Using Boards: Creating Scenarios

Follow this detailed guide to create a set of foresight scenarios.

Create a new Board

To get started, head to the Boards page and create a new blank Board:

You can change the name of the Board to describe its content:

Create a Focus Question

The next step is to a Focus Question. This is a key part of a scenario development process as it defines the scope and goal for the scenarios themselves.

First, import your Strategic Profile by clicking the Add Node button and selecting Strategic Profile:

The Strategic Profile node will be added to the Board:

Next, add a Focus Question Generator:

This will add the Focus Question Generator Node:

Connect the Strategic Profile node to the Focus Question Generator node:

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Type in an Initial Question which outlines your problem or situation, then click Generate:

A set of focus questions will be generated. Select one that fits your needs, or refine your question and re-generate. Once selected, click "Create Focus Question Nodes":

A Focus Question Node will be created.

You can edit the text of the Focus Question by clicking on the pencil icon:

Once you are happy with the Focus Question, click on "Create a Trend Search Node". On the Trend Search Node, click "Search for trends":

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Search for Trends

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You can click the icon on the right of each trend to view the trend in detail:

Select the Trends that you want to include in the Scenarios:

Click on the "Create Scenario Generator Node"

Note - you can have multiple Trend Search nodes covering different topics and search criteria.

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Create Scenarios

The Scenario Generator node will gather trends from any linked Trend Search nodes, or from any linked File Assessments.

Open the Node Settings / Inputs to see what has been connected:

Choose a Scenario Type:

The scenario types:

• 2x2 Matrix - The classic approach where 2 key uncertainties are placed in a 2x2 matrix representing the high vs. low of each key uncertainty
• Scenario Field - Mix together multiple key uncertainties (3-5) to create a set of scenarios which may or may not overlap in different ways
• 4 Archetypes - Another classic approach focusing on futures of Collapse, Transformation, Discipline and Continuation [Coming soon]
• Sci Fi Archetypes - A new approach that references cultural structures around different types of science fiction movies.

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Select 2x2 Matrix and then click "Generate key uncertainties". Select the key uncertainties that you would like form the axes of the 2x2 matrix:

Then click "Generate Scenario summaries" to create the outlines for each scenario:

Then click "Generate detailed scenario nodes". A set of Scenario nodes be created. When you're ready, click on the "Generate Scenario" button to generate the scenario text:

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And that's it! You have now generated a set of 2x2 matrix scenarios that have been targeted to resolve your Focus Question, based on the Trends and Key Uncertainties that you have selected.

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