Six Thinking Hats

2008-12-29T03:01:00.000-08:00

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(Refer our High Quality Management Encyclopedia “Management Universe” at: http://management-universe.blogspot.com/)

Six Thinking Hats or Parallel Thinking

It is an aid to

Problem solving
Decision making
Creativity
Innovation

Pressures in Global Competition

Customer pressure
Pressure to establish as the preferred supplier
Pressure to give best quality
Therefore, pressure to have best processes/best practices
Price pressures
Therefore, pressure to contain overall costs

Special Features of Parallel Thinking or Six Thinking Hats

Key ingredient to address all these pressures, mentioned earlier, is "to improve" and "how to improve". Parallel thinking or six thinking hats is an excellent wholesome system of finding the right answers to problems or situations, looking at them from all the angles equally well and also involving people or teams to obtain the best synergies out of them.
When more people come together, invariably, they may have conflicting views but six thinking hats system, if followed correctly, takes all of them and their various views together without allowing any conflict to take place.
Adversarial positions normally taken by the participants in a group set-up get dissipated through the unique process of deliberations and discussions that is adopted in six thinking hats or parallel thinking.
It is never easy to change the personalities of people and may be, your own personality, quickly and completely. Six thinking hats is a powerful way of making your and others' thinking behavior more productive, constructive and effective with your and others' existing personalities.
It can be used in a group and even you alone can also use it with equally good advantage.

Advantages of Six Thinking Hats Framework

Improves exploration
Saves time
Improves creativity and innovation
Fosters collaborative behavior
One learns to think in parallel with other team members
Keeps egos and turf protection in check
Reduces adversarial approach in all interactions
One can lead and conduct more effective and productive meetings

Six Hats and Their Use

In this approach you think from six different angles over the same problem, issue, situation or solution alone or in a group. You wear six hats of different colors in succession, one at a time and look at the problem or solution from a specific angle which the color of the hats prescribes.

Colors of these six types of hats and their roles are given below:

1. Blue Hat (Reflective)

Control hat- the manager hat
The organizing hat that is manager of the deliberations
It is for planning and deciding the process of using the other five hats
Organizes thinking
Sets the focus
Monitors and reflects on thinking

2. Red Hat (Intuitive)

Feelings about problem, solution or suggestion
Gut reactions
Intuitions
One does not have to think too long or too hard when wearing the red hat

3. White Hat (Informative)

Where is the information
Information
Facts and figures
What is relevant
When wearing the while hat, one is neutral in thinking

4. Yellow Hat (Constructive)

Sun shine hat
Positive and constructive
Effectiveness
Getting job done
Benefits and advantages

5. Black Hat (Cautious)

Caution hat
Devil's advocate
Errors and pitfalls
Risks or dangers
Difficulties and problems

6. Green Hat (Creative)

Creative mode of thinking
Growth and movement
New ideas and solutions
Lateral thinking

Organization and Implementation Process of Six Thinking Hats

Need for trained facilitator- trained in using and monitoring six thinking hats system
Role clarification of the facilitator
Members in the group
Clarifications of the role of the members
Provide training to facilitator and members on six thinking hats approach
Get the expertise and services of an expert experienced consultant to design and conduct training in this approach and also in assisting implementation

Important Point of Caution in Implementation

Do not label a person with a particular hat.

For More Guidance, Assistance, Training and Consultation

Contact: prodcons@prodcons.com

Also refer: (Prodcons Group) http://prodcons-group.blogspot.com/
(Training Programs by Prodcons Group) http://training-development-function.blogspot.com/
(Productivity Consultants) http://productivity-consultants.blogspot.com/

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