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Interesting
My daughter in year 7 was taught the hat stuff as part of her study skills training.
Whilst it initially sounds odd, it is in fact a good way of consciously recognising the different approaches to thinking and problem solving, and in doing so making sure you're not neglecting any areas or being tied down to just one approach.
I've not seen it linked with communication and engaging others before.
Thanks, Mark.
WS.
Marketing consultants gimmicks
I'm sorry but I can't take this sort of stuff seriously.
If I sat down with Mrs KA (my fellow director) and decided to have a '6 hats' meeting to discuss how to grow the business we would spend equal amounts of time trying to remember what each hat did and falling about laughing - "I've got my yellow hat on now, no wait, I mean green...".
May work for big businesses with 100's and 1000's of staff but can't see it working for sole/small practitioners.
Ridiculous.
Childish
In my experience the technique works best in small meetings - sometimes just between two people. It's simply a tool that you can use if you wish to do so.
You''re entitled to your view of course and no one is forcing you to try it. The widespread use of and reference to the technique suggests that it may be worth more than a dismissive swipe.
Each to their own (including you, whoever you are)
Mark
You criticise for KA taking a 'dismissive swipe' and you then end your post with "whoever you are".
Seriously? Pot, kettle, black springs to mind.
Unbelievably petty.
Best
put your toys back in the pram.
Always the way, you can't take any critical remarks.
Rather than resort to personal remarks you need to focus on posting meaningful content.
Bit harsh?
As I have indicated on previous threads, I'm not inclined to take seriously or to debate with those who criticise behind a cloak of anonymity.
That's a bit harsh, Mark...
When I first used AWeb 12 years ago, you had to use your own name. I didn't really mind that, until I realised that one of my staff had typed my fairly uncommon name into google and it brought up my Aweb question.
Now - I was in my first management job, and the question, whilst not too complex,would have been a bit embarassing to have in general circulation in the company. (Such as how do you fill out a P11d, or something)
Since that time, I have used an abbreviation of my name.
If I was working full time on my own account, I would perhaps revert to my full name - but whilst in employment I am apprehensive of that.
Anyway, I find the user names of long standing members as good as names anyway.
Going back to your blog post - I think we used a similar approach to reviewing tenders etc. We had a 'black hat review team' who had the last word before the stuff went out.
But then, we also have 'Tiger Teams' when problems need sorting - so there you go.
Why does it matter
If you have a username or a real name?
For example your name isn't even Mark Lee, its bookmarklee - for me that is just as bad!
I appreciate the creativity and fresher approach, but I must admit I think about all these aspects naturally when I am making all my decisions, but that is me, I can't speak for anyone else. So I can see it being a good theory for others to use who perhaps struggle to make decisions and consider things in a balanced way. Again I like it for the fun twist it has, we need some quirks now and again, thank you!
Anonymity = Client Confidentiality
Further to Tom's comment, for those working on their own account I imagine client confidentiality plays a large part. I also have an unusual name that were I to ask a question relating to a particular niche business could lead to a potential breach in client confidentiality, no matter how generalised I try to keep my question (plus generalised the question too much might mean restrict other user's ability to offer meaningful views).
Additionally one's ability to debate a point should not be linked to being able to identify exactly who somebody is. Whether I post under my real or assumed identity what I say and what I mean will remain the same. One could argue that knowing who somebody is allows you to judge whether they have a vested interest (a software rep promoting their own product for example), but equally one could argue that an anonymous profile ensures that ones views are taken objectively.
It strikes me that a large part of the 6 Hats principle could be more simply achieved with a list of Pros and Cons, particularly in the case of small business with few stakeholders.
Having qualified as a CIMA accountant I had to study a lot of what I would term "management speak". Had I known more about what each qualification entails I probably would have gone down the ACCA/ACA route, though curiously it has been far easier to get a practicing certificate through CIMA than it would have been with ACCA/ICAEW. Alas all the "cool" kids were doing CIMA so I jumped on the bandwagon.
Some of these models were fairly sensible, others were contrived, stating the obvious, or just complete tosh. A simple SWOT analysis is hard to argue with, but some of the models, often adhering to the naming convention of "the 9 rs", the "12 ms" or the "15784 ps" just seem so utterly contrived as to be meaningless.
Having done a quick Google of De Bono I am starting to come round to his way of thinking though - apparently he confirmed what I'm sure many of us have suspected for a long time - the solution to world peace* is more Marmite!
*well peace in the Middle Yeast in any case...
Hats off to you!
This is great Mark, I have never heard of it. Its like SWOT analysis with knobs on! I'm sure the addition of the green hat in particular could make a big difference to accountants as we often doen't allow ourselves the luxury of being creative.