Six Thinking Hats

Origin. de Bono (1985).

Mechanism. Serializes modes of thought that ordinarily run in parallel and interfere. Every participant occupies the same mode at the same time, which removes the coupling between a position and the person holding it.

Procedure. White: information held and information missing. Red: affect, stated without justification. Black: risks and defects. Yellow: value and feasibility. Green: alternatives. Blue: control of the sequence itself. Timeboxed, all participants in one hat at once.

Applies to. Groups where critique and generation are colliding, or where status governs which ideas get oxygen.

Limitations. Black-hat time expands under anxiety; the process needs a Blue-hat enforcer or it converges on the most risk-averse participant's prior.