情境分析 是一种通过考虑各种可能发生的结果，分析未来的可能发生事件的过程。通过考虑分析各种结果及其影响，情景分析可以帮助决策者做出更明智的选择。

由于问题的情景本身的复杂性，情景分析仍然需要在实践中不断改进。预测未来仍然存在着很大的困难（实际中的结果可能与预测的完全不一致），例如很难预测未来的各种情景，很难确定各种情景的发生几率；事实上，对于在很多综合预测中出现的金融市场的回报很难引起人们的兴趣。分析的结果用数学或者统计学模型表达出来——进一步来说，就是考虑单个情景中可能的不定因素、以及各种可能情景的相互关系。

Scenario analysis is a process of analyzing possible future events by considering alternative possible outcomes (sometimes called "alternative worlds"). Thus, the scenario analysis, which is a main method of projections, does not try to show one exact picture of the future. Instead, it presents consciously several alternative future developments. Consequently, a scope of possible future outcomes is observable. Not only are the outcomes observable, also the development paths leading to the outcomes. In contrast to prognoses, the scenario analysis is not using extrapolation of the past. It does not rely on historical data and does not expect past observations to be still valid in the future. Instead, it tries to consider possible developments and turning points, which may only be connected to the past. In short, several scenarios are demonstrated in a scenario analysis to show possible future outcomes. It is useful to generate a combination of an optimistic, a pessimistic, and a most likely scenario. Although highly discussed, experience has shown that around three scenarios are most appropriate for further discussion and selection. More scenarios could make the analysis unclear.