IMPLICATIONS WHEEL®

a Decision Enhancing Tool

What if…
...you could dramatically reduce uncertainty about impending change, both risks and opportunities?

...you could engage a diverse group of stakeholders in a structured, team format where “every voice is heard”?

...you could see potential implications, both positive and negative, well in advance of their occurrences and see them in a connected, consequential way?

...you had a process that:

  • –Creates structured discussions,
  • –Allows wide-ranging exploration yet connects all the elements,
  • –Is easy to learn?

A Million Dollar Mistake...

Nobody wants to lose that much money. And yet, we often allow for "unintended consequences" when we plan our decisions or actions.

This page will explain how the Implications Wheel® can help you minimize the risk of a costly mistake.

Interested in organizing an iWheel® project? Sign up here to get in touch. (NO spam, ever - just some emails with interesting info.)

Question #1: What Is the Implications Wheel?
 

It is a decision-enhancing tool that helps us explore the potential consequences of any decision, event or trend.
 

Please watch the video and find out:

  • Where the idea of the "Wheel" comes from.
  • The steps of the exploration process.
  • What can be studied with the Implications Wheel?

Question #2: How is this Different?
 

This video explains the differences between the Implications Wheel and some other well-known tools.

We get this question very often: "How does the iWheel differ from other strategic planning tools like Brainstorming / SWOT analysis / Mind Mapping?

We get that; these tools may look very similar at a first glance. On the other hand, if you take a closer look at what they can do for you, you will see how the Implications Wheel is a truly unique method to "predict" the future - there is simply no comparison!

 

Here's what we compare to:

  • Brainstorming
  • SWOT
  • Mind-mapping

Question #3: How Does the Implications Wheel® Support Diversity?

“Groups could make intelligent decisions quickly, and could do better than their smartest members.”“Groups could make intelligent decisions quickly, and could do better than their smartest members.” (James Surowiecki)

There are four characteristics needed to create a large group intelligence:

  1. “Diversity of opinion.” Everyone should know some private information, even if it’s just an eccentric interpretation of known facts.”
  2. Independence of position.  Everyone must have the right of independence of their position.  No one can influence them to go along with another position they do not believe in.
  3. “Decentralization.” Each person has some local knowledge and specialized knowledge they can bring to bear on the issue.
  4. There has to be a device to collect the observations and then compile that information into some final product.

The Implications Wheel™ has all four of those characteristics.

Question #4: Why is it when we are asked to deal with something new:  a new idea, a new policy, a new product, a new process - that we have a strong natural tendency to resist?

Classic responses include:

  • Fear of failure
  • Not Invented Here
  • Too many costs
  • What we're doing now is just fine
  • Fear of the unknown
  • etc.

 

All of these answers are legitimate, and yet, if we want to be good anticipators, we want to make our changes before they are needed. 

Question #5: When were you taught how to anticipate the future?

  • In grade school?
  • In high school?
  • In college?
  • Never?

For far too many people, the answer is “never.” All by ourselves, we have picked up techniques and we have developed “intuitions,” about how to think about the future.

One last thought:

There is no such thing as "the law of unintended consequences".

Another Way Consulting - 2024