Futurescan system

Slaughter defines the process as follows: “Futurescan is a middle-level iterative and exploratory method. It can be carri.e.d out much more quickly than full-scale scenario building and its results are more provisional. It is based on two full-day workshops. The first carries out a standard analysis of the organisation, then derives a long list of trends and events that could affect its future. These are prioritised and the ‘top ten’ items are entered into a cross-impact matrix. The matrix is analyzed to reveal driving forces and inhibiting factors in that environment. The output is embedded in three ‘scenario shells’, ie, three simple and partly preconstructed pictures of the near-term macro-future. Each ‘picture of a future’ is then examined and a number of strategic options are derived. The latter are tested for relevance and effectiveness. In short, futurescan is a simple, ‘front end’ and middle range technique. It can be used with small organisations or with larger ones as an input to a larger strategic planning or foresight exercise. Its drawbacks are that it can be used as ‘window dressing’ if a commitment to the implementation of outputs is lacking. Alternatively, it is a very effective way of providing a new team with some of the tools of this kind of work.”