FLL Phase	What is important when structuring the phase?	Aim	Potential methods/⁠tools	Possible questions/⁠assignments1
Phase 1: Reveal	Make diverse images of the future visible Consensus is not necessary No right or wrong—nobody knows the future Use words that appeal to predictive thinking (e.g., “what do you expect / what would you bet your money on?”) Stimulate participants’ wishful and imaginative thinking through meditation/mind journeys	Exploring probable and desirable futures Connecting to participants and topic Activating imagination and seeing barriers Visualizing futures and their different anticipatory assumptions	Visualizing futures with drawings/pictures Journey of the mind Trend and risk reports; megatrend maps Systems mapping (Iceberg model, causal loops, connected circles) Stakeholder mapping Futures wheel	Probable Futures (40 mins) Individual writing: Record on text cards what you expect to happen in 2035 regarding management in organizations. Formulate in the present tense. Joint discussion: Share the elements in the group one by one. Sort, deepen, and add to them. Selection: Agree on five cards that should be taken to the common “harvest” for a probable future of management in organizations. Choose a presenter who explains your shared probable future. Present in the plenary: Share your results with the other groups. Desirable Futures (30 mins) [Educator shares mind journey / meditation, 15 mins] Share and create a collage/mashup: Tell each other about the images you have seen on the journey to your desirable futures. Using drawings / pictures, emojis, or bullet points, create a collage that depicts your group´s desirable futures on text cards. Present in the plenary: Share your results with the other groups.
Phase 2: Reframe	Different from futures shared in Phase 1 Avoid usage of dystopias as emotional triggers Balance between demanding too much vs. too little	Experimenting with challenging, new, and thought-provoking futures Strengthening imagination Breaking out of old and familiar thinking Broadening horizon Practicing dealing with the unfamiliar Creativity catalyst Enabling the emergence of new assumptions	Improvisation methods LEGO® Serious Play® Gamification (Thing from the Future, Sarkar Game, Future Game 2050) Roleplay Scenario methods Causal Layered Analysis Walt Disney Method Science fiction stories	Alternative Futures (50–90 mins) New assumption: In 2040, people have a great perceptiveness toward themselves, the environment, and the global economy. The absence of money and competitiveness characterize the economy itself. “In 2040, Toni wakes up in the morning and starts a new working day. After a fresh coffee, he / she checks the agenda for the current day ...” Improvise a story of this alternative future by considering the new setting/assumption above. Together in group, you will improvise a story about Toni’s working day in this alternative future of management in organizations in 2035. In each group, one person will start with the suggested sentence, then the next person will continue with a sentence or a few words. Go in turns and build the story together. Be spontaneous and quick. Tell the first thing that comes to mind. Do not write anything down. Have fun! What does management look like in this alternative future? Record your group ideas on text cards / post-its. Formulate bullet points or sentences and draw pictures. Please do not discuss whether this future is likely or desirable, but fill it with details. There is no right or wrong! Present in the plenary: Share your results with the other groups.
Phase 3: Rethink	Facilitators should ensure a slow transition Bring all collective input from Phases 1–2 back into room (e.g., via pinboards)	Comparing futures and finding new, emerging questions use this openness to see new things	Reflective journaling Open discussions	Powerful new questions (50–90 mins) Take two text cards, walk through our collection of futures, and write your questions down. Please indicate your name in the lower right corner. - What questions come up? What is still open? - What do you find exciting? - What would you most like to deal with right now? Share your questions in plenary—no explanation necessary. - Are there connections between questions? Assign your own question to similar ones on the pinboard.
Phase 4: Act	Participants choose or prioritize after creativity, openness, and diversity in Phase 2 Discuss implementation challenges of new ideas (e.g., hierarchies, silos)	Realizing and implementing futures by producing tangible and presentable results: "What came out? / What was the result?"	Backcasting / Roadmapping Mind-mapping and clustering of ideas Task lists and working groups Networking Research questions Scenario technique Future personas Prototyping	Ideas for action (50–90 mins) Working with powerful questions: Choose individually a cluster of questions. - What is this cluster about? - What connects the individual questions? - Do new ideas for action emerge? Use respective tools (e.g., backcasting, prototyping) to realize your vision.