In his recent book entitled The Invention of Tomorrow, psychologist and professor Thomas Suddendorf had this to say about the biological and evolutionary foundations of foresight in humans. “The data we do have are converging on a view that predictive processes are part and parcel of how brains function across…

When It Comes to Thinking About the Future, Should We Push or Pull? Prop-Up or Provoke? Conserve or Challenge? Futurists, Foresighters, and Future Thinkers Need to Continually Assess What (and Whose) Future They Are Helping to Create. — We Need to Acknowledge that the Practice of Futures Thinking and Foresight Has Problems I recently shared a post on social media around a few overlooked observations concerning the field of foresight & futures thinking that received a fair amount of attention (in the form of likes and comments). …

In a short piece by Dr. Marcus Bussey, we find a foresight and futures point of view that speaks to a deep futuring philosophy that exists beyond the popular simplism of deductive trend scouting, issue identification and forecasting practices that only serve to reinforce existing systems. “𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘶𝘴…

At this moment in history, the freedoms, civil liberties, and pluralism that are hallmarks of democracy are becoming increasingly fragile through the constant assault of authoritarian forces. Autocratic leaders and oppressive policies are seeking to claim power and control by promoting fear of “others,” restricting rights, creating social strife, and…

Moving Beyond VUCA, TUNA, and BANI One thing that is often overlooked in the numerous descriptions of what makes a good futurist is the personal worldview of those that are doing the trend hunting, pattern making, scenario writing, and speculative designing. Some of us are more pessimistic when it comes…

How should we respond to claims that the field of foresight — a mindset and practice that needs to be normalized in our schools, organizations, governments, and throughout society — is limited by academic and professional “gatekeepers”, and what is the best way to “democratize the future?” Frank Spencer Over…

Frank Spencer Foresight and Futures Thinking has become more popular than ever before, and organizations around the world are implementing a futures-oriented competency and culture as a means to navigate the social, economic, and governmental waters of exponential change. Does the discipline simply offer us a “better mousetrap” in terms…

Frank Spencer and Yvette Montero Salvatico The following article is an insider’s look at the TFSX approach to foresight — empowering the creation of transformation and higher-order purpose within organizations. The world needs leaders and organizations that have the courage to embrace the necessary change. We hope you join us on this journey! It’s been more than 20 years now. Twenty-plus years of helping companies to develop long-term “organizational relevance”; to create environments of future-readiness; to canvas the trends and insights that paint a picture of the impending threats, uncertain possibilities, and the “next big thing” that…

At this moment in history — especially with a constant awareness of every news story or personal opinion from every corner of our world due to the “always on” nature of social media — we are painfully aware that, for many, freedom is fleeting, fading and under attack. Countries that…