Proutist Economic Development Six Hats Thinking Dr Michael

Proutist Economic Development Six Hats Thinking Dr. Michael Towsey 2004 Proutist Universal

Traditional Problem in Meetings • Someone presents a new idea. • Others think of the problems with it. • Another person with an idea keeps quiet – does not want to be ridiculed. • Creative thinking is stifled. Dr. Michael Towsey Proutist Universal

Six Hats Thinking • Invented by Edward de Bono, world famous author of many books on creative and lateral thinking. • Described in Serious Creativity: – The idea of six hats thinking is to avoid traditional western style of argumentation where people take opposing sides of an argument. • Recognises six styles of thinking. • Object: to manage the six styles to enhance creative outcomes. Dr. Michael Towsey Proutist Universal Edward de Bono

White Hat Thinking • Neutral in an argument. • Concerned with data and information: – What information do we have here? – What information is missing? – What information would we like to have? – How are we going to get the information? Dr. Michael Towsey Proutist Universal

Red Hat Thinking • Fire and warm. • Has to do with feelings and emotions, intuition, hunches: – What I feel about this project is … – My gut feeling is that this proposal will … – My intuition tells me that prices will … Dr. Michael Towsey Proutist Universal

Black Hat Thinking • The stern judge or parent. • Comes down heavily on wrong doers. • Is critical. • Advises caution and care: – The regulations do not permit us to do that. – We do not have the production capacity to meet that order. – When we raised the price, sales dropped off. – He has no experience to do that job. Dr. Michael Towsey Proutist Universal

Yellow Hat Thinking • Sunshine and optimism. • Positive outlook - thinks how to make a plan work. • Looks at the benefits of a plan or project: – This plan can work if we start here. . . – That is a good idea after we have. . . Dr. Michael Towsey Proutist Universal

Green Hat Thinking • Lush vegetation and growth. • Creative thinking, new ideas, provocation, alternatives and hypotheticals: – We need some new ideas here. – We are stuck, does any one have another idea. – Could we do this work more efficiently if … – Could there be another reason why this is happening … Dr. Michael Towsey Proutist Universal

Blue Hat Thinking • Think to the sky and overview. • Looks at the process, how something is being done. • Asks for summaries and offers summaries. • Normally the organiser of a meeting. • Sets the agenda for which thinking hat to wear: – We have spent much too long on this unimportant point. – I suggest we try some green hat thinking to get new ideas. Dr. Michael Towsey Proutist Universal

Cereal consumption 1999 - Venezuela • Total domestic production = 2. 16 million Mt • Total exports = 0. 04 – 0. 06 million Mt • Total imports – 2. 16 million Mt Dr. Michael Towsey Proutist Universal

The Problem • How can Venezuela become self-sufficient in the cereals that it needs? • The goal: Food Sovereignty. • Use Six Hats Thinking to come to proposals and solutions. . . Dr. Michael Towsey Proutist Universal

The Six Thinking Hats • White hat – neutral, information • Red Hat – feelings, intuitions, hunches • Black Hat – cautious, regulations, legalities • Yellow Hat – positive, optimistic • Green Hat – creative, original, unrestrained • Blue Hat – processes, organises, summarises Dr. Michael Towsey Proutist Universal