The new year was opened with drinks, lunch and good wishes. Then Dr Robert P. Bood, Managing Partner of Fairsights, see also www.fairsights.com, delivered a Lecture on: The Art of Scenario Thinking. Many companies appear unable to cope well with radical changes affecting their markets. They constantly lag behind new developments and try to adapt by the next reorganisation. Yesterday's winners suddenly turn out to be today's losers, in some cases even when they themselves have been at the forefront of new breakthroughs. Scenario thinking can help organisations deal with the uncertain future. Not by predicting future developments but rather accepting uncertainty. Thinking through future scenarios is more than simulating predictable shocks. Divergent scenarios offer alternative perspectives on the context around us. Ideally, this shifts the focus from reacting to external changes to creating new strategies, business models and products that come as a surprise to others. Bood had an engaging way of presenting, but above all, the content of his talk made us think.There were 41 listeners.

Description

We live in a time full of surprises. Some of them we welcome because they make life easier or healthier, like the iPad or medical breakthroughs. Others are downright unpleasant and cause numerous casualties. Newspaper headlines and television pictures say enough in this respect. Volatility and uncertainty are now the order of the day. Even the shortest period of stability no longer seems to exist. Many companies appear unable to cope well with radical changes affecting their markets. They are constantly running behind new developments and trying to adapt by the next reorganisation. Yesterday's winners suddenly turn out to be today's losers, in some cases even when they themselves have been at the forefront of new breakthroughs. Is it inevitable that organisations will be caught off guard by external developments from time to time, or can companies and governments anticipate tomorrow's trend breaks?
Scenario thinking can help organisations deal with the uncertain future. Not by predicting future developments but rather accepting uncertainty. Thinking through future scenarios is more than simulating conceivable shocks. Different scenarios offer alternative perspectives on the context around us. Not only is there more to see now than we are aware of, scenarios play an important role in the early detection of new forces and changes. Good scenarios shake up current ways of thinking at the same time. Ideally, this shifts the focus from reacting to external changes to creating new strategies, business models and products that come as a surprise to others

12.00h Reception with drinks
12.30h Sandwich lunch
13.30h Lecture Dr.Robert Bood

Speaker(s)

FairSights
Dr. Robert P. Bood

Location

Teahouse Cruquius

Cruquiusdijk 32 , 2142 ER Cruquius

Organiser

Region North-Holland

Name and contact details for information

Ir. Rien Vos , tel. 072-5321430

noordholland@kiviniria.nl