Shell NXplorers Pro Learner HandOut 2022
Shell NXplorers Pro Learner HandOut 2022
PE R S PE C T I V E
with Shell NXplorers Pro
CONNECTIONS
When we look at the big picture
we can uncover the many different
ways apparently disconnected
things are connected.
NXTHINKING
Underpinning all aspects of NXthinking is the promotion of both analytical and creative thinking. It does
this by encouraging us to dig beneath the surface of problems to better appreciate some of the interrelated
factors that cause them.
It also encourages us to think about futures; probable, possible and preferred futures, and to think about
what we might do differently to bring about positive change. NXthinking takes many of its ideas from the
disciplines of systems thinking, scenario planning and theory of change.
THINKING ABOUT THINKING ABOUT THINKING ABOUT THINKING ABOUT THINKING ABOUT
THE BIG PICTURE CONNECTIONS PERSPECTIVES THE FUTURE CHANGE
Traditionally our understanding When we look at the big picture We all see and interpret the world An important feature of We can bring about positive
of how the world works has we can uncover the many different from our own perspective. The NXthinking is an appreciation change in many ways. It can
gained much by looking at the ways apparently disconnected way we perceive things is often that the future is not fixed. We happen at a personal level –
detail of things; taking things things are connected. By looking shaped by our world-view – our are encouraged to understand win what we think and what
apart to better understand for connections we can start cultural background, the social that there are many possible we choose to do – or on a local,
how they work. More recently to see some of the many ways norms of our upbringing and our futures and we can play a part in national or international scale.
scientists and psychologists have that things are interrelated and personal experiences. We also shaping what happens. We are Positive change can also happen
recognised that there is also value interdependent. In the real world interpret events in the light of asked to look at trends to make as a result of many different
in looking at the big picture too. interactions are often complex our current viewpoint or vested projections about possible futures. things – anything from a social
and dynamic, and it is not always interest. We all inevitably have innovation to an invention of
The real world is made of systems, useful to look at things in isolation particular bias and assumptions. We can use scenario planning a new product or service.
both natural and man-made, from one another. tools to generate a number of
that are often complex networks Being aware that everyone potential futures. Importantly, Whatever change we hope to
of interacting variables. By Some of the tools in this pack interprets the world from an we can use the information bring about it is useful to think
exploring the dynamic nature encourage us to look at many individual perspective helps us we gain from deepening our about our theory of change – why
of systems we are often better different types of relationships to better understand ourselves, understanding of particular we think what we do will work!
able to understand how the real including complex causal others and the types of behaviours issues to envision a preferred Having tools to support thoughtful
world works. And the better our relationships, consequences we encounter in different future. Ultimately, futures decision making, effective action-
understanding of a situation, and the different types of situations. Thinking about thinking is not about crystal-ball planning and the persuasive
the more able we are to help feedback loops. perspectives can also help us gazing but about making better communication of ideas is really
to improve things. to develop empathy for others. decisions today. helpful. NXthinking tools support
us in considering the key barriers
and enablers of positive change.
THINKING ABOUT THINKING ABOUT THINKING ABOUT THINKING ABOUT THINKING ABOUT
THE BIG PICTURE CONNECTIONS PERSPECTIVES THE FUTURE CHANGE
The world is made up of systems We can deepen our understanding We all see the world, and The future is not fixed. We can We are more able to bring
– complex networks with many of a situation when we uncover interpret what we see, from our imagine many different futures and about positive change when
interacting variables. Thinking about the multiple connections and own perspective. Being aware of act to help create a preferred future. we understand what helps and
systems helps us to better understand interactions that influence the different perspectives helps us better Thinking about the future can help hinders change in our own lives
the way the world works. way the world works. understand ourselves and others. us make better decisions today. and the wider world.
How to use the tool: It helps you to see the bigger picture as you
understand the challenge you want to tackle and
1 Think about what is the problem you want to focus on. Start what you want to achieve. It’s not about how to solve
by working with your team to discuss challenges that you are it, but rather what you want to solve.
interested in. It could be related to energy, water, food , health,
education or environment. Do some research about the issue to
understand why is it important for the problem to be solved, who is Thinking about The Big Picture
affected by this problem and where is it taking place.
3 Who does the problem impact / who do you want to solve it for?
It is important to understand who wil benefit from your team
solving the problem. For example, are you solving the problem for meet the demand without
a specific group of people, such as farmers, workers, commuters, What is
impact on climate change
passengers, pedestrians, students, teachers, parents; or are you our goal?
(no increase in CO2)
solving for a whole community, wider society, country, or even the
global population?
4 Are ther any limits you need to consider? For example, you may be
limited by the amount of available energy, or want to expand the
Who will everyone in our society
availability of one resource without impacting the other. You might
ÎÙćÙƅĪʏ
want to increase food production without increasing energy use or
your carbon footprint.
5 Use the phrase “How can we”. You can use this template to
help structure your problem statement. How can we manage our
PROBLEM increased use of energy
STATEMENT without increasing CO2
emissions?
2 Around the outside of the circle use post-it notes to write all It helps you think about the boundaries and scope
the key factors, people, things and events that are involved of the issue and also helps to identify the points that
in the issue you are exploring. are likely to have the biggest impact. It helps you
uncover causes and effects that you may not have
3 Begin to map the relationships between the things you have previously considered.
identified by drawing lines to link them together.
4 You can use arrows and + and - signs to show the nature of the Thinking about Connections
relationships between things. For example, you might use an
arrow to indicate how a rise (+) in online communications might
Thinking about The Big Picture
lead to a fall (-) in air travel.
when you start thinking about what you might want to change.
Sustainability Electricity
of building usage
How to use the tool: This tool can help you to take a
world view and think about different
1 W
rite the issue you want to explore in the middle of a piece viewpoints and perceptions
of paper and draw a circle around it.
Everyone has a mental model of the world and this
2 I dentify all the people that have an interest in the issue; tool helps you to think about your own and others’
write them down around the circle. assumptions to help you understand the bigger picture.
3 D
ecide how you will gather their perspectives. You might need
to interview them, use a survey or hold a focus group. Thinking about Perspectives
Survey:
A cool & eco-minded office space,
good facilities, benefits & work life
balance are key.
Interview: Interview:
Our focus is on raising We want profitability
employment without Challenges or while retaining a good
impacting sustainability. Champions? reputation.
Return on investment
Financial Dir.
Productivity
3 Research the information and plot the data on your graph. Thinking about The Future
5 Use your change-over-time graph to look at trends and patterns Looking at the past can help us
that have occurred in the past. to make projections about what
might happen in the future... and
6 Importantly, you can use past trends to make projections of to consider uncertainties too.
probable future scenarios. Your projections should consider the
future if the trends continue broadly as shown on your graph.
FU T UR E
T R E NDS
8 B
e creative about how you present your probable future
scenario. A thumbnail sketch, short story, info-graphic,
video or imaginary news report from the future – it doesn’t
matter what format you choose, just make it compelling.
T H E PA S T TO DAY FUTURE
1 Draw two intersecting lines to make four quadrants. Each It helps you to consider the positive and negative
quadrant will be used to represent a different possible future. features – social, economic, environmental and
technical – of your projected scenarios. It can also
2 I dentify the important things that influence the issue you are help you to think about a preferred future.
exploring. The work that you did using the explore tools will help
you to do this.
Thinking about Change
4 Label the vertical line with one thing you might change Adapted from work with Shell
5 Add a + sign to the top of the vertical line and a - sign at the It made me realise that the future is
bottom. Next, add a + sign to the right hand side of the horizontal
not fixed. There are many different
line and a - sign to the left hand side. The + signs represent an
increase in the thing you are proposing to change and the - signs ways the future might unfold… and
represent a decrease or no change. I can help to shape it.
8 As you explore each possible future think about the benefits, risks, points for electric cars
More space needed
Good for reputation
Creating different visions of the future makes you explore More admin/co-ordination
How to use the tool: This tool can help you to generate
and adapt ideas
1 Before using this tool you should have built up a clear idea about
the problem you are trying to address. You may have already It helps you to play with possibilities as you explore
thought about some preferred solutions. This tool helps you to different ways to enhance or improve your initial idea.
play with your initial ideas to make them stronger.
2 Use SCAMPER to generate a list of ‘what if…’ questions, Thinking about Change
taking each letter in turn. For example, you might ask
“What if we Modified our idea by making it bigger/
Thinking about The Future
smaller?” or “What if we Combined it with another idea?”
S ubstitute
Combine Adapted from a tool created by Robert F. Eberle found in Mind Tools.
Adapt
Modify
Put to another use
We didn’t just choose the first good
Eliminate
Rearrange idea we had… the tool made us
explore other possibilities, adapting
3 Work your way through the list thinking about the possibilities that and improving our initial idea.
each question provokes. Try not to restrict your thinking at
this stage; you’re just generating possibilities.
W HAT IF...
4 Jot your ideas down on post-it notes. Put the ideas on a large
display wall and read them all. S ubstitute
C ombine
I NSU L AT E
LOW E FFI C I E N T
5 Try to have a SCAMPER session at the end of one day and
AL L
HOME S E NE RGY HE AT I N G
LIGHTING
take forward.
E liminate
R earrange
How to use the tool: This tool can help you to make decisions
based on your thinking about costing
1 Generate lots of ideas, involving as many people as you can to and time
gain a range of perspectives.
It can help you think about the expertise you
2 Write each idea on a separate post-it note. need and if the change you will make is scaleable to
other contexts.
3 Group the ideas according to common themes that emerge.
4 I dentify any ideas that could be combined or connected to Thinking about Change
strengthen the proposal.
5 Narrow down your ideas. One way to do this is to give everybody Thinking about The Future
three sticky dots to vote for their favourite ideas.
others to join us? Only one or two ideas are likely to make it Filter 1
Can it be done in
through the feasibility funnel. Choose the idea that is most time?
Spare parking
likely to bring about the change you hope to see. into garden
Filter 2
7 Be creative. You might be able to adapt some of the Is it affordable?
ideas that don’t make it through the funnel. With ingenuity Bicycle dynamos
power laptops
8 When you have identified the ideas you will take forward,
look at the compass tool. Filter 4
Will it attract
Electric car
talent?
sharing scheme
possible unintended
Increased energy
consumption
Your idea
Electric car
Delays in car park sharing scheme
Improves
collaboration
Happier employees
Productivity rises
Productivity rises
Scheme fails
How to use the tool: This tool can help you think about how
to communicate with others to influence
1 Draw a pyramid and divide it into four horizontal sections. your intended change
2 In the top section of the pyramid craft your sound-bite, the phrase It can also help you identify the kind of support you
that captures the essence of your message. will need from potential sponsors or advocates,
and make you more aware of your own assumptions
3 I n the second section prepare your elevator-pitch. This is a as you seek to persuade others that your positive
summary of what you’re trying to achieve and why. It should also change plan is worth considering.
explain what you want people to do. But you’ve only got 20 or 30
seconds – your time in the elevator – to get your message across.
Thinking about Change
The sound-bite captured attention, The lower cost of commute and meeting new people has a
positive impact, leading to happier, satisfied people.
the story spoke to the heart and
the hard-facts spoke to the head. Hard Facts
Average UK yearly spend on driving to work = +£1,700
4 people sharing 2 x a week could save = £527 yearly
Average petrol car commute = 15 tonnes of CO2 yearly
Average electric car commute = 0.9 tonnes of CO2 yearly