Futures studies
Concepts
Accelerating change Cashless society Global catastrophic risk Future Earth Mathematics Race Climate Space exploration Universe Historical materialism Kondratiev wave Kardashev scale Moore's law Peak oil Population cycle Resource depletion Singularity Swanson's law
Techniques
Backcasting Causal layered analysis Chain-linked model Consensus forecast Cross impact analysis Delphi Real-time Delphi Foresight Future-proof Futures wheel Future workshop Horizon scanning Reference class forecasting Scenario planning Systems analysis Threatcasting Trend analysis
Technology assessment and forecasting
Critical design Design fiction Exploratory engineering FTA Hype cycle Science fiction prototyping Speculative design TRL Technology scouting
Related topics
Futarchy Transhumanism

The futures wheel is a method for graphical visualisation of direct and indirect future consequences of a particular change or development. It was invented by Jerome C. Glenn in 1971, when he was a student at the Antioch Graduate School of Education (now Antioch University New England).

The Futures Wheel is a way of organizing thinking and questioning about the future – a kind of structured brainstorming. (Jerome C. Glenn (1994) The Futures Wheel)

To start a futures wheel the central term describing the change to evaluate is positioned in the center of the page (or drawing area). Then, events or consequences following directly from that development are positioned around it. Next, the (indirect) consequences of the direct consequences are positioned around the first level consequences. The terms may be connected as nodes in a tree (or even a web). The levels will often be marked by concentric circles.

The futures wheel is usually used to organize thoughts about a future development or trend. With it, possible impacts can be collected and put down in a structured way. The use of interconnecting lines makes it possible to visualize interrelationships of the causes and resulting changes. Thus, futures wheels can assist in developing multi-concepts about possible future development by offering a futures-conscious perspective and aiding in the group brainstorming.

• Mind map

• Glenn, Jerome C. Futurizing Teaching vs Futures Course, Social Science Record, Syracuse University, Volume IX, No. 3 Spring 1972.
• Snyder, David Pearce. Monograph: The Futures Wheel: A Strategic Thinking Exercise, The Snyder Family Enterprise, Bethesda, Maryland 1993.
• Glenn, Jerome C. Futures Wheel, Futures Research Methodology Version 3.0, The Millennium Project, Washington, D.C. 2009.

• Learning, Teaching, and Assessment Guide Glossary at Tasmania's Department of Education's homepage.
• Downloadable template of a Futures wheel at the Australian Global Education website.
• Futures Wheel, Futures Research Methodology Version 3.0, The Millennium Project, Washington, DC 2009 [1] Archived 2015-01-04 at the Wayback Machine