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FAH 0033THINKING SKILLS

19. EDWARD DE BONOS CoRT

TOOLS

PMI

(Plus, Minus, Interesting)

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The de Bono Thinking Tools(by Edward de Bono)

Simple and practical can be used at all abilitylevels and at all ages from 5 up

A toolbox approach Just as a carpenter

would choose different tools from his toolboxand use them in different sequences dependingon the job at hand, so could one use appropriatetools in thinking about a particular issue, or for generating ideas.The range of tools available includes the CoRTThinking Tools

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CoRT TOOLS(Aids to direct attention and thinking)

CAF Consider All FactorsPMI Plus, Minus, Interesting

OPV Other Peoples Views APC Alternatives, Possibilities, ChoicesC&S Consequence & Sequel

AGO Aims, Goals, ObjectivesFIP First Important Priorities

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CoRT Tools

When taken as a whole, the tools can beclassified into:

- Evaluation tools- Exploration tools

- Value tools

- Action tools

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Tools for thinking

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

- more focused

- more structured

- more organized

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Advantages of Thinking ToolsThey 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 actionWork more productively when working with others ina group

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PMI

Plus, Minus, Interesting

Pros and cons technique

A basic decision making tool. When you arefacing a difficult decision, simply draw up a tablewith the 3 headings.

Always follow this sequence: P M I

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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 extendedimplications of taking the action, whether positiveor negative.

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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 actionshould be taken

A strongly negative score avoid the action

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Deciding whether to live in the city

PLUS MINUS INTERESTINGMore going on

(+5)Have to sell myhouse (-6)

Easier to find anew job? (+1)

Easier to see myfriends (+5) More pollution(-3)Meet morepeople? (+2)

Easier to get toplaces (+3)

Less space (-3) More difficult toget work done?

(-4)No countryside

(-2)More difficult toget to work? (-4)

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When do you use this tool?

When you want a balanced perspective onsomething:

- an idea

- an experience

- a situation

- an article you have read- a decision you have to make

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Learning Activity

Lets try again:

Idea All the seats should be taken out of buses

Use the table in the previous example and makea decision on the above idea.

Time 2 minutes

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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

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MINUS

Passengers would fall over if the bus stoppedsuddenly

Old and disabled people would not be able touse buses

It would be difficult to carry shopping bags orbabies

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INTERESTING

Could lead to two types of buses with andwithout 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

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CONCLUSIONThe PMI is important because without it, you mayreject a valuable idea that seems bad at first sight.Without a PMI, you are very unlikely to see thedisadvantages of an idea you like very much.

The PMI can show that ideas are not just good/badbut can also be interesting if they lead to other ideas.

Without a PMI, most judgments are based not on thevalue of the idea itself but on emotions at that time.

With a PMI, you decide whether or not you like theidea after you have explored it instead of before.

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COMPULSORY READING

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

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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).