Project Genesis
PMI & Six Thinking Hats
PMI Technique
Six Thinking Hats
© Progeon Confidential HRD/Trg/06
Project Genesis
PMI & Six Thinking Hats
Plus Minus Interesting Technique
PMI - Plus/Minus/Interesting
PMI is a basic decision making tool. When you are facing a difficult decision, simply
draw up a table headed up 'Plus', 'Minus', and 'Interesting'. This technique was codified
by Edward de Bono.
How do we create a PMI table?
1. Have three columns Plus, Minus, Interesting.
2. Underneath the 'Plus' heading, write down all the positive points of taking the
action.
3. Underneath the 'Minus' heading, write down all the negative effects.
4. In the 'Interesting' column, write down the extended implications of taking the
action, whether positive or negative.
By this stage it may already be obvious whether or not you should implement the
decision. If it is not, consider scoring the PMI table.
Scoring your PMI table
Consider each of the points you have written down and assign a positive or negative
score to each appropriately. The scores you assign can be entirely subjective. Once you
have done this, add up the score. A strongly positive score indicated that an action should
be taken, a strongly negative score that it should be avoided.
An example is shown below:
Should I move to the big city?
Plus Minus Interesting
More going out (+5) Have to sell my house (-6) Easier to find a new job?
(+1)
Easier to see my friends(+5) More pollution (-3) Meet more people? (+2)
Less space (-3) More difficult to get work
done?(-4)
No countryside (-2)
Easier to get to places (+3) More difficult to get to
work? (-4)
13 -14 -5
Total = -6 I'm happier living just outside the city.
© Progeon Confidential HRD/Trg/06
Project Genesis
PMI & Six Thinking Hats
SIX THINKING HATS
'Six Thinking Hats' is an important and powerful technique. It is used to look at decisions
from a number of important perspectives. This forces us to move outside our habitual
thinking style, and helps us to get a more rounded view of a situation.
This tool was created by Edward de Bono in his book “6 Thinking Hats.”
Many successful people think from a very rational, positive viewpoint. This is part of the
reason that they are successful. Often, though, they may fail to look at a problem from an
emotional, intuitive, creative or negative viewpoint. This can mean that they
underestimate resistance to plans, fail to make creative leaps and do not make essential
contingency plans.
Similarly, pessimists may be excessively defensive. Emotional people may fail to look at
decisions calmly and rationally.
If we look at a problem with the 'Six Thinking Hats' technique, then we will solve it using
all approaches. Our decisions and plans will mix ambition, skill in execution, public
sensitivity, creativity and good contingency planning.
Each 'Thinking Hat' is a different style of thinking. These are explained below:
White Hat
With this thinking hat we focus on the data available. Look at the information we
have, and see what we can learn from it. Look for gaps in our knowledge, and either
try to fill them or take account of them.
This is where we analyze past trends, and try to extrapolate from historical data.
"I think we need some white hat thinking at this point..." means Let's drop the
arguments and proposals, and look at the data base."
Red Hat
'Wearing' the Red Hat, we look at problems using intuition, gut reaction, and emotion.
Also try to think how other people will react emotionally. Try to understand the
responses of people who do not fully know our reasoning.
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Project Genesis
PMI & Six Thinking Hats
Black Hat
Using Black Hat thinking, we look at all the bad points of the decision. Look at it
cautiously and defensively. Try to see why it might not work. This is important
because it highlights the weak points in a plan. It allows us to eliminate them, alter
them, or prepare contingency plans to counter them.
Black Hat thinking helps to make our plans 'tougher' and more resilient. It can also
help us to spot fatal flaws and risks before we embark on a course of action. Black
Hat thinking is one of the real benefits of this technique, as many successful people
get so used to thinking positively that often they cannot see problems in advance.
This leaves them under-prepared for difficulties.
Yellow Hat
The Yellow Hat helps us to think positively. It is the optimistic viewpoint that helps
us to see all the benefits of the decision and the value in it. Yellow Hat thinking helps
us to keep going when everything looks gloomy and difficult.
Green Hat
The Green Hat stands for creativity. This is where we can develop creative solutions
to a problem. It is a freewheeling way of thinking, in which there is little criticism of
ideas.
Blue Hat
The Blue Hat stands for process control. This is the hat worn by people chairing
meetings. When running into difficulties because ideas are running dry, they may
direct activity into Green Hat thinking. When contingency plans are needed, they will
ask for Black Hat thinking, etc.
© Progeon Confidential HRD/Trg/06