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Stretch-thinking loops: a new technique for scenario planning
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-20, 18:37 authored by Benjamin BrooksBenjamin Brooks, Steven CurninSteven CurninIn crisis management, scenario planning is a necessity in our volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous world. Strategic planners need to be able to imagine future environments even in the most uncertain conditions. The scale of potential scenarios and associated management suggests that those involved will require innovative planning techniques. To support innovation in strategic planning, we have combined the research on creativity, divergent thinking, and creative constraints to design a method called “Stretch‐Thinking Loops.” This technique uses iterative thinking approaches that identify broad scenarios, the likely consequences, and the potential constraints, and then uses this information to identify new opportunities and innovations to support scenario planning. We report on the development of this technique in the context of crisis management and its application in a collaborative project with an Australian State Government that explored a series of post‐COVID‐19 recovery scenarios for a 12‐month time horizon. The proposed Stretch‐Thinking Loops are not just limited to crisis management but offer all organizations a structured method to enhance their capability to engage in divergent‐thinking for future scenario planning.
History
Publication title
Risks, Hazards & Crisis in Public PolicyVolume
12Pagination
110-124ISSN
1944-4079Department/School
Australian Maritime CollegePublisher
Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.Place of publication
United KingdomRights statement
Copyright 2020 Policy Studies OrganizationRepository Status
- Restricted