I commonly work directly with organizations in planning and structuring the scenario-planning process to ensure that it serves their strategic planning needs in a timely manner.This includes defining the scope of the effort and addressing the many scenario-planning preliminaries that provide the structural basis for the facilitated workshops and the future-mapping processes to follow. A key objective is working with the client to articulate its primary Strategic Focal Question or Issue in a form that can be productively addressed through the process.

I also provide direct services by designing scenario workshops, facilitating participants through the workshop process, and by working with the client to develop credible and challenging planning scenarios. The scenarios or futures are tools used to identify emerging organizational challenges and opportunities and to develop a wide range of potential adaptive actions and options with which to mitigate or leverage them.

I also directly assist organizations in identifying key tipping points where still emerging future outcomes and events could preferentially favor one set of possible scenario futures over others. Highly-robust and “low-regret” actions, options, and initiatives that are applicable to most futures are identified and strategically prepositioned for possible implementation in the near term. More contingent adaptive actions and options would also be put in place for later consideration and possible implementation in the mid or longer term as the direction of emerging trends and outcomes becomes more clear. Future mapping provides an organization with a Strategic Plan for the future. It produces a forward-looking guide that not only improves the ability of professionals to anticipate what may lie ahead but also provides them with the actionable means to prepare for it.

In addition to providing written documentation of processes for which I provide direct services, I also work with client organizations to prepare presentations which can be used to communicate the results of the process to target audiences such as decision makers,community leaders, and stakeholders. I am frequently asked to deliver presentations in partnership with the client to governing boards, mayor & councils, advisory boards, media outlets, and other stakeholder organizations.

I teach other professionals how to apply the method themselves within their own organizations through training sessions. The teaching can take several forms. Scenario coaching is the most intensive offering, since it entails demonstrating how to conduct a scenario assessment through an actual hands-on application in close partnership with professionals who want to both learn and apply the skills while working within their organization. Scenario training provides professionals and students with an understanding of the rationale underlying the approach and the practical lessons learned through lecture and webinar formats. More intensive workshops and short courses provide opportunity for participants to deepen their understanding and develop process skills. I also provide scenario advisory services with those who want to apply the method themselves but who would also benefit from the guidance of a highly experienced scenario-planning professional to help structure the process and give advice along the way.