ScMI AG accompanied, as exclusive partner, the German Conference for the European Women's Management Development International Network (EWMD) in Stuttgart.

Between the 20th and 22nd of September 2013, more than 80 participants discussed the ability of "Living and working in the future". The aim of the event was to identify opportunities and potentials for the future as well as to become acquainted with these scenarios as a thinking tool. The innovative format of the event was conceived by ScMI AG and allowed the participants to deal intensively with possible futures and independently develop alternative courses of action.

In the run-up to the Conference, participants could introduce their own ideas, such as the influencing factors from their daily work and life, in the process of scenario development. Thereby, ensuring all relevant and uncertain drivers were considered within the scenarios. These included for example; flexibility and self determination of life-time models, the role of wife and family, corporate structures, as well as the importance of the welfare state and access to education.
The Conference proceedings were divided into two phases, with the first module incorporating a future space with four possible development alternatives. The scenarios presented a glimpse into everyday work and private life over the coming decades.

In the second phase, participants elaborated on potential opportunities and different possible future developments for individual interest groups, such as self-employed or managerial people.
The findings of the future Conference will contribute to an improved understanding of life and work in the future. Even if not all future scenarios could resolve the dilemma between a fulfilled private life and satisfied career, the participants always, succeeded in showing plans of action and ways to identify opportunities. Barbara Hoffbauer, Member of the Board of Directors EWMD Germany e.V. and organizer of the 2013 Conference notes: "[Some scenarios] have appeared quite challenging to many participants. Proving, even more so, that it was worth our while to have dealt with such issues. It is vital for us to have a clear and alert look to the future in order to influence developments. The "D" in EWMD stands exactly for that."

The bottom line is that dealing with scenarios provided the participants with a different form of decision-making, therefore enabling them to look at the future with a systematic and action-orientated perspective.