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Criterion
Paper illustration of Futures Wheel with its method-specific working model.
Systems Thinking
Futures Wheel
Paper illustration of the Consensus Workshop working structure.
Facilitation
Consensus Workshop
Paper illustration of the Lotus Blossom working structure.
Innovation
Lotus Blossom
A paper-based illustration representing Brainstorming with its core stages and visible working result.
Innovation
Brainstorming
Purposedifferent
The Futures Wheel helps explore the consequences of a decision, a trend, or a strategic move in a structured way. It makes visible which first, second, and third-order effects could arise from an event.When a group needs a solid decision without outvoting individual factions, a Consensus Workshop creates a negotiable common ground. It makes agreement, reservations, and open tensions discussable at the same time.When a central question feels too large, the method breaks it into neighboring topic fields with their own depth of ideation. It holds structure and openness at the same time, so adjacent perspectives don't get lost. This grows an idea space out of a core problem.When a team faces an open question with many obvious directions, the method first creates breadth instead of premature commitment. It separates idea flow from evaluation and makes lines of thought visible, creating a pool for selection and further development.
Complexitydifferent
MediumMediumLowLow
Timedifferent
60-120 min1-3 h45-90 min30-60 min
Participantsdifferent
3-105-303-104-12
Formatdifferent
Workshop + asyncWorkshopWorkshopWorkshop
Outputdifferent
Futures Wheel, Consequence Chains, Strategic SignalsConsensus Clusters, Theme Titles, Priority AreasLotus Diagram, Idea Themes, ShortlistIdea pool, Theme clusters, Shortlist
Tagsno overlap
ForesightSystems thinkingSignals
FacilitationConsensusWorkshopAlignment
BrainstormingIdeationCreativityDivergenceWorkshop
BrainstormingIdeationCreativityWorkshopDivergence
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