Six Thinking Hats Seminar

Saunders Learning Group, LLC

Six Thinking Hats Seminar

Team problem solving and idea generation

Saunders Learning Group, LLC, Andover, KS

Background

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Team “Wears” one hat at a time when considering a problem.

Everyone wears the same color hat at the same time.

Everyone looks at problem from the same perspective.


Purpose

3

Power

Time Saving

Removal of Ego One Thing at a Time


Dr. Edward De Bono

Edward De Bono is a world-known expert in creative thinking. The 6 Thinking Hats is one such technique. The main idea is to have the group only “wear one hat at a time” when

considering a problem. The wearing of the hat is a metaphor. At any one time, everyone will wear the same color, in other words,

look at the problem at hand from only one perspective, the perspective indicated by the hat color.

This requires to the group to think in a collective manner and reduces the distractations that occur from other forms of group thinking.


Checked vs. Unchecked Fact (red hat)

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Two Tiers


What are the good points?

What are the benefits? Why will this idea work? Is it worth doing? How will it help us? Why is it be done? Mind Set:

—Optimism and sunshine—Logical positive point of view—Feasibility thinking—Opportunity thinking

Yellow Hat Thinking


Yellow Hat Mind Set

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Do you expect to find fish here ?“Exact opposite of Black Hat thinking, which is careful, critical and fill with judgment.”


Yellow Hat Activity In small groups of three :

What are the good points of being an only child?

Make a list using flipchart paper and post it on the wall.


“If you're not failing every now and again,

it's a sign you're not

doing anything very

innovative.”—Woody Allen


Black Hat Thinking Is this true?

Will it work?

What are the weaknesses? What is wrong with it?

—Caution—Judgment—Assessment—Logic—Evidence—Consequences—Weaknesses—If things will work

Black Hat thinking is concerned with caution and careful. We need to consider risks, dangers, obstacles, potential problems and downside of a suggestion


Black Hat ActivityIn small groups of 3: Look at the All-Weather Bike. Discuss and write down what you think might be wrong with the design. Identify the weaknesses in this new kind of bicycle.


"Everyone who has ever taken a shower has had an idea. It's the person who gets out of the

shower, dries off, and does something about it that makes

a difference.“ —Nolan Bushnell


Red Hat Thinking How do I feel about this right now? How cold or warm do I feel about this?

How am I reacting to this?— Intuition— Feelings— Hunches— No need to justify feelings


Red Hat Activity

By yourself:

Listen to this piece of music. Write down how this piece of music makes you feel?

Music


All new ideas begin in a

non-conforming mind

that questions some tenet of the

conventional wisdom. —H. G. Rickover


The White Hate What information/face do we know? What information is missing

What information/facts would we like to have? How are we going to get the information?

What is relevant, important, valid?—Examine the facts, figures and information


White Hat

Facts, Figures and Information

What information do we have ?

What information is missing ?

What information do we need ?

How are going to get the information we need ?

What questions do we need to ask ?


White Hat Activity

Small groups of 3:

Look at the box and pretend that some one has bought you a pet. It is inside the box. Write down all of the facts you would like to know about this pet? Write all you questions on a sheet of paper, then share it with your group.


Perhaps, then, if we listen attentively,

we shall hear… a faint flutter of wings;

—Albert Camus

Great ideas, it is said,come into the world as gently as doves.

the gentle stirring of life and hope.


The Green Hat What are some possible ways to

figure this out? What are some other ways to solve the problem?—Plants springing from seeds,

movement, creativity . . . —New different ideas—Suggestions—Alternatives and enhancing—Ways to solve problems—New Proposals


Think Creatively.

Green Hat


Green Hat

“Green Hat Thinking is concerned with New ideasand New ways of looking at things.”


Green Hat Activity

Go back to the All-Weather Bike.

We have looked at all the weaknesses of this new type of bike. Now go back and look at how we can overcome these weaknesses? Do you have any better ideas for an all weather bike?

Draw or write your explanations on the back of the All-weather bike sheet.


If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost.

Now put the foundations under them.

That is where they should be.

—Henry David Thoreau


Blue Hat ThinkingWhat have we done so far?

What do we do next?

What decision have we reached?—Controlled—Orchestra Conductor—Thinking about thinking—Organization —Getting focus & purpose—Making up a thinking plan—Making decisions and conclusions


The Unique Blue HatThe blue hat is different from the other hats because it is involved with directing the thinking process itself. We are actually using the blue hat whenever we suggest the next hat to be used.The blue hat need not be acknowledged at every turn however there are some points which it is often helpful i.e.,

1. At the outset of a discussion – Lets decide what we want to think about and which hats we will use?

2. At a midpoint to restate the thinking goal – I think we are getting away from what we wanted to talk about. Can someone recall what we decided to talk about?

3. At the end to summarise what thinking has been done – Think of a sentence that tells about what we have been doing today?


Blue Hat

“Blue Hat Thinker is responsible for summaries, overviews and conclusions.”

“Blue Hat Thinker monitors the thinking and ensures that the rules of the game are observed.”


Blue Hat

You are the referee.


Blue Hat Activity

In a small group of 3:

Complete the thinking steps map for FOX IN A FIX.


“Beware of the tyranny of making small changes to small things. Rather, make big changes to big things."

—Roger Enrico


Single Hat and Sequence Use The hats can be used singly at any point in thinking. In

general, this is the major use. The hats are used as a convenience for directing thinking

and for switching thinking. Simple sequences of two or three hats may be used

together for a particular purpose.

For example, the yellow hat followed by the black hat may be used to assess an idea. The black hat followed by the green hat may be used to improve a design. (All Weather bike)


Evaluation Sequence

To discover the positive aspects and negative aspects of an idea. You use the yellow hat before the black hat.

You could follow up with the green hat (new ideas) and red hat (feelings) thinking.

Examples: Consider positive and negative Not doing homework one night. Swapping toys with friends.


Caution Sequence

Looking critically at situations. You are first considering facts with the white hat.

Then use the black hat to discover difficulties.

This can be followed up with some blue hat or red hat thinking.

Examples: consider the consequences Throwing most of your lunch in the bin everyday. Not letting someone know where you are going.


Design Sequence

Encourage students to create new ideas, products or improvements to existing designs. Use the blue, green and red hats.

Example: use design sequence to createA better toothbrushAlternatives to homework.


Other Sequences

Red + White Comparing fact and opinion

Black + Yellow + Green Comparing and synthesising (coming up

with new ideas from the known)

White + Blue What do we know (facts) and where are

we going (planning)


Saunders Learning Group Service Offerings

Creative Thinking – SLG uses a variety of techniques to stimulate your teams in creative thinking, critical to developing an innovative mindset

Guided Facilitation – using techniques learned from contextual design, six sigma and agile methods, our coaches guide the development of innovation ideas from concept to market launch

Product Design - Our coaching techniques guide the design development process with a range of tools and techniques to spur moving innovation forward quickly

Creating and Management of the Project/Program Office PMO Maturity Assessments Project status reporting and metrics programs Project Manager Development Programs Knowledge Management

Designed to spur creative thinking, collaboration and innovation

Increases the organizational awareness of the value of innovation and innovative thinking

Provides a set of skills and tools for managers to deploy as they expand innovative ideas into products ready for market.

Expands the organizational culture to be a team of innovative thinkers.

Spurs Innovation and reduces Time to Market Intended to result in creation of new products and

or services with revenue targets

Innovation Promotion & Campaign plans Innovation Kick Start Programs Innovation Coaching Management of Innovation Labs Innovation Program Management

Structured use of project management lifecycles Project planning, tracking, controlling and implementation

services Project Management Training

Project Management

Innovation Coaching

Innovation Kick Start Workshops

Innovation Management

Program Management

Independently creates product prototypes and proof of concepts allowing for focused development efforts

Reduces time to market for new product development

Innovation Labs

Proprietary, all rights reserved


About the Presenter Floyd Saunders has worked on Wall

Street with both Bank of America and JPMorgan, where he was a vice president in global financial systems. He has worked across the industry in retail, commercial, and investment banking.

Floyd has a diverse background in project management working as a project manager, program manager, manager of the project management office and leading technology teams.

As a trainer, Floyd has managed his own training development company and taught in corporate, extended education and college settings.

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Saunders Learning Group, LLCAndover, KS

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Six Thinking Hats Seminar

Education

Transcript of Six Thinking Hats Seminar