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TRANSCRIPT
BLACK HAT VS. YELLOW HAT
THINKING
Presented by Dr. Matthew E. Worth
The 6 Hats of Thinking concept and creation presented in the this lecture is the original work of Dr. Edward de Bono.
Dr. Edward de Bono, is regarded by many as the leading authority in the field of thinking (creative and lateral),
innovation and the direct teaching of thinking as a skill.
For more information regarding Dr. de Bono and his work, please consult www.debonogroup.com.
WHY HATS????
A hat can easily be put on or taken off. A hat is not a permanent fixture, and can be changed given the
appropriate circumstance.
The 6 hats method is really an attention directing tool, since it directs our attention towards certain
aspect and towards a certain type of thinking.
The hats are not categories. It is quite wrong to say: ‘She is a green hat thinker,’ or ‘He is a black hat
thinker.’ The purpose of the hats is exactly opposite of this.
Your Brain
BOTH THE BLACK AND YELLOW HATS ARE FORMS OF JUDGMENT.
The BLACK hat is largely concerned with truth and fit.
The YELLOW hat is concerned with benefits.
Both hats have to be entirely LOGICAL.
With both hats there has to be to be strong reasons for what you say.
BLACK HAT
The BLACK hat is the most used of all the hats.
In some ways it is also the most valuable, as it prevents us from making silly mistakes.
It is also the hat of critical thinking:
‘ Is this right?’
BLACK Hat Questions
1) Is it true?
2) Does it fit?
3) Will it work?
4) What are the dangers and problems?
• The BLACK hat judges the validity of a line of reasoning.
– Does your conclusion follow the evidence?
– Have you made a mistake?
– Is your claim justified?
The BLACK hat searches for what is true and correct by pointing out errors.
Does it fit?
• Does this suggestion fit in with:
– Our experience
– Our objectives
– Our values, ethics, what we consider to be fair
Since the BLACK hat is always a LOGICAL hat, you must always provide a reason why something does
not seem to fit.
WILL IT WORK?
• Will the idea work?
• Will the invention or machine work?
• Will the plan work?
If you say something will not work, you must provide a reason why.
If it is a ‘feeling’, that it will not work= RED hat
DANGERS & PROBLEMS
If we were to go ahead with a suggestion, identification of the:
• Dangers
• Problems that might arise
• Harmful effects
BLACK HAT SYNDROME
The BLACK hat has the potential to, and history of being “Over-Utilized.”
There are some people what are always cautious, negative, and always find fault with
any idea.
BLACK HAT EXERCISE
Someone suggests that there should be cars specially designed for women.
Do some BLACK hat thinking to point out the weaknesses in this idea.
YELLOW HAT The YELLOW hat is full of HOPE– but as it is a logical hat, the reasons behind the hope must be given.
In general, the YELLOW hat is looking forward into the future:
• ‘If we do this, then these benefits will arise…’
Or into the past, • ‘This thing happened. There were a lot of
harmful side effects, but there were also some good effects.’
YELLOW HAT QUESTIONS
1) What are the benefits?
2) Why should it work?
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?
YELLOW hat thinking is looking only for the benefits or positive effects. It is not
assessing all the values, but only the beneficial values.
Gem:
• If YELLOW hat thinking cannot turn up enough benefits, the thing is not worth doing.
• If benefit can be shown, the matter should be assessed using the BLACK hat.
WHY SHOULD IT WORK?
• YELLOW hat thinking must show clearly why an idea will work.
• Reasons must be given.
• Must show the feasibility of the idea and why it can be done.
YELLOW Hat Syndrome
There are people who get carried away by an ideas and plunge ahead with YELLOW hat
thinking without facing the realities or practicalities.
This is not so much over-use, but it is failure to use the BLACK hat.
YELLOW Hat Exercises
There is a lot of stealing going on in the public schools. Rewards are offered to anyone who can
catch a thief.
1) Is this a good idea?
2) Provide some yellow hat thinking.
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