Strategic Foresight

Scenario planning is the principles, methods, and techniques for looking forward into the future and trying to anticipate and influence what is to come next. This book provides students and line managers in organizations with the means to create better scenarios and to use them to create winning business strategies. The purpose is to shed new light on scenarios and scenario-like thinking in organizations for managers at every level within a company.  The book covers scenarios such as: economic outlooks; political environments; acquisitions; downsizing, and more.

Praise

“Strategic Foresight deserves to be widely read and discussed. The book holds that decision makers should imagine multiple possibilities and that predicting futures is less useful than shaping better futures. This constructive approach can have beneficial impacts for our feelings about our futures, our ability to mold our futures, and the futures we achieve.” —William H Starbuck, Professor in Residence, University of Oregon

 

“In this timely and practical book, Alfred Marcus draws on his extensive knowledge of strategy, business, and society to show companies and their members how to systematically read the future, unlock its mysteries, and indeed take part in writing it.” —Moshe Farjoun, The Schulich School of Business, Canada.

About the Author(s)

Alfred Marcus

Alfred Marcus is a Professor in the department of Strategic Management and Organization, Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota. 

Table of Contents

Introduction * Meeting the Challenges of the Future * Thinking about the Future * The Challenges Businesses Face * Population and Security Challenges * Political and Economic Challenges * Energy and Environmental Challenges * Technology to the Rescue? * Further Reading