How can the six thinking hats technique improve strategic creative problem solving?

1 What are the six thinking hats?

The six thinking hats method , developed by Edward de Bono, is a tool used to explore a problem from multiple angles and perspectives. This method involves wearing six different colored hats, each with a specific function and perspective. The white hat focuses on facts, data, and evidence; the red hat focuses on emotions, feelings, and intuition; the black hat focuses on risks, drawbacks, and challenges; the yellow hat focuses on benefits, opportunities, and optimism; the green hat focuses on creativity, alternatives, and innovation; and the blue hat focuses on process, structure, and control. By switching between these hats, you can gather and analyze relevant information objectively and neutrally while expressing your gut reactions, preferences, and fears. Additionally, you can identify potential problems, obstacles, and negative consequences while finding and highlighting the positive aspects of a solution. Finally, you can generate new ideas while planning and managing the thinking process to set goals, define criteria, and evaluate outcomes.

2 How to use the six thinking hats technique?

The six thinking hats technique can be applied to individuals or groups, depending on the nature and scope of the problem. The process begins with defining the problem or goal, utilizing the blue hat to clarify the purpose and scope of the session and establish criteria for the solution. After deciding on a hat sequence, such as white-red-black-yellow-green-blue, each hat should be worn for a few minutes to adopt its mode of thinking and perspective. As you switch hats, use the blue hat to signal when it is time to move on and summarize the main points from the previous hat. Finally, use the blue hat to review the findings and outcomes, decide on next steps or actions, and conclude the session.

4 How to apply the six thinking hats technique to real-life problems?

The six thinking hats technique is a great tool for problem-solving and creative thinking in any situation, including personal or professional challenges, developing a new product or service, and planning a project or event. It can help you analyze your current situation, identify goals and obstacles, research your market and customers, design value propositions and features, evaluate risks and benefits, define scope and objectives, brainstorm activities and resources, assess costs and benefits, test and refine prototypes, monitor progress and outcomes, and choose the best solution.

5 What are the challenges and limitations of the six thinking hats technique?

The six thinking hats technique is not a miracle cure for any problem or guarantee of success. It requires practice and discipline, and it may take some time to learn and apply it properly. Additionally, the technique depends on having sufficient and reliable information, or else it won't lead to good decisions. Furthermore, the technique may not consider external factors such as ethical, legal, social, or environmental issues. You may need to use other tools or methods to complement the technique in order to account for these factors.