Objectives and framework conditions

Defining the objectives and framework conditions of a futures research project is one of the key tasks in project design, and should be performed at the earliest possible stage. A clear formulation of objectives is essential because it is otherwise impossible to determine whether results have fulfilled intended purposes. Clear objectives are also important given the risk of contradictory aims or potentially hidden agendas. In a similar vein, the background and framework conditions governing the decision to undertake a project should be illuminated, as these conditions impose resource and methodological constraints.