Creative Problem Solving with
The Missile Man of
India
Six Thinking Hats Man
of India
Edward de Bono
Physician, author, inventor and
consultant.
Six colors
Define
White: neutral, objective
Red: emotional, angry
Black: serious, somber
Yellow: sunny, positive
Green: growth, fertility
Blue: cool, sky above
Blue Hat
Managing the Thinking Process
Control of thinking & the process
Instructions for thinking
The organization of thinking
Control of the other hats
Begin & end session with blue hat
Discipline and focus
Facilitator, session leaders role
White Hat
Information Available & Needed
Neutral, objective information
Facts & figures
Questions: what do we know, what dont we know, what do we
need to know
Excludes opinions, hunches, judgements
Removes feelings & impressions
Red Hat
Intuition and Feelings
Emotions & feelings
Hunches, intuitions, impressions
Doesnt have to be logical or consistent
No justifications, reasons or basis
All decisions are emotional in the end
Black Hat
Caution, Difficulties, and Problems
Cautious and careful
Logical negative  why it wont work
Critical judgment, pessimistic view
Separates logical negative from emotional
Focus on errors, evidence, conclusions
Logical & truthful, but not necessarily fair
Yellow Hat
Benefits and Feasibility
Positive & speculative
Positive thinking, optimism, opportunity
Benefits
Best-case scenarios
Exploration
Green Hat
Alternatives and Creative Ideas
New ideas, concepts, perceptions
Deliberate creation of new ideas
Alternatives and more alternatives
New approaches to problems
Creative & lateral thinking
Benefits of Six Thinking Hats
 Provides a common language
 Experience & intelligence of each person (Diversity of
thought)
 Helps people work against type, preference
 Removal of ego (reduce confrontation)
 Focus (one thing at a time)
 Create, evaluate & implement action plans