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Criterion
Paper illustration of Futures Wheel with its method-specific working model.
Systems Thinking
Futures Wheel
Paper mind map with a central course onboarding question, colored main branches, keywords and cross-links.
Facilitation
Mind Mapping
Paper illustration for Future Reality Tree.
Systems Thinking
Future Reality Tree
Paper illustration of several people silently writing ideas and passing sheets around with arrows.
Innovation
Brainwriting
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 topic is still unclear and too many thoughts surface at once, Mind Mapping creates an open surface for ordering them. It makes connections, subtopics, and starting points visible without fixing them too early.A Future Reality Tree shows how desired actions are meant to lead to a better system state. The method checks whether a path of change holds together logically before time flows into implementation.When loud voices or hierarchy distort the idea search, the method creates a quiet entry into joint development. It gives everyone thinking space and gathers contributions without social brakes, making diversity more visible and easier to build on.
Complexitydifferent
MediumLowHighLow
Timedifferent
60-120 min15-45 min2-4 h15-30 min
Participantsdifferent
3-101-103-83-12
Formatdifferent
Workshop + asyncWorkshop + asyncWorkshopWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
Futures Wheel, Consequence Chains, Strategic SignalsMind Map, Topic Clusters, Open QuestionsFuture Reality Tree, Negative Branches, Assumption List, Improved InjectionsIdea sheets, Expanded concepts, Prioritized list
Tagsno overlap
ForesightSystems thinkingSignals
BrainstormingIdeasMappingStructureFacilitation
Theory of ConstraintsSystems thinkingChange
BrainstormingCollaborationInclusionIdeas
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