In 2005, the tool found some use in the United Kingdom innovation sector, where it was offered by some facilitation (business) companies and had been trialled within the Her Majesty's Civil Service.
__Six Thinking Hats__ is a book by Dr. Edward de Bono. "Six Thinking Hats" and the associated idea parallel thinking provide a means for groups to plan thinking processes in a detailed and cohesive way, and in doing so to think together more effectively - wikipedia 
Each thinking role is identified with a coloured symbolic thinking hat. By mentally wearing and switching "hats," you can easily focus or redirect thoughts, the conversation, or the meeting.
# Six Thinking Hats
- The Blue Hat is used to manage the thinking process. It's the control mechanism that ensures the Six Thinking Hats guidelines are observed.
- The Red Hat signifies feelings, hunches and intuition. When using this hat you can express emotions and feelings and share fears, likes, dislikes, loves, and hates.
- The White Hat calls for information known or needed. "The facts, just the facts."
- The Green Hat focuses on creativity; the possibilities, alternatives, and new ideas. It's an opportunity to express new concepts and new perceptions.
- The Black Hat is judgement - the devil's advocate or why something may not work. Spot the difficulties and dangers; where things might go wrong. Probably the most powerful and useful of the Hats but a problem if overused.
- The Yellow Hat symbolises brightness and optimism. Under this hat you explore the positives and probe for value and benefit.
# Strategies and programs
Having identified the six modes of thinking that can be accessed, distinct programs can be created. These are sequences of hats which encompass and structure the thought toward a distinct goal.
A number of these are included in the materials provided to support the franchised training of the six hats method; however it is often necessary to adapt them to suit an individual purpose. Also, programs are often "emergent", which is to say that the group might plan the first few hats then the facilitator will see what seems to be the right way to go - wikipedia
# Sections
# See also
- Coloured hat - Educational psychology - Intelligence - Lateral thinking - Team Role Inventories - Wiktionary:thinking cap
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