FUTOUR is an innovation company that uses participatory design methods to assist public and private organizations to create, innovate, grow, strengthen capabilities, generate new opportunities, and shape the future in an effective and sustainable way.
Mission and Purpose
The purpose of FUTOUR is to empower people and organisations to shape their future and be the drivers of the change they want to achieve. Its global pursuit is that of generating happy, fulfilled, resilient, people and organisations through the power of facilitation
FUTOUR is a hub for private and public organizations that applies co-creative and constructivist principles to its way of working, facilitating activities and services such as:
- Projects, co-creative products
- Increased awareness of innovation and innovative thinking
- Interactive policy making, strategic development and vision
- Facilitated meetings and action research projects
- Urban regeneration
- Sustainability and Local Agenda 21
- Structural and strategic plans
- Knowledge management
- Diversity facilitation: social, cultural, integration
- Territorial marketing
- Training
- Conflict resolution
- Communication and information
- Policies for young people
- Living labs [1]
Origins and Development
FUTOUR was created as the culmination of research on Future Centers, innovation labs, creativity centers and over 25 years of practical experience in facilitating transformations and change through participatory processes, methods and techniques. FUTOUR was designed as a nomadic, mobile Future Center bringing facilitation, participatory techniques wherever they were needed. This led the team to work in 5 continents and over 30 countries for institutions, companies and communities.
FUTOUR's team are members of the International Association of Facilitators (IAF) and abide to its ethical code and core principles of facilitators. In their team, they have an IAF Certified Professional Facilitator (IAF CPF), Lego Serious Play Facilitators and have been awarded with the Facilitation Impact Award by the IAF.
Organizational Structure, Membership, and Funding
FUTOUR is a private organisation with a versatile team of experts and facilitators. They fund their activities by participating in projects, tenders and calls and by offering training and consultancy services related to change, innovation, futurisation, strategy and policy making. They also often support causes with pro-bono facilitation.
Specializations, Methods and Tools
- MODI Digital Mosaic
- Open Space Technology
- EASW European Awareness Scenario Workshop
- GOPP Goal-Oriented Project Planning
- PCM Project Cycle Management and Vision Plan
- Knowledge Safari
- Knowledge Cafe
- Connective Intelligence Workshop
- Fast Prototyping
- Kalt und Warm
- Reporters from the Future
- Team Building
- Techniques for creativity (e.g. Philipps 66, Six Thinking Hats, Wishful Thinking)
- Project House (Country House FC)
- Change and improvement workshop
- Town Meeting
- Focus group
- Deliberative polling
- Appreciative Inquiry
- Brainstorming
- Key concept exercise
- Action planning
- Active listening
- Neighborhood walk
- CPS Creative Problem Solving
- Consensus conference
- Future Search
- ToP Technology of Participation
- Research and improvement study circles
Major Projects and Events
Futour has consulted and curated projects for companies, public bodies, universities, and research centers all over the world. They have worked with over 300,000 stakeholders globally and have performed more than 1000 participatory events.
Analysis and Lessons Learned
Participatory processes and the power of facilitation are thought to be extremely important tools to support change. At the same time, their power means that there is a huge responsibility in honouring and respecting the people involved in the processes in terms of accountability, competence, follow-up and impact of the processes.
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Publications
FUTOUR's latest publication is the Innovation Camp Handbook. It was written with the EU Joint Research Centre to promote social innovation
See Also
References
[1] Futour Sas. https://futour.it/futour/servizi-e-attivita/ (rel. 9/8/20)
External Links
Pictures of change, co-creation and innovation in progress