In a world where change is constant and uncertainty looms, navigating the future can be daunting – especially for small or medium-sized businesses.
But fear not, the ‘Futures Wheel’ is here to guide us through the web of possibilities, helping us map out the implications of trends or changes, and empowering us to make informed decisions about the future of a business.
Understanding the ‘Futures Wheel’
The ‘Futures Wheel’ is a popular tool used in futures studies and strategic planning. It was developed by Jerome C. Glenn of the Millennium Project to help individuals and organisations explore the potential consequences of a particular trend, innovation or decision.
At its core, the ‘Futures Wheel’ is a visual diagram that resembles a spider web, with the central trend or innovation at the center and successive layers radiating outward like spokes on a wheel. Each layer represents a set of impacts or consequences, from the immediate effects captured around the inner wheel to the long-term implications on the outer.
Using this tool, you will be able to map the first-order effects of a single change, or even map the second-order, third-order and fourth-order effects to help you gain a deeper understanding of the complex interconnections shaping your business.
Using the ‘Futures Wheel’ for innovation
The ‘Futures Wheel’ is a valuable tool for understanding the multi-faceted nature of change and anticipating the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. By systematically mapping out the implications of trends and trend effects, we can better prepare ourselves to navigate an uncertain future with clarity and foresight.
I hope you can use this simple yet powerful tool to help explore the likely futures of your business, sector or industry any time you want – and have some fun along the way.
So, that completes my masterclass ‘Your Innovative Future’. I hope you’ve found it useful and thank you so much for joining me.
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