Decision Making Techniques and Skills from MindTools. Six Thinking Hats. Six Thinking Hats is a book by Edward de Bono which describes a tool for group discussion and individual thinking involving six colored hats.
"Six Thinking Hats" and the associated idea parallel thinking provide a means for groups to plan thinking processes in a detailed and cohesive way, and in doing so to think together more effectively.[2] Underlying principles[edit] The premise of the method is that the human brain thinks in a number of distinct ways which can be deliberately challenged, and hence planned for use in a structured way allowing one to develop tactics for thinking about particular issues. de Bono identifies six distinct directions in which the brain can be challenged. In each of these directions the brain will identify and bring into conscious thought certain aspects of issues being considered (e.g. gut instinct, pessimistic judgement, neutral facts).
Since the hats do not represent natural modes of thinking, each hat must be used for a limited time only. Edward de Bono. Edward de Bono (born 19 May 1933) is a Maltese physician, author, inventor and consultant.
He originated the term lateral thinking,[citation needed] wrote the book Six Thinking Hats and is a proponent of the deliberate teaching of thinking as a subject in schools. Biography[edit]