FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

Foresight is the systematic study of what the future might hold, using scientific knowledge. It is not about predicting the future, but about exploring different possible futures. This helps organizations to be better prepared for change, identify opportunities and make well-considered strategic decisions. In our free e-book "Grasping the Future" you will get a practical introduction to the most important methods of foresight, from scenario planning to science fiction prototyping.

Strategic foresight helps organizations: Get out of the daily grind Proactively respond to changes Limit risks and seize opportunities Engage more flexibly into the future. Discover in our blog why people have difficulty with long-term planning and how you can overcome this.

Strategic foresight assumes that the future cannot be predicted. Instead of making one prediction, we explore multiple possible futures (scenarios). This gives organizations more room to maneuver and helps them to be prepared for various developments.

There are several proven methods, including: • Trend analysis: Analyzing patterns of change • Scenario planning: Developing different future scenarios • Three Horizons: Structuring trends for the short, medium and long term • Wild cards: Exploring unexpected, disruptive events • Science Fiction Prototyping: Exploring future possibilities through creative imagination • Roadmapping: Visually planning steps towards a desired future All methods are discussed in detail in our online course "Grip on the Future".

A trend is a long-term development that evolves gradually and has a profound impact. A hype is a short-lived phenomenon that quickly becomes popular but is usually fleeting. For strategic foresight, trends are much more valuable because they indicate structural changes. For a more detailed explanation, read our blog article on the difference between trends, hypes and scenarios.

The choice of method depends on several factors: • Your research question and objective • The organizational culture and time horizon • The available time and resources • The complexity of the issue In our free e-book you will find practical tools to choose the right method. For customized advice you can also contact us.

Start with a clear research question and determine your target group. Important steps are: • Preparation: Determine goal, time horizon and scope • Method choice: Choose appropriate methods for your issue • Execution: Involve the right people and stakeholders • Communication: Spend at least 50% of time and budget on communicating results Download our free ebook for a complete step-by-step approach, or follow our online course for in-depth knowledge.

This varies greatly depending on the scope and method. A simple workshop can take a few hours, while a comprehensive scenario study can take months. Our free ebook provides practical planning guidelines.

• Involve people who are relevant, plausible and surprising. This means: • Relevant people: Decision makers and stakeholders • Plausible people: Experts with knowledge of the subject • Surprising people: People from outside the organization or sector for fresh perspectives Always involve people from both inside and outside the organization to prevent groupthink.

Sure! Start with our free ebook "Grasping the Future" which explains all the important methods. For in-depth knowledge and practical experience, our online course "Grip on the Future" offers a complete training. The course contains 18 modules with videos, practical exercises and personal feedback within 5 working days.

Resistance often stems from fear of change or the feeling that strategic foresight is "pie in the sky". Tips for dealing with this: • Start small with concrete, practical applications • Show relevance by linking to current challenges • Actively involve skeptics in the process • Use concrete examples and success stories Our blog contains more tips on how to motivate people to think about the future.

Busy organizations in particular benefit from future exploration to escape the daily grind. Start with short, focused sessions and show concrete value. There are various methods that deliver results within a few hours. We will soon be launching DIY Toolkits that you can quickly get started with yourself.

Spend at least 50% of your time and budget on communicating results. Key success factors: • Actively involve decision makers in the process • Make results concrete and actionable • Plan follow-up steps and monitoring • Ensure broad dissemination in the organization

AI can help analyze large amounts of data, identify patterns, and support scenario planning. On our website, we have an experimental AI chatbot that allows you to ask questions about future exploration directly. Follow our blog for the latest developments in AI and future exploration.

The course is designed for professionals working on future-oriented issues: • Strategy advisors and policy officers • Innovation managers and R&D professionals • Consultants and advisors • Managers who make strategic decisions No prior knowledge required - we start from the basics and systematically build expertise.

Yes, we do! We provide workshops and on-site training. For information about customized workshops and on-site training, please contact us. We are happy to help you think about an approach that suits your organization.

• Start here: Download our free ebook "Grip on the Future" • In-depth learning: Follow our online course • Inspiration: Read our blog with practical tips and fictional news items from the future • Overview of methods: View our explanation of all methods • Contact: Ask your question directly via our website or chatbot

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