6 WHITE HAT YELLOW HAT BLACK HAT

THINKING FACTS BENEFITS CAUTIONS

HATS
THINK OF White paper Sunshine A stern judge
I am information known or I am brightness and I am judgement, the
needed optimism, even when devil´s advocate or why
everything looks gloomy something may not work. I
DESCRIPTION
and difficult. spot the risks
FACTUAL OPTIMISTIC CRITICAL
Highlights facts, Highlights , benefits, Highlights caution,
information available and positive aspects, good difficulties, risks,
needed, data … research value, strengths, plus weeknesses, judgement,
needed points … dangers, weak points,
(separated from positive, flaws …
negative or emotion)
USE To record information that To give logical reasons. To give logical reasons.
is currently available and To look for benefits in a It is used for critical
to identify further situation. judgement.
information that may be To encourage a positive To make tougher and more
needed. view even in people who resilient plans
To analyze past trends and are always critical (sometimes it is easy to
try to extrapolate from (it comes before black hat overuse the black hat.
historical data. so if there is positive The green hat will give
To build up a picture of all upside, there will be solutions to this hat´s
the facts. commitment to overcome problems. It is important
risks). to separate it from
emotion- more than just
not liking something).

EXAMPLES “The dates of employment “Could we implement this Following this suggestion
for each position on this idea in such a way that it won’t fit recent changes in
applicant’s resume shows improves customer the tax laws. It’s no longer
that she has never held a satisfaction?” to our advantage to do it
job for more than 18 “Awarding a bonus for this way.”
months.” (Note: we don’t employees at their five- “This proposal to change
jump to conclusions, we year anniversary may the specs for building that
just note the fact.) reduce our turn-over.” addition would be less
costly. But it doesn’t fit the
building codes.”

QUESTIONS What is the current What are the positive What are the negative
information on the aspects of the current aspects of the current
situation, issue or situation, issue or situation, issue or
problem? problem? problem?
What do I know? Why is this idea useful? What are the problems?
What information do we What are the advantages What are the
have? and benefits? disadvantages?
What do I need to find What are we doing well? What problems could
out? Who will benefit? arise?
What information is Why would this be good/ a Can this be done?
missing? good idea? Is this safe?
How will I/ can we get the What is the best we could Does this fit the facts?
information I/ we need? hope for? Why won´t it work?
How can we get it to work What is the logic of its
better? failure?
Does it fit with the facts,
plans or what I believe in?
BLOOM´S REMEMBER ANALYZE & EVALUATE ANALYZE & EVALUATE
TAXONOMY KNOWLEDGE ANALYSIS AND ANALYSIS AND
EVALUATION EVALUATION

The Six Thinking Hats. Description and charts. MariCruz ARCOS [email protected] 1
6 THINKING RED HAT GREEN HAT BLUE HAT
HATS FEELINGS CREATIVITY PROCESS
THINK OF Fire and warmth Vegetation and rich The sky and overview
growth
I am the signifier of I am creativity, I am the manager of the
feelings, hunches posibilities, alternatives thinking process.
(corazonadas, and new ideas. I am the conductor or the
impresiones) and orchestra.
DESCRIPTION intuition.
EMOTIONAL CREATIVE ORDERED
Highlights feelings, Highlights creativity, new Highlights metacognition,
hunches, emotions, ideas, possibilities, focussing, managing the
intuition, gut instinct alternatives, thinking.
(reacción visceral, brainstorming. Summarising.
instinto). There is no criticism of Planning for action.
My feelings can change. ideas.
USE To allow people to put Used for creative thinking To control the process. To
forward feelings without and generating new ideas. organise the thinking.
giving reasons, Used to shift to a new To determine the plan of
justification or prejudice. perspective, alternatives action.
To think about how other and breakthroughs. Thinks about the process
people might react Lateral thinking closely of thinking.
emotionally. related to creativity. Gives Asks for summaries,
solutions to black hat conclusions and decisions.
problems.

EXAMPLES “My Red Hat feeling is that “We need to think of other “We agreed to hold this
I resent the email that ways to do this. Put on meeting to target the
was sent out.” (Notice your Green Hats.” customers most likely to
that no reasons are given. keep buying our products
It is difficult but important during an economic
not to explain the downturn.”
reasons.)

QUESTIONS How does everyone feel What are the new ideas or What thinking is needed?
about the current alternatives in solving the What is the focus?
situation, issue or issue or problem? Where are we now?
problem? What new ideas are What should we think
What do I feel about this posible? about next?
right now? What is my suggestion? What do we need to do
What do you fear, love, What else can we do? next?
hate, feel angry about it? How can we develop a How are we doing?
What do I like/ not like new view? Do we need to reflect
about these feelings? What will provoke new further?
Does it feel right? ideas, new approaches, Where are we now?
different solutions?
How far have we got?
How can this be
How do I think about what
improved?
other people think?
How do we make this
How effective is other
happen?
people´s thinking?
What conclusions or
summaries can we make
in moving forward on this
issue or problem?
BLOOM´S EVALUATE CREATE UNDERSTAND & APPLY
TAXONOMY EVALUATION SYNTHESYS COMPREHENSION AND
APPLICATION

The Six Thinking Hats. Description and charts. MariCruz ARCOS [email protected] 2