Strategic Imagination: Building resilient futures

We’re in challenging times; surrounded by multiple systems in decline in a rapidly shape shifting landscape. This is the end of ‘business-as-usual’. We exist in a complex, interdependent system, and need to be masters in managing unpredictability. But we still need to make decisions. When the current systems are no longer working and under strain, we need to create what will take its place.

Our provocation is that we spend too much time ‘projecting’ from what we know today, and not enough time imagining what the future could be.

How it works

All foresight methods must ask the question: What are the big cultural and social shifts that will be shaping our business in the future?

These projective futures are based on todays’ data e.g. demographics, trends, emergent codes, expert & leading edge insight, which are critical inputs, but on their own, tend to get us to answers that feel, dare we say, predictable.

The missing question is: ‘What kind of future do we want to create’? We need more imaginative futures. Using creativity, speculation, provocation and imagination we immerse in alternate realities to reveal hidden potential and new possibilities.

Used in tandem, these two approaches help us identify what will help us be successful in the future, enabling you to build a more resilient and meaningful strategy.

Why it’s valuable

• Brings a completely fresh, imaginative and provocative lens to your challenge
• Identifies ‘hidden’ risks — blind spots, assumptions and path dependencies that could be limiting your success
• Reveals new possibilities and ‘no regret actions’
• Facilitates alignment and decision making around a shared direction and preferred future vision
• Enables you to develop a more future-resilient strategy that can adapt and respond to change
• Immediately influence decisions – gives you confidence to take the next best step towards the future you want to create