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--- futurist_fieldguide:situation_so_far [2015-06-04 08:45] – maja
+++ futurist_fieldguide:situation_so_far [2015-06-04 09:30] (current) – alkan
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 ===== Situation So Far =====
-Mapping out the past and present of an issue or a situation is crucial for any futuring exercise. The more is known about what happened before and what is happening now, the more grounded the conversation about the future can be. This technique shares a strong link with the aptitude of [[walking backwards into the future]], which can help us avoid unnecessarily reinventing the wheel. While not a formalised technique, this approach comprises of a simple (but deep) conversation complemented with visual mapping of key elements and their connections.
+Mapping out the past and present of an issue or a situation is crucial for any futuring exercise. The more is known about what happened before and what is happening now, the more grounded the conversation about the future can be. This technique shares a strong link with '[[walking backwards into the future]]', an aptitude which can help us avoid unnecessarily reinventing the wheel. While not a formalised technique, the approach outlined here involves a simple (but deep) conversation complemented with visual mapping of key elements and their connections.
-At FoAM we use this technique when the participants need to establish a shared context and learn about each others' perspectives on the situation. It makes clear what knowledge exists in the group already and whether assumptions are widely accepted. It literally maps the territory of inquiry and puts it into a wider historical perspective. The problem with the technique is that it is so open that it can go on for a long time and involve so many topics that the group gets lost in the details. We tend to use this technique in conjunction with other [[observing and mapping]] techniques, especially with larger groups who don't know each other.
+At FoAM we use this technique when the participants need to establish a shared context and learn about each others' perspectives on the situation. It makes clear what knowledge exists in the group already and whether assumptions are widely accepted. It literally maps the territory of inquiry and puts it into a wider historical perspective. However one potential snag with this technique is that its very openness can lead to it going on for a long time and involving so many topics that the group gets lost in the details. We tend to use this technique in conjunction with other [[observing and mapping]] techniques, especially with larger groups who don't know each other.
 ==== Process ====