Managing the Future: A Guide to Forecasting and Strategic Planning in the 21st Century

Equipping your organization for an uncertain future is a daunting task. If you're already over-stretched dealing with the pressures of today - it can seem like an impossible one. But building future planning into your everyday practices is not only vital - it's eminently doable. And who better to show us how than Stephen Millett - historian, futurist and management consultant for three decades? Managing the Future offers a straightforward and pragmatic approach to strategic planning. It takes an honest look at the limitations of forecasting, and shows (through real-life examples and a wealth of experience) how managers can best use a variety of futuring methods, including scenarios, horizon scanning and trend monitoring. Dr. Millett first outlines his Five Futuring Principles: they provide a clear theoretical framework for preparing an organization for the future. He then takes us through the practical steps involved in managing a forward-facing organization, including managing "futuring" (the external-to-internal process of scanning the environment to anticipate the trends that will affect your organization) and "visioning" (realizing the internal mission, values, aspirations and goals of an organization and its management, and then turning your organization outward to face the world).