Power to Define Futures and Trends

The power to define futures refers to the ability to influence future outlooks, in other words, what is considered possible or desirable in the future. Trends and changes do not affect everyone in the same way, and different actors may have differing interests in development trajectories and the alternative futures they open up. 

Considering multiple perspectives lies at the heart of the power to define futures. This worksheet helps participants explore trends from different viewpoints while also identifying future-related tensions and conflicts. 

You can choose perspectives that are central to your organisation such as key actors, stakeholders or target groups. You may also select less typical perspectives such as future generations or even a forest animal. The aim is to understand how differently a trend may appear depending on the perspective, and to identify tensions, conflicts and questions of power related to the future. 

What users say about the tool

“In planning, attention is often focused on large-scale impacts, while individual people, their differing needs and conflicts tend to be overlooked. This tool is useful for highlighting the goals of different actors and the tensions between them. Extremely helpful when developing human-centred services or policies.” 

Preparation

Decide which trend you want to examine. Then select the stakeholder or target groups whose perspectives you want to use to explore the trend. This is a good moment to challenge yourself: include perspectives you do not usually consider, but which are nevertheless affected by your activities. 

If you have a larger group, you can divide participants into small groups and assign a different trend to each group.  

Working process

1. Divide into groups and distribute the worksheet and the selected trend (either the same trend for all groups or different ones). 

2. Write the chosen perspectives on the worksheet and examine them in relation to the selected trend. Record your observations directly onto the worksheet or use sticky notes.  

3. Next, reflect on what kinds of power relations or tensions exist between the different perspectives. 

4. Write down your observations or add sticky notes. 

5. Review the overall picture and consider how you should take the identified tensions into account in your activities.  

Materials 

Power to Define Futures and Trends worksheet