Does the facilitator of a scenario development activity need substantive knowledge of the focal topic?

Abstract

This short paper focuses on the facilitation of scenario development activity using the intuitive logics method. Counter-intuitively, substantive knowledge of the focal scenario topic is not crucial. More important is the facilitator's active, intelligent involvement with participants over the whole of the scenario development process. In scenario development within a single organization, it is useful to have an assistant from the host organization who has both substantive knowledge of the focal topic and an interest in learning about scenario thinking. Within multi-agency interventions, important issues for the facilitator to resolve are the potentially conflicted goals of participants and the extent of the involvement of senior-level decision makers.