We’re delighted to publish the shiny new version of the GO-Science Futures Toolkit: a set of tools to help you develop policies and strategies that are robust in the face of an uncertain future. It updates and builds on the version we published in 2017...
So, what’s changed?
- The design – more user-friendly!
We’ve also added...
- A few new tools: Futures Wheels, Three Horizons, and two alternative methods for creating scenarios (archetypal and morphological)
- More links to other useful resources
- Sections on participatory and experiential futures – we'd like to expand on these via our blog in the future.
Alongside the Toolkit we’ve also created...
- A case study bank. These demonstrate the tools in action – including how teams have adapted them or combined them with other tools for their specific purpose.
- A resource bank with facilitator guides and templates for running workshops using the tools in the toolkit. You can download these and adapt them to work for you!
But if you liked the old version, don’t worry, you’ll still find...
- All the tools that were in the last version
- Steps for how to use each tool
- The ‘pathways’ – suggestions for how to combine tools to achieve a particular purpose
We worked closely with futures specialists at SAMI consulting to produce this version, along with their design partners Davydov. We are extremely grateful to all the people from across government, the wider public sector and beyond who helped shape it, by sharing their expertise, providing feedback on drafts and contributing case studies.
We’d love to hear what you think! You can give us your feedback by leaving a comment below, or emailing us at futures@go-science.gov.uk
Some feedback we have received on the Futures Toolkit:
“A big part of foresight is building on the analysis of others, and the Seven Pathways in the toolkit show the power of stacking these techniques together. This isn't something I've seen before so clearly. It means that we can follow something from understanding right through to action, all done in a collaborative way. That final step to action is too often missed, or rushed. Given the findings of the Covid Inquiry, the Liaison Committee report on strategic thinking, the UN Declaration on Future Generations and the start of a new government, this is a timely release” – James Ancell, Head of Futures and Foresight, Joint Data and Analysis Centre.
“Great to see the refresh of GO-Science's Futures Toolkit, I particularly welcome the inclusion of participatory and experiential techniques this time round” – Laurie Smith, Head of Foresight Research, Nesta.
"We have loved collaborating with GO-Science over the years, from genomic science to the future of the subsurface to planning for our ageing population. For any policymakers interested in the role of futures in policymaking, we recommend checking out their radically refreshed Futures Toolkit" – Policy Lab, UK government.