Future, inc. : how businesses can anticipate and profit from what's next

Foreword by Joseph Coates In the next 50 years, new technologies, shifting global economics, and many other factors will present innumerable changes for business and society to navigate. Starting now, leaders need to be more flexible, responsive, and decisive than ever before. Unfortunately, most people are not trained in the type of critical thinking required to anticipate what lies ahead. This groundbreaking book will change that. Futuring is not a matter of tea leaves and crystal balls -- it is a rigorous science based on time-tested analytical methods. Future, Inc. translates the proven techniques of professional futurists into accessible language and shows how to: • identify what is and what isn’t changing at a given time, and how even small changes will affect whole businesses • use forecasting -- not ""predictions"" -- to pinpoint tomorrow’s realities by looking at today’s trends • employ scenarios to test the validity of potential strategies The author illustrates his advice with examples of companies whose foresight has given them an unparalleled advantage and identifies significant trends that will impact businesses in the future. Companies can’t afford to be caught unaware. In order to survive and succeed, they need to look ahead. Future, Inc. provides the tools to bring the future into focus. Contents......Page 4 Foreword......Page 6 Acknowledgments......Page 8 INTRODUCTION: Today’s Chaos; Tomorrow’s Opportunity......Page 10 PART 1: TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES......Page 20 1 Futurism: The Antidote to Chaos......Page 22 2 Systems Thinking: A Superhighway to Change......Page 32 3 Analyzing Trends: Real Change vs. Media Hype......Page 56 4 Into the Future: Making Judgments; Evaluating Forecasts......Page 84 5 Strategic Implications: What the Future Means to You......Page 95 6 Scenario Generation: Drawing a Picture of the Future......Page 112 7 Communicating the Future—Even to the Skeptical......Page 133 PART 2: DRIVERS OF THE FUTURE......Page 144 8 Aging: Preparing for a New Grey World......Page 146 9 Information Technology: Falling in Price, Increasing in Power......Page 164 10 Health Care: New Gadgets vs. Following Doctors’ Orders......Page 177 11 Biotechnology: Scratching the Surface of the Secrets of Life......Page 193 12 Energy: Getting More out of Less......Page 206 13 Nanotechnologies: Smaller Is Better......Page 219 14 Media and Communications: Six Billion Channels for Six Billion People......Page 229 15 Ecology and Sustainability: Growth Can Be Good......Page 243 EPILOGUE: Where Do We Go from Here?......Page 257 Notes......Page 260 B......Page 265 C......Page 266 E......Page 267 G......Page 268 L......Page 269 N......Page 270 R......Page 271 T......Page 272 Z......Page 273 Translates the proven techniques of professional futurists into accessible language and shows how to: identify what is and what isn't changing at a given time, and how even small changes can affect whole businesses. This book provides the tools to bring the future into focus. 'When you can see the future, you can profit from it'--Resource description page