Future Backwards
Developed by Dave Snowden and Cynthia Kurtz, Future Backwards is a strategic narrative tool that helps groups explore their past, present, and possible futures. Participants map the path that led to the current state (history), then develop two extreme future scenarios — Heaven (the best imaginable outcome) and Hell (the worst) — and trace the trajectories that lead to each. It surfaces values, unspoken assumptions, and strategic priorities.
Come eseguirlo
- 1
Draw a horizontal timeline on a large surface: past on the left, present in the middle, future on the right.
- 2
Step 1 — History: groups map key events and turning points that led to the current situation.
- 3
Step 2 — Heaven: in small groups, imagine the most desirable future state. What does it look like? Map the path of events that gets you there.
- 4
Step 3 — Hell: imagine the worst plausible future. Map the path of events that leads there.
- 5
Step 4 — Current Position: map the current trajectory. Is it heading toward Heaven or Hell?
- 6
Identify strategic interventions: what could you do now to increase the probability of Heaven and decrease Hell?
- 7
Debrief the underlying values and assumptions that shaped the Heaven and Hell narratives.
Suggerimenti
The Heaven and Hell framings are deliberately extreme — they surface values more effectively than moderate scenarios.
The debrief of 'what does our Heaven reveal about what we truly value?' is often the richest conversation.',
Variazioni
Run with individual reflection followed by group synthesis. Combine with Scenario Planning for more detailed future development.
Casi d'uso
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Prova gratisMethod descriptions on Workshop Weaver are original content written by our team, based on established facilitation practices.