6 THINKING HATS - White Hat

STYLE :  Neutral, Objective

COVERS :  facts, figures, information needs and gaps. ‘I think we need some white hat thinking at this point...’ means ‘Let's drop the arguments and suggestions and look at the data

FOCUS :  on available data (facts and figures) while remaining neutral. Participants are encouraged to review existing information, search for gaps in knowledge, analyze past trends, and extrapolate key learnings from historical data.

QUESTIONS

• What information do we have?
• What information do we need?
• What information is mission?
• What questions do we need to ask?
• How are we going to get the information we need?
• Is it fact or belief?

KEY POINTS

• Excludes opinions, hunches, judgement
• Removes feelings & impression
• Two tiers of facts 
• Believed Facts 
• Checked Facts

1. Calls for information known or needed – gathering just the facts
2. The white hat covers facts, figures, data and information. Too often facts and figures are embedded in an argument or belief.
3. Wearing your white hat allows you to present information in a neutral and objective way.

When you put on your white hat, you focus directly on the information – what is available, what is needed, and how it might be obtained. Proposals, opinions, beliefs and arguments should be put aside.