Six Thinking Hats - Edward de Bono

This is 6 strategies of thinking identified by Edward de Bono..

White Hat - Facts
Red Hat - Emotional thinking
Yellow Hat - Positive thinking
Black Hat - Critical thinking
Green Hat - Creative thinking
Blue Hat - Big Picture, sort of looking at it from all the viewpoints.

This is basically to strategically solve a problem by looking at it from various angles. By focusing on a particular approach at any one time, the group can be more collaborative than if one person is reacting emotionally (Red hat) while another person is trying to be objective (White hat) and yet another person is being critical of the points which emerge from the discussion (Black hat).

Example:
The directors of a property company are looking at whether they should construct a new office building. Economy is doing well, and the amount of vacant office space is reducing sharply.

White Hat
- Trend in vacant office space, which shows a sharp reduction.
- By the time the office block would be completed, that there will be a severe shortage of office space.
- Current government projections show steady economic growth for at least the construction period.

Red Hat
- proposed building looks quite ugly.
- Though it is highly cost-effective, people may not like to work in it.

Black Hat
- government projections may be wrong
- Economy may be about to enter a 'cyclical downturn', in which case the office building may be empty for a long time.
- If the building is not attractive, then companies will choose to work in another better-looking building at the same rent.

Yellow Hat
- if the economy holds up and their projections are correct, the company stands to make a great deal of money
- If they are lucky, maybe they could sell the building before the next downturn, or rent to tenants on long-term leases that will last through any recession.

Green Hat
- consider whether they should change the design to make the building more pleasant
- they could build prestige offices that people would want to rent in any economic climate.
- they could invest the money in the short term to buy up property at a low cost when a recession comes.

Blue Hat
- used by the meeting's Chairperson to move between the different thinking styles.
- keep other members of the team from switching styles, or from criticizing other peoples' points.

This rational decision making process allows relevant emotion, negativity, positive thinking and even creativity. Thus, decisions made are more sound and resilient.