What If

Choose this exercise

Purpose: Surface non-obvious risks and practical opportunities by applying hypothetical constraints or shifts to an existing challenge.

Use it when: Use during planning or strategy sessions when a team is stuck in conventional thinking or needs to stress-test an initiative.

Skip it when: Skip when the team requires immediate tactical execution on fixed tasks with zero room for exploration.

Group arrangement: Small groups of 4 to 6 participants (a group of 3 or 7 is acceptable when numbers do not divide evenly)

Timing: Participatory Methods suggests 30 to 60 minutes; set to 35 minutes for a structured sprint.

Materials and tools

• One set of What If scenario cards per group (cards 1 to 6 from participant materials)
• One pad of sticky notes per group
• One marker per participant
• One flip chart sheet or whiteboard space per group

Before participants arrive

1. Select or print one copy of the scenario card set for each small group.
2. Place flip chart paper, sticky note pads, and markers at each small group table.
3. Write the central project or challenge clearly on a visible main board.

Say this to open

We usually approach problems within our everyday boundaries. Today we will use 'What If' scenarios to test our assumptions. Each group will take a hypothetical prompt, treat it as immediate reality, and map out what we would actually do, what risks emerge, and what unexpected opportunities appear. Choose one person at your table to take notes.

How to run it

1. Introduce challenge and prompts 5 minutes

   State the central challenge. Read the opening script and prompt each group to name a note-taker. Distribute the prompt card sets face down. Instruct groups to turn over card 1, spend 2 minutes silently writing initial reactions on sticky notes without speaking, and then open table conversation.

2. Small group exploration 15 minutes

   Groups discuss their prompt and post notes on their flip chart. For example, if the card reads 'What if our budget were cut in half?', members map workarounds and immediate operational risks. If a group finishes early, invite them to write their own custom scenario on the blank card provided.

3. Group synthesis and selection 5 minutes

   Ask each table to sort their notes into two columns: Risks and Practical Opportunities. Have each team select and star the single most useful insight or workaround to share with the wider room.

4. Whole-room shareout 6 minutes

   Call on one spokesperson from each small group to read their prompt and explain their single starred insight in under 60 seconds. Limit room sharing to one speaker per table so all groups report within the allotted time.

5. Debrief and transition 4 minutes

   Facilitate a brief whole-room reflection using the debrief questions. Collect flip chart sheets for documentation and move to next agenda items.

Debrief questions

• Which hypothetical scenario revealed the most surprising workaround?
• What ideas surfaced that we could test right now, even if that extreme condition never happens?

Finished output: Flip chart sheets with categorized risk and opportunity sticky notes, highlighting at least one starred action or insight per group.

Remote

Set up breakout rooms of 4 to 6 people. Provide a digital board (such as Miro or Padlet) with pre-loaded prompt cards for each room. Participants spend 2 minutes silently posting sticky notes, discuss for 13 minutes, cluster into Risks and Opportunities, and star one item. Reconvene for 60-second table shareouts.

Hybrid

Keep in-person attendees in table groups using physical cards and flip charts. Place remote attendees together in online breakout rooms using a shared digital board. Keep prompt text and clocks synchronized across both settings. Alternate between an in-person table spokesperson and a remote group spokesperson during the shareout.

Access and participation choices

• Display prompt text on a shared screen and offer printed large-text cards at tables.
• Participants may contribute by writing notes, speaking in discussion, or clustering notes silently.
• Any participant may pass on reading cards aloud or acting as group spokesperson without explanation.

If the session gets stuck

Groups reject the hypothetical premise as unrealistic.

Remind them the exercise tests priorities, not probability. Ask: 'If this happened tomorrow with zero appeal, what is the very first thing you would protect?'

One participant dominates the small group conversation.

Enforce the 2 minutes of silent note writing before table talk begins, ensuring all members post their ideas first.

Terms used here

• Speculative Prompt: A hypothetical 'What if' question that temporarily removes or adds a major constraint to reveal new thinking.