Classifications of foresight methods

Foresight exercises and programs are a formal process of applying a sequence of methods. Classification of these methods is useful to specialists, academics and practitioners, in choosing an appropriate mix of methods used in foresight process. In this article we take a brief review of the main classifications of methods of foresight. In the first part of the article are presented information on stages and generation of foresight processes. The author proposes a new definition of foresight and a new classification of foresight exercises according to a given goal. In second part are summarized the main simple classifications of the foresight methods used in literature. In the third part of the paper we will be presented three complex classifications of methods foresight. The article will conclude with a cluster grouping of the foresight methods based on their role in each stage of foresight and on the type of technique used.