Comments on: The economic crisis and the value of foresight http://foresightculture.com/2009/04/01/the-economic-crisis-and-the-value-of-foresight Thoughts on exploring the future by John Mahaffie, Leading Futurists LLC Fri, 26 Feb 2010 15:01:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Garry G http://foresightculture.com/2009/04/01/the-economic-crisis-and-the-value-of-foresight/comment-page-1/#comment-761 Garry G Wed, 01 Apr 2009 20:28:11 +0000 http://foresightculture.com/?p=308#comment-761 I'm finding this 'crisis' to be ripe for pitching the value of foresight. Feel like a sunglasses sales rep targeting deer blinded by headlights. And I'm trying my best to deflect the 'which trends' question - and selling the core to futures thinking. Clients - need a restart button- and I'm trying to sell the value of identifying their assumptions, understanding the nature of change, eras and discontinuities, et al. It seems a rare time when slightly academic activities are accepted. So I'm mildly optimistic that foresight could benefit from this transition period. Glad to see you asking what things might be slowed / accelerated by impact of this transition. Agreed that durables could rise et al...But my out loud question is -- what about globalization? When the 'economic engine' starts up again (assuming no collapse scenario) -- what's the speed of change? Are China, India and Brazil likely to emerge stronger in terms of human talent? Resource control? Is this 'event' a trigger for a new era of geo relations? I think the space to play intellectually is geopolitical/geo-economics. Reading Thomas Barnett's latest book now.. highly recommend it! Missed you in Pasadena-- but trust you had fun with the family!! Garry I’m finding this ‘crisis’ to be ripe for pitching the value of foresight. Feel like a sunglasses sales rep targeting deer blinded by headlights. And I’m trying my best to deflect the ‘which trends’ question – and selling the core to futures thinking.

Clients – need a restart button- and I’m trying to sell the value of identifying their assumptions, understanding the nature of change, eras and discontinuities, et al. It seems a rare time when slightly academic activities are accepted. So I’m mildly optimistic that foresight could benefit from this transition period.

Glad to see you asking what things might be slowed / accelerated by impact of this transition. Agreed that durables could rise et al…But my out loud question is — what about globalization? When the ‘economic engine’ starts up again (assuming no collapse scenario) — what’s the speed of change? Are China, India and Brazil likely to emerge stronger in terms of human talent? Resource control? Is this ‘event’ a trigger for a new era of geo relations?

I think the space to play intellectually is geopolitical/geo-economics. Reading Thomas Barnett’s latest book now.. highly recommend it!

Missed you in Pasadena– but trust you had fun with the family!!
Garry

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