This essay outlines some of the crucial points to be taken into consideration by futurists‐in‐training in order to avoid the many mistakes which can be easily made. These comprise right timing, real participation, scenarios, developing a preferred vision of the future, using metaphors, using...

In this article, written as part of a consulting report for the insurance industry, key trends that are likely to impact the motor insurance industry are presented. These trends include: globalization; the rise of the cultural creatives; customization; the rise of the info‐tailor; and ageing....

Based on the experience of transport policy and scenario planning in South‐East Queensland, this essay explores the alternative futures of transport. It does so by first exploring the weight of lock‐ins that make creating new futures nearly impossible. Next, the ways that the future can be...

Purpose – To explore the alternative futures of work and the changing nature of the organization. Design/methodology/approach – Along with a long‐term macrohistorical approach, two futures methods are used: emerging issues analysis and scenarios. Findings – Four scenarios are developed:...

Purpose – Innovation in information and communication technologies, combined with change in social and cultural attitudes, is raising questions about the future for libraries and librarians. This article seeks to examine alternative futures that were developed at a workshop organized by...

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present a new approach to the study of the future. Design/methodology/approach – The paper describes six foundational concepts (the used future, the disowned future, alternative futures, alignment, models of social change, and uses of the future),...

Purpose – Based on a report to the non‐profit organization, The Foundation for the Future, this article aims to review methodological approaches to forecasting the long‐term future. Design/methodology/approach – This is not an analysis of the particular content of the next 500 or 1,000...

Purpose The purpose of this report is to present the findings of a five-day course for AKEPT – the Malaysian Leadership Academy in the Ministry of Higher Education. The course was held from March 24-28th, 2014, for over 50 lecturers, professors, deputy deans and deans from Malaysian...

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present findings, based on a report for the International Centre for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA), of the preferred visions, scenarios and strategies of stakeholders articulated at a workshop held in Dubai from November 25 to 26, 2012....