Plus Minus Interesting (PMI)

A structured PMI chart and template to evaluate ideas from multiple perspectives

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Plus

What are the positive aspects?

This approach could reduce our development cycle by 20%
The new process gives team members more autonomy
We'll save significant costs on infrastructure
Minus

What are the negatives aspects?

We might need additional training to implement this
The initial setup costs seem quite high
Some team members may resist the change
Interesting

What is unknown or makes us curious?

I wonder how this might affect our remote team members
Could we adapt this approach for other departments?
This reminds me of a similar project at my previous company

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

Frequently asked questions

What is a PMI chart?
A PMI chart is a simple three-column grid — Plus, Minus, and Interesting — used to evaluate an idea, decision, or change from all sides before reaching a conclusion. You list the positives in the Plus column, the drawbacks in the Minus column, and any neutral observations, open questions, or intriguing possibilities in the Interesting column. The "Interesting" column is what sets a PMI chart apart from a basic pros-and-cons list: it captures the points that are neither clearly good nor bad but are worth exploring.
How do I make a Plus Minus Interesting template?
Create three columns or sticky-note areas labelled Plus, Minus, and Interesting. Write the idea or decision being evaluated at the top, then give the group a few minutes to add points to each column in turn — Plus first, then Minus, then Interesting — so attention is shared evenly. In TeamRetro you can run the Plus Minus Interesting template instantly: it gives every participant their own private space to add ideas, then groups and votes on them together. Use the free template above to get started.
Who invented PMI?
PMI was developed by Edward de Bono, the psychologist and author best known for the Six Thinking Hats and the concept of lateral thinking. He created PMI as an "attention-directing" tool within his CoRT (Cognitive Research Trust) thinking program to stop people from judging an idea too quickly and to make them consider it from every angle first.
What's the difference between PMI and a pros and cons list?
A pros and cons list has two columns; a PMI chart has three. The extra "Interesting" column captures neutral points, uncertainties, and "what if" possibilities that a pros-and-cons list forces you to drop because they aren't clearly positive or negative. That third column is also a de-biasing device — it makes the group keep thinking past the point where a two-column list would let them stop and confirm what they already believed.
When should a team use PMI instead of dot voting?
Use PMI when you need to evaluate the merits of a single idea, decision, or change in depth — it surfaces the reasoning behind a choice. Use dot voting when you need to prioritise or choose between many options quickly. The two work well together: run PMI to understand a few shortlisted ideas, then dot vote to decide between them.

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