Thinking Tools 4

In the name of Allah The Most Gracious The Most Merciful

Other thinking tools developed by De Bono are PMI, CAF, and C&S

Plus, Minus, Interesting (PMI)

The aim of PMI is to broaden our thinking.  Every idea, no matter how simple or ridiculous it may be, has its strengths and weaknesses.  Some people like to make judgment on ideas put forward by their friends or foes without thinking of the possible strengths and weaknesses first.  This may lead us to make wrong decision for we tend to be biased towards our family and closed friends.  Therefore, with PMI, we can avoid making rash decision.  PMI allows us to expand our attention and prevents us from seeing only the negative side of everything that we didn't agree with.

Before embarking on anything, we should list as many as we can the advantages of doing it (PLUS), and the disadvantages of doing it (MINUS) and the interesting points about doing it (INTERESTING).  Interesting point is neither good nor bad, but interesting.  For example, you are thinking whether you should do Master degree or not.  So, you should list as many plus points, minus points and interesting points as possible.  It is very easy to think of plus and minus points but hard to come up with interesting points...May for doing master degree, the interesting points would be to view doing master degree as match making endeavor; to be a perpetual student; to have fun; etc.

Consider All Factors (CAF)

This thinking tool is important to ensure we have thought of all the possible and relevant factors before making  decision.  Suppose you are offered a job with a bigger salary but you have to move to another town.  Before accepting the job offer, you should ask as many right questions as possible to help you to think of all relevant factors.  

Possible questions might be about cost of living in the new town; the working conditions; promotion opportunity; what kind of people you are going to be dealing with; your family; school for your children; etc.

Consequences and Sequel (C&S)

The objective of C&S is to direct our focus on the effect of choices that we have made.  When we choose to do something, there are consequences of our actions.  These consequences can be immediate, short-term, medium-term or long-term.  Our choices are directly related to our responsibility.  This means that since we are free to choose, we are responsible for the consequences of our choices.  Therefore, before making decision we should be able to predict the possible outcomes and we should be prepared to shoulder the responsibility that comes with the choice.

C&S has these characteristics:

1. It reminds us that our choices have consequences
2. Therefore, we need to make responsible choices
3. Our choices lead to a sequence of effects
4. We use C&S for the purpose of focusing our attention to what might happen as an effect of the choices we have made
5. By deliberately thinking on the effects of our choices, we can lessen the fear of making the wrong choices or the fear of making decision
6. The consequences of our choices may change over time