Critiquing Change Impacts
How might our homes & families change?
How might our work change?
How might our hobbies & leisure differ?
How might we travel & communicate?
How might childhood & education differ?
How might our environment change?
How might government & economy differ?
Notes:
Okay. We’re counting down to liftoff here… the trends maglev train to the future is about to leave the station. But as we are exploring the future possibilities these trends imply, I’d like you to keep these questions in mind.
You will note, by the by, that I have at no time said anything about predicting the future. Reputable futures researchers do not, in the main, offer to predict anything. They might offer to forecast quantitatively measurable trends for you. They will with great enthusiasm offer to help you explore the range of uncertainties represented by all the trends of change with the potential to impact your concerns.
Each of these trends, and their potential impacts, represent both threats and opportunities to your organizational vision and goals. This afternoon we will engage in an exercise to move from the trend and its impacts to initiatives and strategies that address the threats and act on the opportunities.
Please note that the following trends are, again, NOT PREDICTIONS -- rather, they have been collected from the insights of numerous analysts in business, science, and academia with regard to potential changes in the next fifty years.