Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD) Practice Exam

Which of the following techniques is used for convergence?

1. Brainstorming

2. Analogy thinking

3. Six thinking hats

4. Lateral thinking

The correct answer is: Six thinking hats

The technique that is most closely associated with convergence is the one that involves structured thinking processes to facilitate decision-making and reach a consensus. Six Thinking Hats is a method developed by Edward de Bono, designed to help individuals and groups think more effectively by examining a problem from multiple perspectives. Each "hat" represents a different mode of thinking, such as focusing on facts, emotions, or creative ideas. In the context of convergence, the Six Thinking Hats approach allows participants to evaluate and synthesize ideas systematically, ultimately leading to clearer conclusions and decisions. This method encourages collaboration while minimizing conflict among differing viewpoints, thus guiding a group towards a unified outcome or solution. By allowing thinkers to adopt various perspectives sequentially, it ensures a thorough evaluation that helps to converge many potential ideas into a clear, actionable plan. The other techniques, while useful in their contexts—such as brainstorming for idea generation, analogy thinking for drawing connections between different concepts, and lateral thinking for creative problem-solving—are primarily associated with divergence and the exploration of possibilities rather than the structured convergence towards a single, cohesive solution.