session iii sei (1)

7/28/2019 Session III Sei (1)

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Six Thinking HatsArgument vs. Parallel Thinking


2/27

Six Thinking HatsFramework

Confusion is the biggest enemy of goodthinking We try to do too many things at a time

Juggling with six balls at a time is rather difficult

Tossing up one ball at a time is much easier

Six Hat Thinking does one thing at a time andin the end the full picture emerges


3/27

Six Thinking HatsWestern Thinking = Argument

Western thinking was designed about 2300years ago by the Greek Gang of Three:

Socrates simply point out what is wrong

Plato we see only shadow truths Aristotle things fit into boxes (categories)

Western thinking is concerned with what isdetermined by analysis, judgment andargument.


4/27

Six Thinking HatsAdversarial vs. Parallel Thinking

Adversarial Thinking

A B

Parallel Thinking

A

B


5/27

Adversarial Thinking

- Each sides take different position andthen seeks to attack the other side.

- Each side seeks to prove that the otherside is wrong.

- Lack constructive, creative/designelement.

- Obejctive was to discover truth not tobulid anything.


6/27

Parallel Thinking

- Both sides (or all parties are thinking in parallel in the same

direction.- There is co-operative and co-ordinated thinking.

- The direction itself can be changed in order to give a full scanof the situation. But at every moment each thinker is thinking

in parallel with all the other thinkers.-There does not have to be agreement.

- Statements or thoughts which are indeed contradictory are notargued out but laid down in parallel.

In the final stage the way forward is 'designed' from theparallel thought that have been laid out.


7/27

Six Thinking HatsParallel Thinking

It was six men of IndostanTo learning much inclined,Who went to see the Elephant(Though all of them were blind),That each by observation

Might satisfy his mind.

John Godfrey Saxe's ( 1816-1887) version of the famous Indian legend


8/27


Wall

Rope

Fan

Spear

Snake

Tree And so these men of IndostanDisputed loud and long,

Each in his own opinion

Exceeding stiff and strong,

Though each was partly in the right,

And all were in the wrong!


9/27


A wise man was passing by and he saw this. He stopped and asked

them, "What is the matter?" They said, "We cannot agree to what the

elephant is like.

The wise man calmly explained to them, "All of you are right. The reason

every one of you is telling it differently is because each one of you

touched a different part of the elephant. So, actually the elephant has all

those features.

"Oh!" everyone said. There was no more fight. They felt happy that they

were all right.


10/27


Using parallel thinking they could all walk aroundand look at each part of the elephant together.So at each moment each person is looking in

parallel from the same point of view and in thesame direction.

This is almost the exact opposite of argument,adversarial, confrontational thinking Each party deliberately takes an opposite view

Each tries to prove the other wrong


11/27

Six Thinking HatsDirections and Hats

By using standard labels (like; front, back, left side, right side, north,south, east, west) we can choose which direction we want tolook.

What are the different directions thinkers can be

invited to look? This is where the hats come in: There are six colored hats corresponding to the six directions of

thinking: white, red, black, yellow, green, blue.

Why hats?

A hat indicates a role (i.e. I see you have your thinking cap on) A hat can be put on or taken off with ease A hat is visible to everyone around


12/27

Six Thinking HatsThe Six Hats

White Hat

Red Hat

Black Hat

Yellow Hat

Green Hat

Blue Hat


13/27

Six Thinking HatsThe WHITE Hat = Facts and Data

The White Hat calls for information known orneeded. Think of white paper, which is neutral and carries

information: What information do we have? What information is missing?

What information would we like to have?

How are we going to get missing information?

When you are asked for White Hat thinking, you are beingasked to put aside proposals and arguments - and to focusdirectly on the information.


14/27

Six Thinking HatsThe RED Hat = Feelings / Intuition

The Red Hat signifies feelings, hunches, andintuition. Think of red and fire and warm:

Putting on my red hat, this is what I feel about theproject

My gut feel is that it will not work

I dont like the way this is being done

Because the Red Hat signals feelings, they can come intothe discussion without pretending to be anything else.


15/27

Six Thinking HatsThe BLACK Hat = Issues / Concerns

The Black Hat is judgment the devilsadvocate or why something may not work. Think of a stern judge wearing black robes who

comes down heavy on wrong-doers. The Black Hat is the caution hat.

The regulations do not permit us to do that

We do not have the capacity to meet the demand

The Black Hat is very valuable but overuse can be aproblem.


16/27

Six Thinking HatsThe Yellow Hat = Benefits

TheYellow Hat symbolizes brightness andoptimism. Think of sunshine.

TheYellow Hat is for: The logical positive view of things

Feasibility and how something can be done

Benefits that are logically based: This might work if we moved the plant nearer the

customers

The benefit would come from repeat customers

Yellow Hat thinking requires a deliberate effort. Benefitsare not always immediately obvious and we might have to

search for them.


17/27

Six Thinking HatsThe GREEN Hat = New ideas / Possibilities

The Green Hat focuses on creativity; thepossibilities, alternatives, and new ideas. Think of vegetation and rich growth.

The Green Hat is for: New ideas and additional alternatives

Putting forward possibilities and hypotheses

Creative efforts We need some new ideas here

Could we do this a different way?

The Green Hat makes time and space available forcreative thinking.


18/27

Six Thinking HatsThe BLUE Hat = Managing the Thinking

The Blue Hat is used to manage the thinkingprocess. Think of the sky and an overview.

The Blue Hat: Is for process control

Sets the agenda for thinking

Suggests the next step in the thinking

Can ask for other hats: I suggest we try some green hat thinking Could we have a summary of your views?

The Blue Hat is for thinking about thinking. It is used fororganizing and controlling the process so that it becomesmore productive.


19/27

Six Thinking HatsFramework

Encourages parallel thinking

Directs thinking in discrete segments

Switches thinking from one mode toanother

Explores a subject more thoroughly

Makes specific time and space forcreative thinking

Separates ego from performance


20/27

Six Thinking Hats

White Hat:Looks objectively at data and information. Isneutral and concerned with facts and figures.

Red Hat:Legitimizes feelings and gives an emotional view,hunches, and intuition.

Yellow Hat:Is positive and constructive. The yellow colorsymbolizes sunshine, brightness and optimism.

Black Hat:Is logical, negative, judgmental, and cautious. Isgloomy, suggests why it cannot be done.

Green Hat:Is about new ideas and creative thinking.

Blue Hat:Controls the thinking process. The blue hat isconcerned with control and the organization of the thinkingprocess.


21/27

Six Thinking Hats

White Hat:Information

Information we knowInformation we would like to knowInformation we needInformation that is missingHow are we going to get that informationIncludes hard facts to doubtful information

Red Hat:Feelings, Intuition, Emotions

Permission to express feelingsNo need to justifyRepresents feelings right nowKeep it shortA key ingredient in decision making

Yellow Hat:

Logical PositiveThe optimistic viewReasons must be givenNeeds more effort than the black hatLooks for the concept behind the idea

Blue Hat:

Managing the ThinkingControl hatOrganizes the thinkingSets the focus and agendaSummarizes and concludes

Ensures that the rules are observed

Black Hat:

Logical NegativeThe pessimistic viewReasons must be givenPoints out thinking that does not fit the facts,experience, regulations, strategy, valuesPoints out potential problems

Green Hat:

New Ideas, PossibilitiesCreative thinkingSeeking alternatives and possibilitiesRemoving faultsDoesnt have to be logical

Generates new concepts


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ExampleThe directors of a property company are looking at whether they should

construct a new office building. The economy is doing well, and the

amount of vacant office space is reducing sharply. As part of theirdecision they decide to use the 6 Thinking Hats technique during aplanning meeting.

Looking at the problem with the White Hat, they analyze the data they

have. They examine the trend in vacant office space, which shows asharp reduction. They anticipate that by the time the office blockwould be completed, that there will be a severe shortage of officespace. Current government projections show steady economic growthfor at least the construction period.

With Red Hat thinking, some of the directors think the proposedbuilding looks quite ugly. While it would be highly cost-effective, theyworry that people would not like to work in it.


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When they think with the Black Hat, they worry that governmentprojections may be wrong. The economy may be about to enter a'cyclical downturn', in which case the office building may be emptyfor a long time. If the building is not attractive, then companies will

choose to work in another better-looking building at the same rent.With the Yellow Hat, however, if the economy holds up and their

projections are correct, the company stands to make a great deal ofmoney. If they are lucky, maybe they could sell the building beforethe next downturn, or rent to tenants on long-term leases that will

last through any recession.With Green Hat thinking they consider whether they should change

the design to make the building more pleasant. Perhaps they couldbuild prestige offices that people would want to rent in anyeconomic climate. Alternatively, maybe they should invest the money

in the short term to buy up property at a low cost when a recessioncomes.

The Blue Hat has been used by the meeting's Chair to move betweenthe different thinking styles. He or she may have needed to keepother members of the team from switching styles, or from

criticizing other peoples' points.


24/27

Hats Ranking

Control

Creative

Positive

Thinking

Facts

Negative

Logic

Emotion

Self Development

Success

HighLow

Low

High

11


25/27

Activity - 1

Use the six hat thinking strategy to write a

character profile of either Harry Potter or

Snow White.


26/27

Activity - 2

Research has shown

that the best way to

stimulate the creative

part of the brain, is tostimulate it with

practice.

You have 60 seconds

to write as many usesas you can think of for

wire coat hangers


27/27

Activity - 3

Your collaborative thinking task

You and your companions have just

survived the crash of a small plane. Your

task is to list the 12 items listed in order of

importance for your survival. You must

come to an agreement as a group

(See information sheet for help)

session iii sei (1)

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