Forecasting procedures are needed only if there is uncertainty about the future. Forecasts are unnecessary when one can control events. For example, predicting the temperature in your home does not require the use of forecasting procedures because you can control it. A forecast that the sun will...

The state of election forecasting has progressed to the point where it is possible to develop highly accurate forecasts for major elections. However, one area that has received little attention is the use of forecasting as an aid to those involved with political campaigns. In the run-up to the...

We examined the frequency of replications published in the two leading forecasting journals, the International Journal of Forecasting (IJF) and the Journal of Forecasting (JoF). Replications in the IJF and JoF comprised 9.4% of the empirical papers. This compares with various areas of management...

The demand for research on forecasting is strong. This conclusion is based on the high number of citations to papers published about research on forecasting, and upon the number of subscriptions for journals devoted to forecasting. The supply of research papers is also large, following a rapid...

To improve forecasting accuracy, combine forecasts derived from methods that differ substantially and draw from different sources of information. When feasible, use five or more methods. Use formal procedures to combine forecasts: An equal-weights rule offers a reasonable starting point, and a...

This issue marks the end of my term as Editor of the International Journal of Forecasting. My term as a Director of the International Institute of Forecasters also ended this year. My involvement has lasted for ten very satisfying years. In this editorial, I present views on the development of...

Research over two decades has advanced the knowledge of how to assess predictive validity. We believe this has value to information systems (IS) researchers. To demonstrate, we used a widely cited study of IS spending. In that study, price-adjusted diffusion models were proposed to explain and...