==== Scenario Building at M-ITI ==== A scenario building workshop with nine researchers from [[http://www.m-iti.org/|Madeira Interactive Technologies Institute]], 20140116-17. ==== Why should a research institute exist? ==== In this two-day workshop the participants asked themselves what are possible futures for an academic institution such as M-ITI and what might be their "raison d'être" in the years to come. At present, research institutions are stretched between fierce competition, bureaucratic inertia, job (in)security and a strong desire to create a culture of sharing and innovation - a culture from which transformative experiences can emerge, enabling people to live the best possible lives in harmony with their environments. What is M-ITI like in this context, how will European Research Area (ERA) develop and what impact will its future have on M-ITI? What is the profile of the person who could become the interface between M-ITI and ERA? How would this person work in the existing M-ITI context and team? [[http://www.m-iti.org/|M-ITI website]]\\ [[http://erachair.m-iti.org|EraChair website]] The core question for the participants of the workshop was **"Why should M-ITI exist?"** {{:future_fabulators:duration-at-miti.jpg?direct|}} //Sociometric spread: How long have you been working at M-ITI? Left (longest) -> right (Shortest)// ==== Key Factors ==== * Availability of resources (financial, infrastructure...) * Attractive environment for top people committed to M-ITI culture * Clarity of research scope * Close & fertile relationships with wider networks (partners, university, publishing in top conferences) * Public outreach (communication, relevance, perception...) ==== Macro Trends ==== A selection from identified macro trends related to the scoping question "why should research institutes exist?": * Globalisation & international collaboration (diversity / inequality) * Sustainability and challenging degradation of environment, pollution and energy security * Innovation outside of academia, citizen science * Behavioural change towards more sustainable lifestyles, through technology * Growing communities of practice around emerging technologies (maker cultures, DIY-tech dev...) * Social isolation (including aging) * Political inertia and the rise of e-democracy * Permanent economic crisis * Innovation in Sensing technologies Social & political macro trends ==== Critical Uncertainties ==== The participants found the following trends and factors extremely important for the core question: * Commitment to M-ITI Culture * Relationships with wider networks * Globalisation (both positive and negative aspects, such as diversity and inequality) * Publishing in top HCI conferences * Providing an attractive environment for top people * Innovation outside of academia * Emerging communities of practice around technology * Sustainability and behavioural change ===== Scenarios ==== Two scenario axes (critical uncertainties): * Is the research institute an attractive environment for top researchers? * How committed are these researchers to (developing) the organisational culture of the institute? When plotted as the two scenario axes, the following possible futures were revealed: * [[particle accelerator]] * [[further]] * [[zombie swamp]] * [[beer club]] 4scenarios //NOTE: The workshop focused specifically on M-ITI, but the scenarios have been written as possible futures for research institutes in general.// ==== Debrief ==== As part of this workshop we planned a formal debrief at the M-ITI all hands meeting five days after the workshop. The meeting began with the [[https://www.dropbox.com/s/ofwi3b8frufho6w/summary%20miti%20erachair%20workshop%20-%20x3.pdf|summary of the workshop]] and continued with a discussion about the next steps (creating a cafe, a twitter stream, physical exercises, research seminars, a retreat at the end of the semester, sharing the process with ERAChair candidates, etc.) At FoAM we had a more informal [[Erachair debrief]] about the [[https://www.dropbox.com/s/mu2yqlzy0lxjulh/EraChair-flow-notes.pdf|process]] {{:future_fabulators:who_do_you_know.jpg?direct|}} //Sociometric exercise: touch the person with whom you work most closely// ---- Back to [[scenarios]]