In the reprint „How to anticipate the future with scenarios” Alexander Fink, Oliver Schlake and Andreas Siebe explain the importance of scenarios to the early detection and how scenarios facilitate the decision-making process.

Many market environments change nowadays so rapidly and dynamically that companies are having substantial trouble foreseeing and planning their future. Risk management does not suffice in order to anticipate all future threats. Therefore companies should know what their success potentials are worth in the future and how to use them in the best possible way. Strategic early diagnosis is therefore imperative. Strategic early diagnosis, however, offers useful conclusions only when combined with scenarios.

Scenarios cover different market signals and trends thus enabling their inclusion in the strategic planning and decision-making processes. Many companies develop scenarios and are able to operate in a focussed way. Such a strategic foresight is an art – the dexterity of an organization to give shape to its visions and future and then derive from them its efficient actions.

The reprint from the Harvard Business Manager from 2/2000 can be ordered free of charge...

< Prev