FAH 0033 THINKING SKILLS

19. EDWARD DE BONOS CoRT TOOLS PMI (Plus, Minus, Interesting)

The de Bono Thinking Tools (by Edward de Bono)

Simple and practical can be used at all ability levels and at all ages from 5 up A toolbox approach Just as a carpenter would choose different tools from his toolbox and use them in different sequences depending on the job at hand, so could one use appropriate tools in thinking about a particular issue, or for generating ideas. The range of tools available includes the CoRT Thinking Tools

CoRT TOOLS (Aids to direct attention and thinking) CAF Consider All Factors PMI Plus, Minus, Interesting OPV Other Peoples Views APC Alternatives, Possibilities, Choices C&S Consequence & Sequel AGO Aims, Goals, Objectives FIP First Important Priorities

CoRT Tools

When taken as a whole, the tools can be classified into: Evaluation tools

Exploration tools
Value tools

Action tools

Tools for thinking

In real life, information is not really put in front of you for you to access. You have to go and get the information, design a plan, and take action. The purpose of the CoRT Tools is to make thinking:

more focused more structured more organized

Advantages of Thinking Tools

They help the user to:

Avoid impulsive behavior & snap judgments See alternatives where others see only difficulties, confusion, or impossible dilemmas

Improve decision making and idea generating skills

Increase his/her ability to consider the consequences before taking action Work more productively when working with others in a group

PMI

Plus, Minus, Interesting Pros and cons technique A basic decision making tool. When you are facing a difficult decision, simply draw up a table with the 3 headings. Always follow this sequence: P M I

PMI

Under Plus, write down all the positive points of taking the action Under Minus, write down all the negative effects

Under Interesting, write down the extended implications of taking the action, whether positive or negative.

Scoring Your PMI Table

Assign a positive or negative score to each point The scores can be entirely subjective Add up the scores A strongly positive score indicates that an action should be taken

A strongly negative score avoid the action

Deciding whether to live in the city

PLUS MINUS INTERESTING Easier to find a new job? (+1) Meet more people? (+2) More going on Have to sell my (-6) (+5) house Easier to see my More pollution friends (+5) (-3) Easier to get to Less space (-3) places (+3)

More difficult to get work done? (-4) No countryside More difficult to (-2) get to work? (-4)

When do you use this tool?

When you want a balanced perspective on something: an idea an experience a situation an article you have read a decision you have to make

Learning Activity
Lets try again: Idea All the seats should be taken out of buses

Use the table in the previous example and make a decision on the above idea.
Time 2 minutes

PLUS

More people can get into each bus It would be easier to get in and out Buses would be cheaper to make and repair

MINUS

Passengers would fall over if the bus stopped suddenly Old and disabled people would not be able to use buses It would be difficult to carry shopping bags or babies

INTERESTING

Could lead to two types of buses with and without seats The same bus would do more work

Comfort may not be so important in a bus

Fares may come down

No traffic jams
People arrive at work on time

CONCLUSION

The PMI is important because without it, you may reject a valuable idea that seems bad at first sight.

Without a PMI, you are very unlikely to see the disadvantages of an idea you like very much.
The PMI can show that ideas are not just good/bad but can also be interesting if they lead to other ideas. Without a PMI, most judgments are based not on the value of the idea itself but on emotions at that time. With a PMI, you decide whether or not you like the idea after you have explored it instead of before.

COMPULSORY READING

Edward de Bono. (1993). PMI: Plus, Minus and Interesting. In Teach Your Child How to Think. London: Penguin Books. (pp. 128-130).

SUPPLEMENTARY READING

Edward de Bono. (1993). Forward Or Parallel. In Teach Your Child How to Think. London: Penguin Books. (pp. 107 109).

Edward de Bono. (1993). Lateral Thinking. In Teach Your Child How to Think. London: Penguin Books. (pp. 185 191).