Glossary M-P

M

Megatrends
In many cases trends cannot be integrated in decision processes reasonably due to their diversity. Therefore, so-called megatrends are observed, which are consolidations of several trends showing a development which is valid for years.

Metaplan Technique
The metaplan technique is a form of "brainwriting" which was developed by a company of the same name in the sixties. Participants write their ideas on cards, which are subsequently collected and placed on a bulletin board. An evaluation and analysis follows.

Metatrends
At the fundamantalistic level superior megatrends are observed. Franz Liebl names as examples the "trend towards visionary conservatism" or the "trend towards fragmentation".

Method 6-3-5
The Method 6-3-5 is a special form of "brainwriting". Each participant receives a paper with three columns and six lines. In the first round the participants writes down an idea in the top box of each column. Afterwards, the papers are passed on to the neighbour.The next participant picks up the idea and continues with it. Therefore, in short time more than 100 ideas develop. By now, there exist a large number of modifications of the 6-3-5 Method.

Methodology of Holistic Problem Solving
This approach developed in the second half of the eighties as "methodology of linked thinking". Hans Ulrich, Gilbert Probst and Peter Gomez described a methodology which was tailored to complex company problems. It was continuously developed further towards a method of holistic problem solving.

Mindmaps
Mindmaps are grafic illustrations of a complex issue. The core topic is displayed in the middle of the paper with main branches and sub branches resulting from it. Colours and pictures can be used additionally.

Mission
A mission describes the constant scope of the company which is to be ensured. This oftentimes includes value propositions for the relevant stakeholder groups. The mission emphasises how a company realises the formulated self-image to concrete business. Therefore, a mission often shows elements of the strategic position such as descriptions of the core business or traditional core markets.

Mission statement
Mission statement is the semantic description of a vision of the company. A vision is a future image which should be reached and expanded in the future. The form of the mission statement is largely dependent on the size of the company or the organisation. There are two types of mission statements: Company statements and mission statements.

Morphology / Morphologic Box
The morphologic analysis is a systematic form of idea finding. The core is a so-called morphological box, which is also called "Zwicky Box" after the swiss astrophysicist Fritz Zwicky.

P

Participative Strategy Planning (PSP)
Participative strategy planning is an approach with a clear focus on vision finding and at the same time with a very pragmatic process model.

Prediction
A prediction is assumed to occur with a high probability due to scientific experience. Hence, alternative future images are neglegible. Pure predictions are quantitative extrapolations of qualitative nature. Therefore, they are referred to as qualitative predictions.

Preferred Futuring
Preferred futuring is related to the the future conference but, in addition, includes a teambuilding level.

Projection
A projection is the most general form of future images. Since there are no probabilities of occurrence connected to the projections, even uncertain (and from a present point of view oftentimes doubtful) future situations are included.

Projections
Projections (also: trendprojections or futureprojections) describe alternative possibilities for development of an individual factor. Therefore, they are not called &squot;inflationrate" (=factor) but "price stability" (=projection). The identification of projections is part of the scenario process.