How to Build Utopia: An Experiment in ‘Rapid Futuring’ to Create Action

#BuildUtopia #WF2015

How to Build UtopiaAn Experiment in ‘Rapid Futuring’ to Create ActionPresentation + Facilitation Slides with Results + Process Captured


What is Utopia?“Utopia is held together by commitment rather than coercion, for in utopia what people want to do is the same as what they have to do; the interests of the individuals are congruent with the interests of the group; and personal growth and freedom entail responsibility for others.”

Rosabeth Moss Kanter, Commitment and Community: Communes and Utopias in Sociological Perspective


Welcome: Today’s Agenda5 Teams4 Processes3 Methods2 Futurist-Driven1 Change-DrivenAll to Build Utopia in 60 Minutes...so let’s get going!


Principles of Operation- Rapid Prototyping / Rapid Futuring

- Low tech (offline), meets fast thinking- Context of today is largely positive

- Utopia, not dystopia; truly “preferred future”- Speed is king

- Caveat: we’re taking away thoroughness for speed- Specificity is queen- “Yes, and”

- Limited, if not 0, explanation or debating (no “buts”) of ideas- Self-formed teams, un-conference style


Where we’re going.



Where we’re going.We will be creating a path to utopia, starting with an emerging phenomenon found today.



Where we’re going.We will be creating a path to utopia, starting with an emerging phenomenon found today.We will be using various methods and different ways to measure impact to define what our utopia looks like, how we’ll get there, plus mapping how Utopia is possible. Starting today.



Process 1Un-Conferencing / Rapid Ideating to Form Teams



1A. Identify an Emerging Trend

Tool: Post-its, one trend written on eachRemember: Get specific, go fast, pick positive

SocialTechnologicalEnvironmentalEconomicPolitical

TIME: 1 MINUTE


1B. Collect Trends on Wall by STEEP- Add your post-it trend to the wall under the appropriate STEEP

category- Group related post-its within the given category- Choose the trend / group you (personally) find most interesting

that also has the most shared interest - Teams will self-form around common trends / interests- 5 groups max; does not have to be for each STEEP area, can

have multiple under each, but can only have 5- Prioritize which specific trend you want to focus on for your

group TIME: 5 MINUTES TOTAL


First MethodFast Futures 101: Futures Wheel



2. Futures Wheel What it is:

- Futures Wheel is a quick tool to extrapolate cause and effect of a central trend, similar to a mind map

- Wheels are built by layers of impact rings

- STEEP is a good framework for thinking through your first layer of effects

"Futures wheel 01". Licensed under CC BY 2.5 via Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Futures_wheel_01.svg#/media/File:Futures_wheel_01.svg


2A. Build Your Futures Wheel Instructions:

- Assign a team scribe- Use your team’s selected trend at the center of your wheel,

draw a circle around it - As you add each effect, draw a circle around it and connect it

with a line to its cause- Try to complete one impact ring at a time before moving on to

the next- Goal is to see what all the potential consequences or effects

of this one emerging trend could be, typically only takes 3-4 layers to get to full view


2B. Futures Wheel - GO!Tools: One White Posterboard, 4 - 5 Different Colored MarkersTIPS:

- Use related colors for either your rings or related effects

- Use STEEP to help build and think through your first layer of consequence

- BE SPECIFIC- BE FAST- “Yes, and” TIME: 8 MINUTES TOTAL

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Source: Mind Tools. The Futures WheelIdentifying Future Consequences of a Change.http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/futures-wheel.htm

http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/futures-wheel.htm



2C. Futures Wheel - Color CodeInstructions:

- Quickly highlight and connect all the related effects and potential outcomes

- Summarize / identify the main positive effects and themes in your wheel

TIP: Give different color highlighters to different team members, work simultaneously. Tool: Highlighters TIME: 2 MINUTES TOTAL


Second MethodWhere we’re going and the transformation to get there: “Three ‘Horizons’ in Three Minutes”



3. Three Horizons

What it is:Three Horizons identifies both three different time frames: now, transition or transformation, and the future as well as three different trend slopes or horizons of activity that often occur simultaneously.

Source: International Futures Forum - www.internationalfuturesforum.com


3. Three “Horizons” - InstructionsTools: White poster board, marker


3. Three “Horizons” - InstructionsTo build our horizons, in just 3 minutes, we’ll be simplifying to identity and map the following along the time frames:

1. On a new board, draw three columns: now, transformation, future.2. Write your summarized qualities from your wheel in the future time

frame.3. Place your chosen utopian trend in the now axis.4. Under your trend in the now column, draw a line and list the

qualities of today.5. In the middle / transformation column, list what changes will have

to occur to get to your utopian state.

TIME: 3 MINUTES TOTAL


Third MethodA Plan, a Path, and Measuring for Change: Theory of Change



4. Theory of ChangeWhat it is:- A Theory of Change often is cited or created in the nonprofit

world. It is a tool to create a pathway to measure, identify, and map the work you need to do to create your intended outcome - and how to ensure you know you’re achieving success.

- Connects futuring to action.- Backwards thinking tool- Often a theory of change is accompanied by a logic model

Source: IDEX | International Development Exchange www.idex.org


4. Theory of ChangeThere are three main components to a ToC:

- Preferred Long-term Outcome

- Preconditions- Indicators and

Interventions

Source: Aspen Institute, The Community Builder’s Approach to Theory of Change, Andrea A. Anderson, Ph.D. www.TheoryofChange.org


4A. Long-term OutcomeInstructions:

- Place your emerging utopian trend from your futures wheel at the top of the board. Draw an octagon around it.

- How would you define what the trend looks like and measure success? Write answers under outcome at top.

- Be specific TIME: 2 MINUTES TOTAL

Tools: New Whiteboard, Marker


4B. PathwayTools: Post-its, Posterboard

- Use the transition points you identified from your transformation area of Three Horizons diagram. Write each one on a separate sticky note.

- Using a different color post-it, write the qualities of today from your 3H “now” on separate sticky notes.

- What has to happen in sequence starting from today to reach and actualize your utopian trend? Paste your sticky notes in order.

- Fill in any remaining needed preconditions or events to construct your pathway to change- Goal is to map back to our current future. Try to keep specific.

You will likely want to move them around (thus they’re sticky!), and some of your qualities of today may be solved by your points of transition / what you’ve identified has to happen for change. You can paste the together as a way to “check” what changes you need to account for.

Not all stickies may go in order, there may be different paths that work in tandem to get to your desired outcome. TIME: 3 MINUTES TOTAL

Now that you’ve identified your outcome, have you identified all the preconditions or events that need

to happen for this preferred future to happen?


4C. Indicators and InterventionsInstructions:

- Identify on your related “paths,” what, if any, intervention points are needed. Will change automatically happen from one event to the next? If not, these are your needed intervention points.

- Pick 1 intervention, potentially the one that you find most influenceable or the one that is the closest to where we are today:

- How will you measure success for this intervention? What are the indicators? Be specific - and be measurable.

- For your chosen intervention, come up with 3 ‘big’ ideas and 3 personal-sized ideas. (This is the most important part.)

TIME: 5 MINUTES TOTAL


When we come back here in a year, what will you have done to start building Utopia? Write it in your notebook and write your personal intervention on a sticky note and add it to the wall; if you want to be held accountable, add your business card or email so we can distribute it to the group.(Discussion doesn’t end here - back to seats (quickly and safely) please! :) )

TIME: 1 MINUTE



4D. How will you intervene?Instructions:

- Each person grab a post-it note. - When we come back here in a year, what

step will you have taken to build your utopia?

- One minute. Make it easy, actionable, Go!- Write your personal intervention. Feel free to

include your email address, name, or stick it with your business card. This can be anonymous or we can have peer support - we’ll be capturing and sending these out post conference.

- Paste it on the wall.TIME: 1 MINUTE


DebriefingWhat did you learn? What is your vision for Utopia?What potentially surprised you? What can you take away from these types of tools, work, and positive thinking?


#BuildUtopia #WF2015#BuildUtopia #WF2015


THANK YOU!Lea [email protected]@leaartis

Jeremy [email protected]


mailto:[email protected]





Documenting Building UtopiaResults, Next Steps, and More!

#BuildUtopia #WF2015Gathering ideas of current trends to form teams around STEEP framework.

#BuildUtopia #WF2015The Social team focused on how increased sharing in social networks will lead to more inclusiveness,

opportunities, learning, and more caring.




#BuildUtopia #WF2015The Technology team focused on Space transportation becoming accessible for everyone.




#BuildUtopia #WF2015The Economic team focused on increased digital transactions and how that will result in individuals

becoming more empowered.




#BuildUtopia #WF2015The Environment team focused on Energy Efficiency and the emergence of measuring EROEI as a

key driver: Energy Returned on Energy Invested.




#BuildUtopia #WF2015The Political team focused on Social Inclusion and equal access to education as a driver and key

trend.






When we come back in one year, what will you have done to build Utopia?Individual actions captured on post-it notes and shared with group post conference.





Learnings1. Everyone thought the interaction and emphasis on speed and

building was awesome.2. Everyone also thought we definitely need more time to do this truly

well, maybe a half day or another hour.3. Some elements need to be refined in regards to balancing

directions with speed; team-specific facilitators could help direct more hands on.

This was fun. A blast. Lots of great minds in one room coming together to make something awesome all in an hour! Truly great. Can’t wait to see what’s next.


Resource Links and NotesFutures Wheel

● http://www.emergentfutures.com/wpdl/Emergent%20Futures%20Consequence%20Wheel%20Tool%20Download.pdf - good worksheet overview ● http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/futures-wheel.htm

○ Additional resources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Futures_wheel // a video example https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFMvIUzSWyc // another example http://www.slideshare.net/Breauxjw/futures-wheels-for-emergency-preparedness-futures + https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-3u0BMAYmI (slides may be better than video)

Three Horizons● http://blog.hypeinnovation.com/using-the-three-horizons-framework-for-innovation ● Three Horizons Kit: http://www.iffpraxis.com/3h-kit

Theory of Change● http://www.csi.edu.au/media/uploads/CSI_The_Compass.pdf (for quick scan, see pages 6, 12 - 14) ● http://www.aspeninstitute.org/sites/default/files/content/docs/rcc/rcccommbuildersapproach.pdf (3 - 7, also includes a facilitator guide on

creating a theory of change)Other (Awesome) Methods We Wanted to Include

● Brain Sketching - Instructions and overview included at the link for how to facilitate - http://www.leadersagainstroutine.nl/brain-sketching/● Causal Layered Analysis

○ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImWDmFPfifI○ Its utility is not in predicting the future but in creating transformative spaces for the creation of alternative futures. Causal layered analysis

consists of four levels: the litany, social causes, discourse/worldview and myth/metaphor. ○ Another good resource for diving into the method (page 4, 8, 13 for quick scan): http://www.soif.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Causal-

Layered-Analysis-Project-Report-final.pdf

http://www.emergentfutures.com/wpdl/Emergent%20Futures%20Consequence%20Wheel%20Tool%20Download.pdf

http://www.emergentfutures.com/wpdl/Emergent%20Futures%20Consequence%20Wheel%20Tool%20Download.pdf



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Futures_wheel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFMvIUzSWyc

http://www.slideshare.net/Breauxjw/futures-wheels-for-emergency-preparedness-futures

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-3u0BMAYmI



http://blog.hypeinnovation.com/using-the-three-horizons-framework-for-innovation

http://blog.hypeinnovation.com/using-the-three-horizons-framework-for-innovation

http://www.iffpraxis.com/3h-kit

http://www.csi.edu.au/media/uploads/CSI_The_Compass.pdf

http://www.csi.edu.au/media/uploads/CSI_The_Compass.pdf

http://www.aspeninstitute.org/sites/default/files/content/docs/rcc/rcccommbuildersapproach.pdf

http://www.leadersagainstroutine.nl/brain-sketching/?utm_content=buffer13382&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkedin.com&utm_campaign=buffer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImWDmFPfifI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImWDmFPfifI

http://www.soif.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Causal-Layered-Analysis-Project-Report-final.pdf




THANK YOU!Lea [email protected]@leaartis

Jeremy [email protected]






Presentations & Public Speaking

How to Build Utopia: An Experiment in ‘Rapid Futuring’ to Create Action