Tapping the Future

You can even write your own "science-fiction" stories about alternative futures to explore the possibilities, and how your organization might respond to them.

Looking at a selection of alternatives often provides clues about new innovation possibilities. Tools you can use to do this include trend extrapolation--where you research market or performance trends and make future plans on the assumption that those trends will continue--and for casting tools such as economic planning.

You could gather panels of experts (also known as "Delphi panels") to discuss the most likely outcomes of current events and help you tailor your plans to expected developments. You can even write your own "science-fiction" stories about alternative futures to explore the possibilities, and how your organization might respond to them.

ACTION POINT: Take account of current events in your future planning even if they do not seem to affect you directly. Remember that innovations can come from any area.