Sources of Inspiration

Using sources of inspiration can help when working through scenario planning exercises by allowing participants to engage with thoughts about which they are particularly enthusiastic - this could include things they most dislike as well as like! The technique can be used in conjunction with the metaphor or theme approach, or the news headlines exercise.

Activity Plan

Participants are told the following:

"You have been invited by your director to spend the next six weeks on an exotic island. You will build scenarios with some colleagues. What book, CD, DVD (film, play), painting or sculpture would you bring along to inspire you while thinking about the distant future?"

Individuals think through some of the issues. Post-Its can be used for jotting down ideas. (2-3 minutes)

The individual ideas are collected on flip chart and participants give a short explanation of what inspires them about a particular object. (10-15 minutes).

Participants are asked to consider "What are the characteristics of the book, CD, film, etc (or a main character) that you would like (or hate) to see in a future world" (10-20 minutes).