ABSTRACT
Definition ....................................................................................................... 228 User ................................................................................................................. 228 Often Used in the Following Phases of the Innovative Process .............. 228 Tool Activity by Phase .................................................................................. 229 How to Use the Tool ...................................................................................... 229
Understanding the Six Thinking Hats ................................................... 230 Using the Six Thinking Hats .....................................................................231 Advantages ..................................................................................................233 Disadvantages ............................................................................................ 234
Summary ........................................................................................................ 234 Example ...........................................................................................................235 Case Study ...................................................................................................... 236
Emerson (Copeland Corp) Scroll Compressors Plant ......................... 236 Challenge: Growth Creates Communications Roadblocks ............ 236 Solution: Teach and Apply Communication and Problem-Solving Skills to Rekindle Honest Interaction between Managers and Employees .................................................... 236 Value: Measurable Results Lead to Wider Application of the de Bono Tools .............................................................................237 Future: Involvement of a Workforce Rooted in a Small Western Town Leads to Growing Impact ..........................................................237
Software ...........................................................................................................239 Reference .........................................................................................................239 Suggested Additional Reading .................................................................... 240
Six Thinking Hats is used to look at decisions from a number of important perspectives. This forces you to move outside your habitual thinking style, and helps you to get a more rounded view of a situation. The thinking is that if you look at a problem with the Six Thinking Hats technique, then you will solve it using any and all approaches. Your decisions and plans will mix ambition, skill in execution, public sensitivity, creativity, and good contingency planning.
