Which of the following is a potential drawback of scenario planning related to culture?

• A. Costly and inaccurate.
• B. Many scenarios may not occur.
• C. Cultural distortion (people get carried away).
• D. Risk of self-fulfilling prophecy.

Answer: (C)

Culture can warp scenario planning when participants become carried away by familiar beliefs, norms, or power dynamics, turning the exercise into reinforcing a preferred narrative rather than exploring diverse futures. When people invest emotionally in a story tied to their culture, they may overstate certain trends, overlook weak signals, or push for conformity, which undermines the value of having multiple, contrasting scenarios. For example, a conservative culture might bias scenarios toward risk aversion and maintaining the status quo, while a highly optimistic culture might overemphasize transformative change. This cultural distortion is a clear drawback because it can reduce the credibility and relevance of the scenarios, making them less useful for robust strategic thinking.