion may move to the
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solution for the problem. The Six
Thinking Hats method could then be used in a sequence to first explore the problem, then develop a set of solutions, and to finally choose a solution through critical examination of the solution set.
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framework. These metaphors allow for a more complete and elaborate segregation of the thinking directions. The six thinking hats indicate problems and solutions about an idea the thinker may come up with.
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Kamal S. Birdi, No idea? Evaluating the effectiveness of creativity training, Journal of
European Industrial Training, Vol. 29 No. 2, 2005, pp. 102–111, Emerald Group Publishing Limited
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discussion (Black hat). The hats aid individuals in addressing problems from a variety of angles, and focus individuals on deficiencies in the way that they approach problem solving.
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Having identified the six modes of thinking that can be accessed, distinct programs can be created. These are sequences of hats which encompass and structure the
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Similarly, "The Five Stages of
Thinking" method—a set of tools corresponding to all six thinking hats—first appears in his CoRT Thinking Programme in 1973:
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provide a means for groups to plan thinking processes in a detailed and cohesive way, and in doing so to think together more effectively.
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hat to discuss how the meeting will be conducted and to develop the goals and objectives. The discussion may then move to
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de Bono, Edward, CoRT Thinking
Program, Workcards and Teacher’s Notes, 1973a, Sydney: Direct Education Services
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first few hats then the facilitator will see what seems to be the right way to go.
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Colored hats are used as metaphors for each direction. Switching to a direction is
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Blue, White, White (Other People's Views), Yellow, Black, Green, Red, Blue
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InnovationNet: the Art of
Creating and Benefiting from Innovation Networks
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Six
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Six
Thinking Hats: An Essential Approach to Business Management
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CAF (Consider All
Factors); FIP (First Important Priorities)
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Lateral Thinking for Management: A Handbook Of Creativity
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hat thinking to develop criticisms of the solution set.
701:. Uitgeverij Van Gorcum. 23 December 2017. p. 58.
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In 2005, the tool found some use in the United Kingdom
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649:. American Management Association, New York. pp. 116
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Blue, White, Green, Red, Yellow, Black, Green, Blue
526:hat thinking as part of developing information and
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350:Blue, Yellow, Black, White, Blue, Green, Blue
128:. "Six Thinking Hats" and the associated idea
685:] (16th ed.). Amsterdam: Uitgeverij.
615:, Hardcover edition, retrieved March 7, 2012.
380:Blue, Red, White, Yellow, Black, Green, Blue
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234:PMI (Plus, Minus, Interesting); Evaluation
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