Key Management Models, 3rd Edition

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Six thinking hats (De Bono)

The big picture

In his 1985 book, Edward de Bono introduced six thinking hats, each with its own colour, corresponding to the way participants think and the input they provide. Each participant gets a certain colour hat and therewith the assignment to think and talk from a specific perspective. De Bono (1985) states that human cognition and thought consist of different types, approaches and orientations. Most people develop thinking habits, which make them think in a limited way. De Bono believes that by defining the various approaches, people can become more productive and collaborative. By thinking from a ...