Data

Face-to-Face, Online, or Both?
Face-to-Face
General Type of Method
Deliberative and dialogic process
Collaborative approaches
Typical Purpose
Develop the civic capacities of individuals, communities, and/or civil society organizations
Links
de Bono Thinking Systems - Six Thinking Hats®
the de Bono Group - Six Thinking Hats®
Journal Article - Using De Bono’s Six Thinking Hats Model to Teach Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Skills Essential for Success in the 21st Century Economy
Journal Article - Factors & Elemental Analysis of Six Thinking Hats Technique Using ABCD Framework
Journal Article - Ideal Analysis for Decision Making in Critical Situations Through Six Thinking Hats Method
Journal Article - The effects of the six thinking hats and speed on creativity in brainstorming
Journal Article - Six Thinking Hats Approach to HR Analytics
Open to All or Limited to Some?
Open to All
Types of Interaction Among Participants
Discussion, Dialogue, or Deliberation
Ask & Answer Questions
Facilitation
No
Decision Methods
Idea Generation
Scope of Implementation
City/Town
Neighbourhood
Level of Polarization This Method Can Handle
Polarized

METHOD

Six Thinking Hats®

De Bono's Six Thinking Hats – Credit: Ian/Ozjoe.com
August 10, 2020 Jaskiran Gakhal, Participedia Team
June 18, 2018 Lucy J Parry, Participedia Team
September 22, 2016 Scott Fletcher Bowlsby
Face-to-Face, Online, or Both?
Face-to-Face
General Type of Method
Deliberative and dialogic process
Collaborative approaches
Typical Purpose
Develop the civic capacities of individuals, communities, and/or civil society organizations
Links
de Bono Thinking Systems - Six Thinking Hats®
the de Bono Group - Six Thinking Hats®
Journal Article - Using De Bono’s Six Thinking Hats Model to Teach Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Skills Essential for Success in the 21st Century Economy
Journal Article - Factors & Elemental Analysis of Six Thinking Hats Technique Using ABCD Framework
Journal Article - Ideal Analysis for Decision Making in Critical Situations Through Six Thinking Hats Method
Journal Article - The effects of the six thinking hats and speed on creativity in brainstorming
Journal Article - Six Thinking Hats Approach to HR Analytics
Open to All or Limited to Some?
Open to All
Types of Interaction Among Participants
Discussion, Dialogue, or Deliberation
Ask & Answer Questions
Facilitation
No
Decision Methods
Idea Generation
Scope of Implementation
City/Town
Neighbourhood
Level of Polarization This Method Can Handle
Polarized
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The Six Thinking Hats technique aims to enable participants to approach a discussion from various different points of view and ways of thinking.

Problems and Purpose

Developed by Dr. Edward de Bono, the Six Thinking Hats technique allows participants to approach a discussion from different view points, mental conditions, and ways of thinking.

Ideal for use when there are multiple competing points of view on the topic of deliberation, the process ensures that a conclusion is reached through rigourous critical-thinking rather than emotion and pre-conception. 

Origins and Development

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How it Works

There are six different 'hats' participants are asked to don when thinking about the issue:

  1. The White Hat: parses out what information is known or needed. 
  2. The Red Hat: approaches the topic on hunches, emotions, and intuition.
  3. The Black Hat: plays the devil's advocate; considers various reasons why something might not work.
  4. The Yellow Hat: considers the proposed outcomes optimistically.
  5. The Green Hat: focusses on creativity and innovation; asks about new ideas and alternative possibilities. 
  6. The Blue Hat: manages the thinking process; condenses what has been brought up and how it was arrived at.

By switching mental 'thinking hats', de Bono claims that participants can expect to:

  • "Hold critical meetings without emotions or egos making bad decisions
  • Avoid the easy but mediocre decisions by knowing how to dig deeper
  • Increase productivity and even more important — be more effective
  • Make creative solutions the norm
  • Maximize and organize each person's thoughts and ideas
  • Get to the right solution quickly and with a shared vision" [1]

Analysis and Lessons Learned

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See Also

Scarborough Senior High School Redevelopment (Perth, Western Australia) 

References

[1] de Bono, Edward, "Six Thinking Hats". de Bono Thinking Systems http://www.debonothinkingsystems.com/tools/6hats.htm

External Links

The de Bono Group - Six Thinking Hats 

Wikipedia Entry - Six Thinking Hats®

Notes

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