Real-Time Delphi data: How to identify and interpret weak signals of change in the forest bioeconomy

Data from: Mauno, T., Catelo, F., Bengston, D.N., Pykäläinen, J. & Hujala, T. 2023. How to identify and interpret weak signals of change in the forest bioeconomy. Forest Policy and Economics. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forpol.2023.103075

This exploratory study sought to understand how to identify and interpret weak signals of change that may have an impact on the forest bioeconomy. An international panel of experts in the forest bioeconomy and in foresight provided their views through a two-stage Real-Time Delphi method which utilized the multiple rounds of traditional Delphi and the instantaneous feedback of the Real-Time Delphi method.

The Real-Time Delphi exercise was conducted in two stages through the eDelphi software (edelphi.org); the first stage was focused on Changes and the second on Weak Signals. For the Real-Time Delphi exercise, two expert matrices (forest bioeconomy matrix and futures & foresight matrix) were prepared with the aim of obtaining diverse expertise to participate in the study.

The first stage was conducted during a 10-day period in early September 2022 (Sep 5, 2022 – Sep 14, 2022). The second stage was also conducted during a 10-day period later in September 2022 (Sep 21, 2022 – Sep 30, 2022). A total of 11 (6 forest bioeconomy experts and 5 futures research and foresight specialists) participated in both eDelphi stages.

This dataset includes: (i) completed Real-Time Delphi stages (including anonymized answers and discussions of 11 participants) (ii) questions for both Real-Time Delphi stages, and (iii) anonymized expert matrices (forest bioeconomy matrix and futures & foresight matrix)

For more information, please contact the corresponding author (data controller): Tuomas Mauno (University of Eastern Finland), tuomas.mauno@uef.fi