Articles

“Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.” T.S. Elliot A growing body of research suggests that our playgrounds are too safe. Apparently, giving children the ability to fail and recover builds not only resilience, but creativity and overall health. It may seem counterintuitive, but consider that if we don’t allow kids the opportunity to push the boundaries on their abilities (to “test the fences,” if you will), then when they…

We are operating in an increasingly complex environment, where linear and mechanistic processes do not work. To overcome this issue, The Futures School leverages a process that mimics natural growth curves.

How can we effectively use research to improve organizational decision making?

A failure of imagination is the undoing of many great design strategies. With Strategic Foresight, you scan to identify trends, analyze and identify patterns, create multiple future scenarios, and test strategies against these scenarios and adjust to make them adaptable.

In a recent Forbes article, Industrial and Organizational Psychologist, Sesil Pir, toutes why foresight is a critical skill set for all 21st century leaders. “We never experienced the volatility, ambiguity and complexity in managing all of our tasks. It is no secret we all struggle to find the capacity to meet different demands in our roles and have a growing need to be able to think and decide more holistically.” We could not agree more with Pir’s statement. We need…

The ideas that have historically guided us — hierarchical structures of society and organizations, top-down governance, segmented industries, intellectual property, personal ownership — are becoming increasingly irrelevant.

We know what you’re probably thinking: “Wow! Quite the title for a post. They went for it,” or “These guys have finally lost it… they’re nuts!” Well, we might be nuts. But that’s not the point. The point is that it’s time to f_____ culture. Of course, we’re not referring to any group’s national or societal culture. Rather, we’re talking about the system of shared values, beliefs and assumptions that governs how people behave within a company. You know, the…

What is futures thinking? Is it the same as Strategic Foresight? What makes someone a futurist? Futures thinking is a mindset that is most commonly associated with creative problem-solving and bold, provoking innovations. Strategic Foresight is a decades-old discipline that allows us to create functional views of alternative futures and possibilities. Through this process,  organizations are better prepared for potential threats and are able to capitalize on hidden opportunities. You can think of Strategic Foresight as a sport, a futurist…

We gathered the Global Foresight Advisory Council and a few alumni to participate in an inspirational discussion with Peachie Dioquino-Valera joining us from the Philippines. Topics included Peachie’s involvement with Climate Works, her focus on inspiring youth to have agency in their futures, the importance of decolonizing the future and regenerative futures, and the power of integrating empathy into futures work.

This webcast was originally recorded on August 20, 2021. Foresight can be considered as a mental technology that expands the user’s perspective across time and space. If employed well, foresight can make us more empathetic, more mindful, and more aware. In short, it can open us to new opportunities and empower us to make better decisions in the present. Creating the future is a spiritual practice. Foresight fosters an awareness of the interconnections between all things across time and space.…