Plus, Minuses, Interesting (PMI) Thinking Tool

In Edward De Bono's Thinking Course, the first thinking tool that he shared was the PMI (plus, minuses, interesting). It is a broad scanning tool that I think most of us can one way or another identify with.

The PMI is an attention directing tool as it requires your attention towards

• plus points
• then minus points
• lastly, the interesting points

I tried using it in my blog post assessing the recent Google PageRank downgrade. To use PMI effectively, attention must be focused at one point (plus, minuses, and interesting) at a time. It is this "will" to look at a particular direction at a time that makes it so important.

Prejudice can't be avoided. However, with PMI, prejudice is used to explore the subject matter. Rather than use intelligence to support a particular prejudice.

PMI is ideally used when we have no doubt about a situation and instantly decided that we like it or otherwise. We can start by doing a PMI. Afterwards, observe and react to it.

Try it!

• Add your PMI inputs to the following:
• Putting young blood in Congress
  
• Online posting and commenting: Boon or Bane
• Google PageRank slap: is this war or victory?
  
• Create your own PMI on a topic of your choice.
  
• Observe and react to the result that turned-up.

Related notes:

• Creative thinking is a skill, not just talent
• Thinking effectively, six thinking hats
• Focused thinking
• Think win-win or no deal