Like Stones in The River: Understanding The Nature of Boundary Objects in Participatory Futures Workshops

Abstract

The ability to imagine futures collectively is important in coping with evolving and uncertain environments. However, how knowledge is exchanged and produced in such participatory approaches toward futures thinking is not thoroughly understood. Therefore, this in-depth case study of futures workshops assesses the nature of knowledge and the role of boundary objects. The results shed light on how different media, which embed multiple types of knowledge, stimulate participants' imaginations. A carefully chosen sequence of knowledge-generating activities provokes this effect. These insights add to the practical and academic knowledge in the field of futures studies.