Stories that Drive the Future: How Narratives Can Improve Scenario Planning

Narratives aren’t just illustrative—they sharpen scenario planning. This research highlights how weaving compelling stories into foresight and strategic planning challenges assumptions, reshapes leaders’ mental models, and brings potential futures to life. By anchoring scenarios in richly detailed narratives, organizations—from governments to small enterprises—can test strategies, uncover early warning signals, and prepare more robust responses. In practice, this approach turns abstract trends into actionable insight, helping decision-makers align strategy with plausible futures.