The driverless cars emulsion: Using participatory foresight and constructive conflict to address transport’s wicked problems

Lyons, Glenn

Abstract

This paper introduces a novel methodology to the transport sector to foster dialogue between actors holding different perspectives on issues pertinent to the future of mobility that might be termed ‘wicked’. The case of driverless cars is considered. The paper points to a dearth of interaction between actors holding different and sometimes polar opposite views on what driverless cars could mean for the future of transport and society. It examines the role of bringing diverse perspectives together in a collaborative setting to address this wicked problem. The importance of creating task conflict is highlighted in the facilitation of engagement and achievement of shared learning. The Emulsion Methodology brings together into constructive dialogue (the emulsion) people with alternative perspectives on driverless cars (evangelists, opponents and agnostics) that may not typically mix (oil and water). The one-day workshop format (the emulsifier) involves co-creation, in mixed-perspective groups, of plausible utopias and plausible dystopias for a driverless cars future in 2050. The Three Horizons method is then used to identify significant issues at play in the transition to such futures. In turn, this enables guiding principles for present day policy to be identified. Application of the methodology to driverless cars resulted in new learning, changed perspectives and specific insights of relevance to policymaking.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 20, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Jan 6, 2022
• Publication Date: 2022-02
• Deposit Date: Jan 6, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 6, 2022
• Journal: Futures
• Print ISSN: 0016-3287
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 136
• Article Number: 102889
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.futures.2021.102889
• Keywords: Driverless cars; Autonomous vehicles; Wicked problems; Participatory foresight; Shared learning; Governance
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/8534427
• Additional Information: This article is maintained by: Elsevier; Article Title: The Driverless Cars Emulsion: Using participatory foresight and constructive conflict to address transport’s wicked problems; Journal Title: Futures; CrossRef DOI link to publisher maintained version: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.futures.2021.102889; Content Type: article; Copyright: © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.