GBA’s Emerging Issues and Trends Committee, joined by GBA’s leadership, industry experts, and strategic-planning facilitators, comprised the “Crystal Ball Workshop” held in July 2011 to identify and assess important issues and trends. This ASFE Practice Alert focuses on two trends workshop participants believed to be uncertain – the economy and infrastructure funding – and techniques for planning effectively despite uncertainty. The key technique – scenario planning – is addressed in detail, so GBA members can apply it on their own. When workshop participants did, they put together 30 strategies, characterized as “No Brainers” (those that make sense for all scenarios), “No Regrets” (strategies that work best for one scenario but won’t be harmful if another scenario plays out), and “Contingent Possibilities (strategies that make most sense for one scenario, but could be harmful if others materialize.)

Crystal Ball Workshop, Emerging Issues and Trends, focal questions, infrastructure investment, scenario planning, uncertainty planning