*A PDF version of this article can be downloaded here

Introduction

The scenario is the archetypical product of futures studies because it embodies the central principles of the discipline:

• It is vitally important that we think deeply and creatively about the future, or else we run the risk of being surprised and unprepared.
• At the same time, the future is uncertain so we must prepare for multiple plausible futures, not just the one we expect to happen.

Scenarios contain the stories of these multiple futures, from the expected to the wildcard, in forms that are analytically coherent and imaginatively engaging. A good scenario grabs us by the collar and says, “Take a good look at this future. This could be your future. Are you going to be ready?”

Wisdom & Leadership: Linking the Past, Present & Future

by Dr Bruce Lloyd, Professor of Strategic Management, London South Bank University as presented at the World Futures Society Conference 2006

Abstract Wisdom is the way we incorporate our values into our decision making process and it is our values that determine the way we define that critical word ‘quality’. The word ‘quality’ can also be seen as another way of distinguishing process from change. Not all change is progress and it is our values that ultimately determine our priorities. It is these priorities that then become the criteria we use to distinguish between change and progress.Decisions taken today are driven by our visions of tomorrow and based on what we learned yesterday. This basic rule applies to all decisions, irrespective of size. Every time we take any decision we are involved in some element of leadership but the bigger the decision the more critical our leadership credentials become.

This presentation will review the WFS ‘Wisdom of the World’ project and discuss the key questions:                       

"Future of Biofuels" as presented at the World Future Society Conference - July 30, 2007 Minneapolis, MN by Jim Lee.

 
I’d like to start by clearing up a popular misconception that biofuels are by nature  exotic or sophisticated.  So, I’d like you to think of your two favorite food groups:   I’m not talking about vegetables.  And, I’m not talking about meat.  I’m talking about Sugars and Fats. These are your two basic sources of biofuels.  Think about a can of soda.  What are the two main sweeteners that are used in soda?  Corn syrup and cane sugar.  These are the main sources of ethanol.  If you take sugar then ferment it into alcohol, and purify it through distillation, you have ethanol.  And if you ferment and distill corn, you get a very special type of ethanol that some people call “moonshine.”

Thinking About the Future

The 115 guidelines are organized into six sequential categories that mirror the phases of a strategic foresight activity: Framing, Scanning, Forecasting, Visioning, Planning, and Acting. Executives will find both the guidelines and the framework invaluable for understanding what it takes to successfully explore the future, while analysts who actively carry out strategic foresight projects will find the book an indispensable reference that they turn to again and again.