Transhumanism – Where does it stand? Where will it go?

You can find my point-of-view on transhumanism. It is part of a series of articles on the topic on KedgeForward.

[ Read more...]

Pastist – Presentist – Futurist

Are you a pastist, presentist or futurist?
How would you know? Are these terms related to a particular personality profile, are they something in your upbringing, in your experiences or your firm beliefs. Does your orientation depend on what happened in the past, how your present satisfies you or what is in store for you, that [...]

[ Read more...]

Emotional and rational future maze

We must remember that the future is neither wholly ours nor wholly not ours, so that neither must we count upon it as quite certain to come, nor despair of it as quite certain not to come.
Epicurus, 341-270 b.C., Greek philosopher, Letter to Menouceus, The Essential Epicurus: Letters, Principal Doctrines, Vatican Sayings, and Fragments (Great [...]

[ Read more...]

Purpose and value – a company perspective

If you spent some time visiting several Fortune 500 web sites, how many of those do you think would clearly state their purpose and value to humanity? How many would have people in their brand somewhere? How many would talk about the passion they have for making the world a better place and how their [...]

[ Read more...]

Foresight Identities – a journey of transformation

Just like we are different people to different people Foresight Identities are different approaches for different needs…
I gave a talk on Foresight Identities and my journey through them at the ‘Futures Hot House’ at AMP building in Sydney last week, thank you Janine and thank you audience for the wonderful questions.
The NINE different ‘Foresight Identities’ [...]

[ Read more...]

Vignette – how to on foresight – nay sayers and cynics

CONSULT UNUSUAL SOURCES, PEOPLE, AND PLACES–INCLUDING OUTLIERS, COMPLAINERS, AND TROUBLEMAKERS
One important function of strategic foresight is the opening of the future. The inclusion of different perspectives is one way to assure this opening. Analysts should look for competent people inside and outside who bring a different way of thinking to the table.
Key steps
The selection of [...]

[ Read more...]

Vignette – how to on foresight – modules of goodness

MODULARIZE OUTCOMES–KEEP THE GOOD AND DEAL WITH THE BAD
Throwing the baby out with the bathwater is a self-defeating reaction to negative outcomes. Organizations need to think in degrees of gray. They require an ability to sort thinking into modules, and know what to keep, what to get rid off, and what to deal with immediately. [...]

[ Read more...]

Vignette – how to on foresight – fertile ground

SHIFT ATTITUDES TOWARDS RECEPTIVENESS TO CHANGE

George Bernard Shaw said, “You see things and say ‘Why?’ But I dream things that never were and I say ‘Why not?’”
It is important to cultivate receptiveness to the new: “Let’s try and understand this better.” The new disturbs existing comfort zones and positions and as a consequence is often [...]

[ Read more...]

Vignette – how to on foresight – trends & business-as-usual

ASSESS FUNDAMENTAL SHIFTS THAT COULD IMPACT BUSINESS-AS-USUAL

Fundamental shifts are those external forces that have the potential of shaking the core assumptions of an organization. These forces are referred to as megatrends, discontinuities, tsunamis, or drivers of change depending on the practitioner. Regardless of what they are called, they have the potential to surprise an organization–unless [...]

[ Read more...]

Future and Sci-Fi

What is the role of the science fiction writer in our future?
….my view is that science fiction writers imagine the future – which the scientists and business people then go and make happen – sometimes it takes a long time – but I don’t think that they ‘predict the future’ as someone said in [...]

[ Read more...]

AusForesight2007

Three days in the lives of futurists – together
AusForesight2007 is now part of history and memories. We came together in a national event with one tireless international guest Peter Bishop to reflect, react and respond.

We reflected on the meaning of futures in our lives and in the world.
We reacted to what we have learned and [...]

[ Read more...]

How many futurists?

There are about 100 foresight professionals or futurists in Oz [lose definition or lets say not formed definition of criteria but people who associate themselves with being that].
Oz is about 2% of Global GDP. Australia has a vibrant community and long history with some wonderful godfathers [Richard Slaughter, Sohail Inayahtullah] and one gorgeous mother earth [...]

[ Read more...]

The way I fill up my insight fountain

Learn to read in between the lines – for example if in one industry, observe the others
Pushing ourselves to observe something across the silo fence can provide a brilliant way to improve products, services, solutions for all. We see these new circumstances better than those who live with the situation all the time.
You might [...]

[ Read more...]

Innovation variants – Nokia and Computer Sciences Corporation

Do you create waves or ride waves or both? Which one is relevant to your innovation program and why?
Speaking at the InnoFuture2007 in Melbourne, Australia, as a panel member on different takes to innovation from some key industries, I represented the ICTI [Information Communication Telecommunication and Internet industry].
This is roughly what I spoke about although [...]

[ Read more...]

Seeing shapes of what might be

Exploring
…an excerpt….
McLUHAN: “Sometimes I wonder. I’m making explorations. I don’t know where they’re going to take me. My work is designed for the pragmatic purpose of trying to understand our technological environment and its psychic and social consequences. But my books constitute the process rather than the completed product of discovery; my purpose is to [...]

[ Read more...]