"VGL Guide — Example 12: Future Reality Tree (FRT)"
Estimated reading time: 2 minutes.
Example 12: Future Reality Tree (FRT)
A solution validation graph showing how proposed solutions lead to desired outcomes:
vgraph salesSolution: FRT "Sales Improvement Plan" {
// Changeable nodes (injections/solutions we will implement)
node c1: Changeable "Implement agile product development";
node c2: Changeable "Hire additional support staff";
node c3: Changeable "Create customer feedback system";
// Given (unchangeable facts that still apply)
node g1: Given "Market is highly competitive";
node g2: Given "Customer expectations keep rising";
// Intermediate Effects (expected outcomes from our solutions)
node ie1: IntermediateEffect "Faster product iterations";
node ie2: IntermediateEffect "Products match customer needs";
node ie3: IntermediateEffect "Support response time improves";
node ie4: IntermediateEffect "Customer feedback drives development";
// Junctor for combining conditions
node and1: AndJunctor "";
// Desirable Effects (the goals we want to achieve)
node de1: DesirableEffect "Sales revenue increasing";
node de2: DesirableEffect "Customer satisfaction high";
node de3: DesirableEffect "Market share growing";
// Potential negative side effects (to monitor)
node ude1: UndesirableEffect "Initial implementation costs";
// Solutions leading to intermediate effects
edge c1 -> ie1: changeable_causes_intermediate;
edge c3 -> ie4: changeable_causes_intermediate;
edge c2 -> ie3: changeable_causes_intermediate;
// Given facts combining with solutions
edge g2 -> and1: given_to_and_junctor;
edge ie4 -> and1: intermediate_to_and_junctor;
// And junctor combining conditions
edge and1 -> ie2: and_junctor_causes_intermediate;
// Multiple alternative paths to customer satisfaction (implicit OR)
edge ie2 -> de2: intermediate_causes_desirable;
edge ie3 -> de2: intermediate_causes_desirable;
// Intermediate effects leading to desirable effects
edge ie1 -> de3: intermediate_causes_desirable;
edge ie2 -> de1: intermediate_causes_desirable;
edge ie2 -> de3: intermediate_causes_desirable;
// Acknowledging potential downsides
edge c1 -> ude1: changeable_causes_undesirable;
edge c2 -> ude1: changeable_causes_undesirable;
// Given competitive market affects outcomes
edge g1 -> ie2: given_causes_intermediate;
}
Note: FRT graphs also flow bottom-to-top like CRT, but with a different focus. While CRT starts with problems (Undesirable Effects) and traces back to root causes, FRT starts with proposed solutions (Changeable/injections) and traces forward to show how they achieve desired outcomes. This makes FRT ideal for validating that proposed changes will actually deliver the expected benefits.
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