Hot Air Balloon
Time Frame
30-60 min
Group size
2-10
Facilitation lvl
beginner
Comfort zone
medium
The hot air balloon is a metaphorical method that aims to identify strengths, weaknesses, external forces, stakeholders and goals all in a simple and well-structured process. The charm is that you’re not relying on another dull matrix but actually going through an imaginary journey that engages us to think outside of our typical thought patterns. Just gather all participants and collect their input step-by-step in the process.
Materials
Step 1
Wind
These are all the external forces that can have an impact on the course of our hot air balloon no matter if they’re threats or opportunities. These typically encompass legislative, social or technological changes that we don’t have any control over.
Step 2
Sandbags
The sandbags are all the internal challenges we are facing and the weaknesses that are literally dragging us down.
Step 3
Hot Air
The hot air on the other side are all the strengths we have in our organization, our product and anything that we have control over to give us a competitive advantage.
Step 4
Passengers
These are all the internal stakeholders that have an influence on the direction of our hot air balloon and in this sense our project.
Step 5
Observers
Observers are all the target audiences and users of our product or service that we are aiming to serve as well as external stakeholders that have an interest in our journey.
Step 6
Paradise Island
This is the dream destination and goal that we are working towards in a 5 to 10 year timeframe. How does the future look like in our imagination?
Step 7
Steps to take
These is the direction of our hot air balloon, the steps we need to take towards paradise island. Everything that we’re aware of today which we can do to reach and find our destination.
