The PMI according to de Bono is a very simple and very effective method to check and reconsider preconceptions, existing points of view or first impressions. PMI stands for Plus, Minus and Interesting.
Through the structured concentration on pluses, minuses and interests, one’s own convictions are not reinforced, but individual characteristics of an assumption are collected and thus observed in a value-neutral way.
Subsequently, it is then much easier to make a decision/assessment based on a trade-off that will very often be more rational than before using the PMI.
A point can be classified under P as well as M, since there can be two points of view for one argument. By the way, interest means all those points that can be classified neither positively nor negatively. At the beginning, the following sentence may be helpful: “It is interesting to know if…”.
The method is based on the method EUI (agreement, disagreement, irrelevance). The difference is that PMI focuses on the characteristics of the idea, while EUI focuses on the importance to the team.
