The Art of the Long View Paths to Strategic Insight for Yourself and Your Company
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Scenario planning is non predicting the time to come. Rather, information technology is almost challenging the official future, and the assumptions that underlie information technology. Scenarios force y'all to examine your unspoken beliefs and values, the testify supporting them, and how y'all might react in the future. An organization that includes scenario planning in its process is better able to react to rapidly changing weather condition, and less likely to exist rendered slowly obsolete through technological change.
Scenario planning is inherently interdisciplinary. A scenario program has to include technological, economic, cultural, and political factors, also as individual psychology. Broad areas of noesis rather than deep and narrow research is amend suited at picking up on trends. The ideas and forces that most powerfully influence the future originate on the margins of gild, among the dispossessed, the utopian, or the just obviously weird. Finally, Schwartz includes a detailed, viii stage guide to using scenarios in your own organisation, with a good remainder of theories and examples. Perhaps the ultimate success of scenario planning is that information technology creates a shared language to talk about the future.
Scenario planning might not be near predicting the future, but a futurist who makes no predictions isn't very useful. The book was published in 1991, and some parts feel oddly anachronistic, like the Japanophilia, the groping towards a 'digital global teenager', and the absence of the War on Terror. On the other hand, he offers three scenarios for the world in 2005: New Empires focused on regional militarism, Market World with multicultural entrepreneurialism, and Modify Without Progress, where the wealthy hollow out states, and fear of losing what little remains prevents successful action. Change Without Progress is strikingly similar to the globe today, with our one%ers and 99%ers, paralyzed multinational bodies, and collapsing infrastructure.
Scenario planning is not a strict methodology that automatically produces valid results, it's an attitude towards the time to come that is based on wide understandings of historical forces and skepticism about the condition quo. The results will vary on the quality of the questions you can inquire, the data available, and the conversation you foster. But as far as crystal balls go, scenario planning is one of the best.
...moreI must acknowledge that I was very sceptical about the procedure of "scenario planning", having been introduced to the concept a couple of years dorsum in some planning practice. The scenarios raised in some cases were so outlandish that virtually people's immediate instinct, including my ain, was to dismiss the scenario as ridiculous or fantastical (what would happen if engineering science became so advanced that employers commencement to supersede their workers with robots?). Reading Schwartz's book, I at present realise that it wasn't a problem with the methodology, information technology was a trouble with the facilitator. As Schwartz explains, "scenarios are stories most the style the world might plough out tomorrow, stories that can help us recognise and adapt to irresolute aspects of our nowadays surroundings....scenario planning is well-nigh making choices today with an agreement of how they might turn out". For scenarios to work, and by work, Schwartz doesn't mean that you accurately predicted how the time to come would unfold. Rather, a scenario works if the storyline is plausible and strikes a chord with decision makers, such that they learn to recognise developments signalling a shift from the electric current plot and change their behaviour accordingly.
Information technology's easy to dismiss scenario planning as mere storytelling and theatre. Indeed, Schwartz talks nigh how 1 can use powerful images - the illustration of a shattered Humpty Dumpty being used to illustrate the inability of OPEC to regain its former forcefulness - to seize people's imaginations and attending nigh the future. Just at its centre, scenario planning is nearly sensemaking - looking at myriad bits of information about the world, filtering them and trying to sympathise what they're telling you lot virtually how the earth is irresolute. A thought provoking read.
...moreTW
...moreAs the title suggests, the method has a lot of art and no assurances that a reader can replicate this technique in their organization for a number of reasons. It's hard to argue whether the technique works or not considering there are so many means information technology can go incorrect that accept cipher to do with the technique. The author warns of a number of these potential pitfalls. For case, this whole affair could autumn on its face if the senior leadership dominates the conversation or the organization does not buy into it. Every bit mentioned earlier, the narrative development procedure could be misused or pb people badly astray without watching for some of the cognitive glitches and biases Kahnemann warns near in "Thinking Fast and Irksome."
...moreThe most valuable insight in Schwartz's book is
A bit like "Good Strategy Bad Strategy" in that information technology is adequately straightforward and discusses standard corporate planning and strategy fare. Again, nothing too earth-shattering, though to someone not familiar with this sort of scenario-based planning, it is a great introduction. For the more than advanced reader or practitioner, information technology still has value insofar as it simplifies and codifies what good scenario-based planning is all well-nigh - better decision-making.The virtually valuable insight in Schwartz'due south book is that the finish result is not necessarily an accurate picture of tomorrow, just ameliorate decisions about the future. (9) This is not to say that scenarios need non be realistic. On the opposite, Schwartz spends a peachy deal of time extolling the virtues of information-gathering (both regarding specific scenarios and in general) and emphasizes that a critical first pace in scenario building is determining driving forces, predetermined elements, and critical uncertainties. For those familiar with military machine planning, those ought to await a lot similar Centers of Gravity, Assumptions, and Commander's Disquisitional Information Requirements.
His case on page 191, introducing the concept of "rehearsing the time to come," sums up the intent of scenario-based planning. He likens it to rehearsing for three separate plays at the same time and not knowing which one you volition perform until you walk out on stage opening night and must decide which play information technology is past looking at the scenery effectually yous. Scenario-based planning, hopefully, prepares y'all to deal with an uncertain future.
...moreI'chiliad reviewing the 1996 edition.
What the book does well.
Information technology's a great sales pitch for the concept of scenario-building. I'thousand sold on the idea.
Information technology's very outgoing and easy reading. At that place are a lot of anecdotes, asides about history, civilisation, and social observations. I appreciated Peter Schwartz'due south cracking powers of observation.
That said, the writing style is mostly in the course of anecdotes, almost of which will exist confusing to readers wh
I'1000 reviewing the 1996 edition.
What the book does well.
Information technology's a great sales pitch for the concept of scenario-building. I'm sold on the idea.
It'south very outgoing and like shooting fish in a barrel reading. In that location are a lot of anecdotes, asides about history, culture, and social observations. I appreciated Peter Schwartz's keen powers of observation.
That said, the writing fashion is mostly in the form of anecdotes, nearly of which will be confusing to readers who did not grow up in the 80s. The book's age is a abiding lark.
In that location are a lot of fantabulous bookish level concepts on scenario-building, how information technology work, why it works, how to make it work. Most of it is summarized in the alphabetize, which is non to miss.
Overall, it's a great introduction to the concepts of scenario planning. Information technology has many flaws, only it'southward well worth reading.
...moreSchwartz unpacks a lot of themes in this book like the ability of narratives, multifariousness of thought, and organizational resiliency.
Nevertheless, arguably his best contribution is the met
This book is not most predicting the future, rather information technology is about perceiving futures in the nowadays as a means to penetrate our assumptions and internal mental defenses. Put simply, this book is about how to adapt and survive in an ever changing surround by asking the correct questions through scenario based reasoning.Schwartz unpacks a lot of themes in this book like the ability of narratives, diversity of thought, and organizational resiliency.
Notwithstanding, arguably his best contribution is the method of questioning that helps us become to know "the shape of unfolding reality."
...more thanAt this fourth dimension Peter Schwartz was at Stanford developing methods for scenario planning and when Wack later on retired from Crush Schwartz was his successor. Today he is seen as a leading futurist. Afterwards leaving Shell, Schwartz co-founded the strategy firm Global Concern Network and every bit of 2011 he'southward responsible for strategic planning at Salesforce.com. This book is by many considered as the seminal work on scenario planning and the author wants to teach the readers how to plan for the hereafter and thus be prepared for whatever happens. I came into contact with "The Vanquish Way" as part of a contempo McKinsey presentation. The methods are still in employ.
"Run a risk means more things tin can happen than will happen." Even though the future is basically unknowable this doesn't mean we cannot fix for it. Scenario planning is a key tool in this respect. By creating frameworks that combine a number of complex drivers for change and causal links, scenarios can exist constructed that aid companies in their long term planning. By having discussed various scenarios of the future and having planned responses to them were they to become reality, the mental mindset of management becomes less dried and overconfident in what they might previously have considered as the most probable future. With the scenarios at manus it's further possible to have a sharper eye when looking for signs of which of the multiple futures that seams to be developing into reality.
The Fine art of the Long View is not really a practical handbook in how to perform the craft of scenario planning. Sure, the procedure is described hither and there in the text and the chapters are bundled in accordance with a scenario analysis, but the book is as much a celebrated business relationship of the strategic work in Beat during a menstruum of time, a biography of Peter Schwartz himself and a number of philosophical thoughts on forecasting and making plans for the future - although always with a firm belief that forecasting is possible and necessary. Quite a lot of the text regards the work of "futurists" plus the methods for and value of holding strategic discussions in companies. I found the volume a chip muddled and also a bit dated. The faith in the clairvoyance of corporate strategic planners has faded considerably since the 1990's. All the same, forecasting is still a big business concern. Overall I'chiliad in the author'south camp on using scenarios to liberate the mind from set notions just the book could have been much more stringent and helpful in guiding the reader. In the subsequently 1996 edition of the book a much-needed appendix chosen Steps to Developing Scenarios was added.
In the book, three scenarios for 2005 are laid out. This created the need for a follow up and in 2011 a 60-page text called Learnings from the Long View was published, discussing general lessons on forecasting learnt during the years (many that resonate well with the more recent findings of behavioural finance and group psychology), reviewing the onetime scenarios and as well crafting new ones for 2025.
The piece of work of Wack and Schwartz was surely groundbreaking at the fourth dimension and Beat out no doubt owes them a bang-up deal. For someone that is interested in scenario analysis in 2014 I would suspect there are several more gimmicky books that serve the purpose better.
...more thanSo this is an overview of how to exist a "futurist," which is someone who tries to anticipate how various changes in business concern, culture, and whatsoever else will affect the choices you make today. Schwartz draws generally on his work at Beat back in the 70s and 80s to talk about creating scenarios, which are narratives of possible futures. The information is solid, challenging the reader to consider if this happened, then what--it's not a hard concept, but not one that pe
Really 2.5 stars, but Goodreads.So this is an overview of how to be a "futurist," which is someone who tries to anticipate how diverse changes in business concern, civilisation, and whatever else volition affect the choices you brand today. Schwartz draws mostly on his work at Beat out dorsum in the 70s and 80s to talk near creating scenarios, which are narratives of possible futures. The information is solid, challenging the reader to consider if this happened, so what--it's not a difficult concept, but not one that people lay out very frequently.
It was an interesting read, but i of the biggest drawbacks is that information technology's so very dated. Schwartz wrote this in the early 90s, which ways the world he's describing doesn't all the same have the Clinton impeachment, September xi, the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, the global financial crash of 2008, or the rise of far-right ideology in America, India, Britain, and many other countries. Schwartz is still talking about the possibilities of electronic networking around the world because the internet was still finding its feet at that signal and nothing of social media all the same existed. He spends some time praising the idea of virtual reality and what that will bring to things, which is mode far off of what VR really is these days.
That doesn't brand the book bad, only less useful. Schwartz has a futurecast scenario for 2005, which is now 13 years agone. Some of what he called is shut, and so manifestly his method works, simply much of information technology is altered by huge things he just could not take seen. Some great ideas, but bound to their fourth dimension, which is a bit unfortunate for a book nigh looking alee. Have the steps, leave the narratives.
...moreA complete scenario session puts you on right business track. Just there is a prerequisite, and this is a big prerequisite - yous demand to practise a tons, tons, and tons of field research on what customer is actually looking for. You spend fourth dimension and energy to know that even during the hard economic times, people are still
The book utilized the notion of "scenario" to explain lots of phenomenons from business earth, such equally which business does well during which period of time which really fabricated sense to me.A complete scenario session puts y'all on right business rails. But at that place is a prerequisite, and this is a large prerequisite - you lot need to do a tons, tons, and tons of field enquiry on what client is really looking for. You spend time and energy to know that even during the hard economic times, people are still wanting luxury-priced goods because of this and that, all of which you constitute in the scenario pre-inquiry, then y'all made the conclusion that under this scenario, expensive gardening tool business shall survive such recession menstruum.
I would say this, this volume does convey a adept corporeality of useful data and it's an old volume that "refreshes" relatively modern minds.
...moreThe valuable office of this book is an in-depth description of methods and ways of thinking adult in Crush for their strategic conversations. It'southward only what I was looking for.
Some of the illustrating stori I enjoyed Schwartz arroyo to the scenario planning - "Using scenarios is rehearsing the future. You run through the simulated events as if yous were already living them. You train yourself to recognize which drama is unfolding. That helps you avoid unpleasant surprises, and know how to act."
The valuable role of this book is an in-depth description of methods and ways of thinking developed in Shell for their strategic conversations. It'due south only what I was looking for.
Some of the illustrating stories are really squeamish, also examples of scenarios. Having in mind the book is written 30 y ago, those guys were really insightful about plenty of topics. Some other stories were harder to focus on, but I might get dorsum to them some other time.
It goes on my list of the top strategy reads
...moreIt talks about the origin of the discipline & the first projects that had successfully used this planing tool.
The books lays the foundations of this field of cognition in a really skilful way, with an easy to understand language away from any embegouty.
The process he describes is a bit onetime subsequently this
The book is one of the classics in the strageic scenario planning technique as a more effective way of strategic planing than the traditional fixed way of seeing only ane future state & piece of work towards it.It talks near the origin of the subject & the first projects that had successfully used this planing tool.
The books lays the foundations of this field of knowledge in a actually good mode, with an like shooting fish in a barrel to sympathize language abroad from any embegouty.
The process he describes is a flake sometime afterwards this years. All in all I recommend the volume for anyone who wish to have a practiced introduction session virtually the subject.
...moreMust read for all current a futurity leaders of the military. This is how you develop strategic thinkers who may be positioned at the strategic, operational or tactical level.
I managed to detect a few useful tips for improving my hereafter scenario work.
Notwithstanding the publication from 1997 contains examples that take get very outdated.
This was an piece of cake read and is definitively a "must read" for any futures specialist.
I managed to find a few useful tips for improving my future scenario work.
However the publication from 1997 contains examples that take become very outdated.
...more
Highlights importance of reading (and writing?) fiction, of imagination and inventiveness, and building diverse INTELLECTUAL teams.
I wish it had the tools more conspicuously defined.
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