Hopes & Fears

This activity when conducted at the start of your HUB-IN project – and then at key moments along your journey – will enable you to listen to your teammates’ and partners’ voices and discuss the various expectations and goals for the project as well as their doubts and concerns.  

For your HUB-IN project it is particularly important to run two rounds of this activity:  

• The first round on general hopes and fears for the project as a whole 
• The second round on specific hopes and fears related to the co-creation approach that you will need to embrace with HUB-IN 

This will enable you to understand hopes, worries and clarification needed at different levels; on the general direction of this project on one hand, and on the other hand on the collaboration approach, co-creation experiences and method to employ. 

Therefore, this activity will be useful for: 

• Uncovering shared ideas of success 
• Bonding the group and creating team spirit  
• Highlighting potential risks that will then allow to plan for mitigation strategies, adaptation and iteration 
• Defining priorities and topics of focus, as well as areas of support and partners you should look out for

Format:  

• You can run this activity one or several times with groups of 5 to 10 people. 
• This activity is run in two rounds: ‘HUB-IN hopes and fears’ and ‘Co-creation hopes and fears’. 
• This activity can take place in person or remotely.   
• Activity duration: 30 to 60 minutes per round. 
• Material needed: post-its, pens, Hopes and Fears worksheet printed or drawn by end for in person sessions or an online whiteboard tool (e.g. Miro or Mural) for remote sessions. 

Activity steps: 

First round using the HUB-IN Hopes and Fears worksheet (PDF worksheet page 1 & 2):  

1. After an introduction to the project, start by offering individual time to add initial thoughts on post-it notes in the three sections: hopes, worries, questions. Ask each participant to present back and open dialogue. 
2. Allow for questions and group discussion. 
3. Work together to cluster these initial thoughts by themes and complete the three sections with additional hopes, worries or questions raised in group discussions. Feel free to invite others from your wider teams or networks to join this activity. 

Second round using the Co-creation Hopes and Fears worksheet (PDF worksheet page 3 & 4): 

As defined in the HUB-IN Framework, co-creation¹ is a collaborative innovation approach actively involving stakeholders (and experts) in the design process towards HUB-IN Places. From discovery to implementation (and beyond), stakeholders are informed, consulted, involved and empowered, with their insights and efforts strengthening the outputs and impact, increasing the sense of agency and pride. This results in social, economic and environmental outcomes that are essential and (in combination with greater value creation) are more likely to remain sustainable. 

1. Consider starting this session with a quick-fire presentation on co-creation by one of your more experienced colleagues or partners. You can read more about co-creation in the Current Landscape report (pages 20-29). 
2. Offer individual time to add initial thoughts on post-it notes in the three sections: hopes, worries, questions. Ask each participant to present back and open dialogue
3. Work together within your HUB-IN teams (and wider teams/networks) to look through the three sections – hopes, worries, questions – and cluster the thoughts by themes. This should help you to prioritise actions to implement successful co-creation (e.g. role definition, short training, support to seek, etc.). 

Following steps: 

• Compile the questions raised which haven’t found answers yet and aim to answer them along your journey. 
• Compile the risks uncovered in this activity in a risk register that your team will keep up to date throughout the entire project and establish mitigation strategies for each risk. 
• Conduct the SWOT activity about your team’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats in relation to co-creation. This tool/activity is also complementary with the City Moodboard and Survey guide to define the goals, potential outcomes and approach of your HUB-IN project. 

• Think about your answers from different perspectives – whether that be the expectations of your direct team, wider team, your networks, your citizens etc.