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Taiwa no FumenPractical methods for shared thinking

English edition: the full translation has not yet received an independent line-by-line review. Check the linked sources and method-specific limits before use. Japanese PDFs and videos remain labelled.

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Futures, risk and change

Turn a Change Path into a Small Experiment

Separate current, transitional, and future activities, then design experiments and measurement methods within your authority.

People
4–16
Session time
210 minutes
Format
In person

English session plan

Original program status: draft. Source safety category: Low; this is not a guarantee of safety.

Preparation: More preparation needed. Facilitation team: 3 organising roles.

What this session can decide

Propose small-scale improvement experiments. Refer organisational restructuring, changes to employment, and major investment to the responsible decision-maker.

Outside its scope

  • Do not treat a future vision as a confirmed plan.
  • Do not treat actions requiring additional authority as already started.
  • Do not declare success on the basis of a single indicator.

Primary caution: Do not treat a future vision as a confirmed plan.

Before starting

Question and scope
Separate current, transitional, and future activities, then design experiments and measurement methods within your authority. Before starting, state the subject and time period in one sentence.
What this session decides
Propose small-scale improvement experiments. Refer organisational restructuring, changes to employment, and major investment to the responsible decision-maker.
Recipient of the outputs
The Recorder stores the final one-page change-experiment plan, matching the expected change to the method for observing it.
Boundaries for participation and information
Let people choose to participate by speaking, writing, or passing. Keep personal information, confidential information, and assessments based on personal attributes off the record surfaces.
Organising team
Assign the Lead facilitator, Recorder, and Timekeeper before starting, and confirm who announces switches and stops.
Next check-in
Set a review date, viewers, and the person responsible for the next decision on the one-page change-experiment plan.

Who takes responsibility

Lead facilitator

Keep Turn a Change Path into a Small Experiment within its purpose and exclusions, and announce the start and end of each stage.

From before the start through the end

Recorder

Record the activity map across three time horizons, actions to start without additional approval, and the one-page change-experiment plan at each stage, then hand them to the recipient at the end.

From preparing record surfaces before the start through storage after the end

Timekeeper

Notify the Lead facilitator 3 minutes before each stage ends and when switching to breaks or buffer time.

At the start of every stage and 3 minutes before its end

Session flow

Minutes are measured from the session start. Method time, transition time, breaks and buffer are shown separately; they are not additional overlapping activities.

  1. 0–93 minutes

    Separate current, transitional, and future activities

    Method: Three Horizons · 0–90 minutes. Transition: 90–93 minutes (3 minutes).

    Place current core activities, transitional trials, and future activities on three time horizons. Use lines to show activities that conflict if pursued simultaneously and the preparations needed for transition.

    Responsible: Lead facilitator; Recorder; Timekeeper

    Output: Activity map across three time horizons

    Handoff: Pass transitional actions that can begin within your authority to the next stage as candidates for selection.

    This stage may be shortened only in accordance with the stated conditions.

  2. 93–116 minutes

    Choose actions within your own authority

    Method: 15% Solutions · 93–113 minutes. Transition: 113–116 minutes (3 minutes).

    Write actions that can begin without additional budget, additional authority, or another person's permission. The person responsible chooses one and sets a start date and whom to ask for help.

    Responsible: Lead facilitator; Recorder; Timekeeper

    Output: Actions to start without additional approval

    Handoff: Pass the chosen actions to experiment design.

    This stage is not marked as shortenable.

  3. 126–189 minutes

    Connect goals, experiments, and measurement

    Method: Goal Experiment Measure Loop · 126–186 minutes. Transition: 186–189 minutes (3 minutes).

    Write the expected change as an observable goal and turn the chosen action into an experiment. Specify the measurement method, period, owner, stop conditions, and next decision date.

    Responsible: Lead facilitator; Recorder; Timekeeper

    Output: One-page change-experiment plan

    Handoff: Pass the time-horizon map and experiment plan to the person responsible for implementation.

    This stage is not marked as shortenable.

What is retained and who receives it

Activity map across three time horizons

Owner: Recorder

Show the relationships between maintaining, scaling down, trying, and expanding activities.

Actions to start without additional approval

Owner: Recorder

Make a small start without bringing the transition to a halt.

One-page change-experiment plan

Owner: Recorder

Match the expected change to the method for observing it.

Materials and setup

Material names, quantities, groups and handling instructions retain the fixed draft's original helper-derived guidance. Where a format is marked “Source material specification”, the entire bound English source material entry takes precedence over the old helper-derived format guidance. This format-only correction does not resolve other instruction or safety concerns. English names are not substituted into a Japanese-keyed lookup.

Everyday tools

Writing tools

Quantity: 1 per person

Format: Dark broad-tip pens or whiteboard markers

Check that ink flows and place them within participants' reach. Avoid pale-coloured pens.

Writing tools

Quantity: 1 per person

Format: Dark broad-tip pens or whiteboard markers

Check that ink flows and place them within participants' reach. Avoid pale-coloured pens.

Broad-tip pens

Quantity: 1 per person

Format: Dark broad-tip pens or whiteboard markers

Check that ink flows and place them within participants' reach. Avoid pale-coloured pens.

Sheets to prepare by hand

Long sheet spanning three areas

Quantity: 1 per group

Format: Two A4 sheets placed side by side; join with masking tape if more space is needed

Create Current, Transition, and Future columns on one sheet. Write a heading for each column rather than relying on colour alone.

Element cards

Quantity: 5 per person

Format: Sticky notes about 75 × 75 mm, or A4 copy paper cut into 4 pieces

Write Element at the top, with a field for the Area symbol below it. Leave room for one entry per card.

Paper strips connecting two areas

Quantity: 3 per group

Format: Masking tape or A4 copy paper cut into long, narrow strips

Use a paper strip or masking tape long enough to span two areas. Write the starting point and destination on the strip, such as Current → Transition, and place it with the sticky note for the bridging trial. Make it long enough to span two areas.

15% action cards

Quantity: 2 per person

Format: Source material specification: Two A6 action cards per person for a 15% solution

Source-bound format display correction; the other fixed helper-derived guidance is unchanged.

Do not buy special cards; write 15% action at the top of paper pieces. If participants fill them in, put one entry on each card and handwrite the necessary headings before starting.

Surface for sharing the small action each person chose

Quantity: 1 surface

Format: Large paper or a whiteboard

Divide the work surface into 3 columns: Action I will try, Date to try it, and Person to reflect with later. Write a heading for each column rather than relying on colour alone.

Sticky notes for the date to try a small action

Quantity: 1 per person

Format: Sticky notes about 75 × 75 mm, or A4 copy paper cut into 4 pieces

Write the action the person chose, the date to try it, and the person to reflect with later. Provide one per person so they can take it away.

Homemade 3-column goal, experiment, and measurement sheet

Quantity: 1 per group

Format: Two A4 sheets placed side by side; join with masking tape if more space is needed

Create Goal, Experiment, and Measurement columns on one sheet. Write a heading for each column rather than relying on colour alone.

Table for comparing experiment priorities

Quantity: 1 per proposed experiment

Format: A4 copy paper

Divide the work surface into 3 columns: Expected impact, Effort required, and Confidence in the result. Write a heading for each column rather than relying on colour alone.

Measurement sheet for baseline, collection method, purpose, storage, and deletion

Quantity: 1 per proposed experiment

Format: A4 copy paper

Create Baseline, Collection method, Purpose of use, Storage, and Deletion fields on one sheet. Write a heading for each field rather than relying on colour alone.

Learning sheet for stop conditions, responsible person, and short-cycle update date

Quantity: 1 per proposed experiment

Format: A4 copy paper

Create Stop conditions, Responsible person, and Short-cycle update date fields on one sheet. Write a heading for each field rather than relying on colour alone.

Information to gather before the session

Information sheet for checking participation and handling of records

Quantity: 1 copy per affected person

Format: A4 copy paper or a viewing file with the same content

Use language a first-time reader can understand to explain What participation involves, Consent is voluntary, How to withdraw consent, and Whether existing records will be retained or deleted after withdrawal. Add the creation date, the person who checked it, and a contact for questions. If distributing it, also prepare a large-print version or viewing file with the same content.

Setup for each method

Three Horizons

  1. One island table per group of 3–6, with sizes differing by no more than 1 person
  2. One floor or tabletop surface per group showing present, transition, and future from left to right
  3. One whole-group bridging area

15% Solutions

  1. Chairs arranged so 2–4 people can face one another
  2. A space on a table or on each person's lap where only they can read their action card
  3. Explain at the outset that advice is given only when requested

Goal Experiment Measure Loop

  1. Set goals as desired states participants can influence and display that numerical achievement will not be used for penalties, guarantees, or personnel evaluation
  2. Before each experiment, identify affected perspectives, an implementation lead, specialists to consult, stopping conditions, and how to reverse it
  3. As a rule, collect no personal data for measurement. Use existing values or non-identifying aggregates and set purpose, collector, storage period, deletion date, and update date
  4. Explain the experiment and measurement plainly to affected people and first show consent, how to withdraw, and choices after withdrawal to delete, anonymise, or stop use of existing records

When to switch or stop

Fallbacks

There are more than 30 activity cards.

Bundle activities aiming for the same outcome and keep each time horizon to 10 entries or fewer.

Method guide: Three Horizons

Stop conditions

An experiment affects employment conditions, rights, safety, or personal information.
Stop before starting and refer it for formal review and consent.
Implementation is announced without an owner, deadline, or measurement method.
Return to the experiment plan and define all 3 items.

Sources, rights and limits

This site has composed this programme's purpose, connections between methods, facilitation, roles, outputs, and switching conditions. See each method's individual page for its sources and licence.

Original source records and their required notices are retained below. Their presence does not mean a new legal or cultural-safety clearance. Original citation titles are kept in their source language.

Sources and required notices for the 3 methods used

Three Horizons

  • Source: Government Office for Science: Three Horizons | https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/futures-toolkit-for-policy-makers-and-analysts/the-futures-toolkit-html | Adaptation under OGL 3.0; changes made
  • Source: OGL 3.0 | https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
  • Attribution: Government Office for Science | Original-source author and contributor credit
  • Attribution: Taiwa no Fumen Editorial Team | Japanese adaptation and this site's own diagrams
  • Changes and adaptation: Adapted as a Japanese facilitation score; changes made
  • Cultural caution: open-method screening complete: No closed, ritual, or sacred cultural practice is used as a source; declining participation, sensitive information, and power differences are addressed in each method's limits and branches.
  • Limits of this record: The covered Crown copyright 2024 text was adapted with changes as a Japanese facilitation score under OGL v3.0. Third-party material, original diagrams, and logos were excluded.

Current-page credit and licence companion for this method

15% Solutions

  • Source: Liberating Structures Fieldbook (2026) — Henri Lipmanowicz; Keith McCandless; Nancy White | https://www.liberatingstructures.com/15-percent-solutions | Adaptation under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes made
  • Source: Creative Commons License — Liberating Structures | https://www.liberatingstructures.com/cc-license | CC-BY-SA-4.0 notice
  • Source: CC BY-SA 4.0 | https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ | Licence text
  • Attribution: Henri Lipmanowicz and Keith McCandless; Keith McCandless and Nancy White | Original-source author and contributor credit
  • Attribution: Taiwa no Fumen Editorial Team | Japanese adaptation and this site's own diagrams
  • Changes and adaptation: Adapted as a Japanese facilitation score; changes made
  • ShareAlike: Provided under CC-BY-SA-4.0
  • Cultural caution: open-method screening complete: No closed, ritual, or sacred cultural practice is used as a source; declining participation, sensitive information, and power differences are addressed in each method's limits and branches.
  • Limits of this record: Adapted with changes as a Japanese facilitation score under CC BY-SA 4.0 and provided under the same licence. Only the current page is covered; material from June 2026 or earlier, official icons, and third-party material were excluded.

Current-page credit and licence companion for this method

Goal Experiment Measure Loop

  • Source: Open Practice Library: How to do GEMs | https://openpracticelibrary.com/practice/gems/ | Adaptation under CC-BY-4.0; changes made
  • Source: CC-BY-4.0 terms | https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ | CC-BY-4.0
  • Attribution: Taiwa no Fumen Editorial Team | This site's text and diagrams
  • Cultural caution: This manifest contains no structured cultural-safety assessment. A person checks context, the option to decline participation, and power differences.
  • Limits of this record: Only the notices displayed in the public YAML were transcribed. No claim is made that individual rights do not exist.

Current-page credit and licence companion for this method

Historical fixed-draft notes

The original fixed draft notes are retained without deletion as historical records of those fixed source versions. Current material format corrections are separately identified above; these notes do not imply that other concerns have been resolved.

  • The 15% Solutions action-card sourceRaw specifies A6, while the display preparation format permits approximately 75 × 75 mm sticky notes or quartered A4 paper. Both source descriptions are retained without selecting a replacement size.

Japanese resources and historical source records

Original Japanese plan and its print view · Japanese operation pack or starter materials

An English print edition is not provided here. The linked plans, print views and operation materials are Japanese resources.

Historical recorded publication holds

The following original hold statements are retained verbatim with their fixed source versions. They are not a statement of current acceptance, nor does this historical label resolve a source-specific restriction.

  • English translation and rendered-page independent acceptance pending
  • Method dependency source/text SHA binding and current source-specific rights verification pending
  • Publication not cleared
Historical fixed-source and English-draft provenance

Japanese program SHA-256: 54328413ef5ed1013694fe048e57f59c56e78b462c899eacd6c9b6dc3daa093b

Fixed source context SHA-256: faa7007bacc0e015de7ae66a52b39bf5ae54476dfa74871067ce948ee21d0380

English draft SHA-256: 6a6c2d238dd8f850c1fa08b5e566d8b1093567afb0cd35801354e16f0159ce94

  • fifteen-percent-solutions: source 9fc0898f6f2fe2ccd2c7b07b6c14ffdaf94f3cea0e9687c47abcd66de5099530; English draft 6fb4e7aab6fbc1a483523be1ec075d9cd40fdc907d0a766fc2f641c51de4c660
  • opl-goal-experiment-measure-loop: source fe257cfadd32f02277e486ba8acff192334e4e3309764403eb8c35b14bbda9d3; English draft 423f81ccb6fff2f9a3bffc17785a681e8e7d5f75f4c1d15e29cb9524e254b7ca
  • three-horizons: source 30e1b3eb48c5e6fb34b89306bc60088b0c5ff731218a7595a81e6f551e8cfe68; English draft 0edcb9600b17ae94ecbd46f7d12e53d78ddae5e8e17d5fbdf3131bebf07dc3ae

These hashes identify the checked inputs; they do not grant independent acceptance or publication clearance.