Scanning is the process of identifying weak signals of change. This is the research phase and arguably the most important part of the foresight cycle. Once you’ve got a handle on the current state, how do you see it changing over time? Make a list of your assumptions for the future. The point is to document what you know-do it rapidly and don’t overthink it. The various forces and variables that affect your business.Your industry and competitive landscape.Map out what you know about your operating environment today, including: Let’s say you’re conducting a broad foresight study on how your company’s operating environment could change over the next 15 years. You can’t do that until you clearly understand that system in its current state. Articulate the current stateįoresight is about understanding how a given system could change. Or you might be applying foresight more generally, framing your initiative with a question like: “How might our operating environment change over the next 15 years?” From there, you can orient your foresight initiative toward more specific strategic outcomes like: “identify new pathways to revenue growth” or “prepare to navigate risks associated with a changing regulatory environment.” 2. What are the business challenges you want to solve? You might be looking to develop a perspective on how a specific consumer technology category will evolve over the next 10 years. Determine the scopeĭefine the parameters of your foresight initiative. While there are many tools and techniques you can apply throughout, here’s an overview of what the foresight cycle can look like in five simple steps: 1. Ideally, foresight is practiced on a continuous basis and becomes an input to your strategic planning process.

Definition of foresight