How can strategic foresight and behavioural science help you?
Though I have been quiet on the posting front for the last month or so, I am always testing and experimenting with new ways in which we can help people and organizations deal with change.
One of the thing that I am quite excited about and which I am going to be talking more about is how behavioural science and strategic foresight can work together.
One inspiration for this has been the United Nations and their quintet of change:
-Data -Digital -Foresight -Innovation -Behavioural Science
These areas should not be seen as all different areas, but all areas that are meant to be working together and complementing each other to help drive better outcomes in the complex environment in which many government and organizations are operating.
If you know me, you know that I like tools and frameworks - and strategic foresight has some really great ones.
One of these tools is called the futures wheel - which Aaron Situmorang from the UN talked about in one of their recent talks about Behavioural Science and Foresight.
From the UN's site " The tool is a graphical visualisation of direct and indirect future consequences of a particular driver, event or issue. It is a structured brainstorming on sets of “if, then” statements. It helps to move from isolated signals and possibilities to more complex analysis about possible futures."
If you are looking at understanding trends, making decisions or even looking at innovations, emerging technologies or technology adoption - then thinking in a behavioural and foresight way can really help you understand both the positive consequences, but also the negative ones - not just in the present, but also in the future.
I have also have some books to share next year and will be building out some guides and tools that bring both of these areas together.
(Image credit: UN Innovation Network - video Foresight Meets Behavioral Science)