Towards the Future: Visual Roadmaps

The method developed by the Institute for Innovation and Technology (iit) is particularly suitable for predicting and identifying milestones on the path from the “now” to the future.

What is the method used for and for whom is it suitable?

Visual Roadmapping is a structured tool for developing and presenting future paths, strategies and measures in chronological order. The method identifies critical milestones and makes it possible to visualize connections between socio-economic framework conditions, technological developments, applications and business models. In combination with the backcasting method, target states can be defined and the necessary steps planned backwards in order to achieve them. Visual roadmapping methods are aimed at political actors, companies and organizations that want to plan and implement strategic measures to achieve long-term goals. They are suitable for developing policy strategies, industry scenarios or corporate goals at macro, meso and micro level.

How exactly does the method work?

The Visual Roadmap makes it possible to recognize trends at a glance and identify those steps that are of particular importance for the development of the topic or sub-topics under consideration.

• Anticipation of framework conditions: Analysis of social, political and economic developments.
• Technological development: Estimating when relevant technologies will be ready for the market.
• Products and services: Identification of possible future applications and innovations.
• Business models and impact: Evaluation of new business models and their influence on the economy and society.

Backcasting

• Defining the future vision: defining a desired target state.
• Backward planning: Identification of milestones and necessary steps on the way back to the present.
• Analyzing the present: Assessing the current state and available resources.
• Options for action: Development and prioritization of concrete measures.
• Implementation: Selection and implementation of strategies.

The Visual Roadmap method is carried out as a workshop with a total duration of approx. two hours and a group of at least one to a maximum of ten people. The process is moderated by at least two people who lead the workshop and successively document the ideas of the discussants. The results Four aspects are categorized in a visual roadmap, the progression of which is observed over time:

• Socio-economic influencing factors (legal, economic, social framework conditions, phenomena and prerequisites)
• Enabling technologies (scientific and technical prerequisites for the topic in question)
• Development of the topic under consideration (key aspects and milestones that are important in the development of the topic)
• Effects (economic and social effects, but also new product and service offerings, etc.)

The benefits of the visual roadmap method at a glance are as follows:

• Visualization of complex processes
• Concretization of statements and definition of events, dimensions and relationships
• Reduction of complex connections and dependencies to central aspects
• Trend statements / identification of necessary milestones
• Interdisciplinarity through the involvement of different expert groups

Reference

The methods have been used for political strategies, industry development and corporate planning, for example in innovation projects for the energy transition or to develop new business models in the technology sector.

Contact

Dr. Sonja Kind und Dr. Robert Peters