What is the Plus Minus Interesting Analysis?
Plus Minus Interesting (PMI) is a powerful evaluation tool developed by Edward de Bono to help teams analyze ideas, decisions, or changes from multiple angles. This systematic approach encourages participants to consider positive aspects (Plus), negative aspects (Minus), and intriguing possibilities (Interesting) before making conclusions. Unlike simple pros and cons analysis, PMI adds a third dimension of 'Interesting' observations that captures neutral points, uncertainties, and opportunities for innovation. This additional perspective helps teams move beyond binary thinking and discover unexpected insights. The structured nature of PMI makes it particularly effective for reducing cognitive bias, as it requires equal attention to all perspectives. Teams using this method often uncover valuable insights they might have missed with more traditional evaluation approaches.
Plus Minus Interesting Format
Plus
What are the positive aspects?
Guide participants to identify clear benefits, advantages, and positive outcomes. Encourage specific examples rather than general statements. Consider both immediate and long-term positive impacts.
Minus
What are the negatives aspects?
Encourage honest, constructive criticism without judgment. Focus on identifying genuine risks and challenges that need addressing. Help the team view negative points as opportunities for improvement.
Interesting
What is unknown or makes us curious?
Help participants explore possibilities, questions, and unique angles. This category should capture insights that aren't clearly positive or negative but deserve consideration.
When to use this retrospective
- When evaluating significant changes or new initiatives that affect the team or organization
- During decision-making processes where multiple stakeholders or perspectives need to be considered
- For breaking down complex problems into manageable components for analysis
- When you need to ensure thorough consideration of all aspects before making important decisions
Suggested icebreaker questions
- What's the most interesting decision you've made that initially seemed negative but turned out positive?
- If you could instantly know the outcome of any decision, what would you want to evaluate first?
Ideas and tips for your retrospective meeting
- Encourage participants to add items to all three columns, even if their initial reaction is strongly positive or negative
- Use timeboxing for each column to ensure balanced attention to all perspectives
- Consider using dot voting after collection to identify the most significant points in each category
- Avoid debating points during the collection phase - focus on gathering all perspectives first
- Keep the energy neutral when discussing 'Minus' points to maintain psychological safety
- Document all insights for future reference, as the 'Interesting' column often contains valuable innovation seeds
New to retrospectives? Read our guide on how to run a retrospective →
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