These pages provide general information about horizon scanning, also known as scenario planning. There is a page about understanding horizon scanning, key definitions and resources.
Find out more about horizon scanning on these pages:
What is horizon scanning?
Horizon scanning is a procedure which involves the systematic observation and monitoring of various key drivers of change at the margins of current thinking and planning. It is sometimes known as scenario planning. The process highlights the principal drivers of change. These drivers can be technological, economic, political, ecological, socio cultural etc. The various ways in which such key drivers or trends are played out results in a set of stories or scenarios.
How scenario planning can help your organisation
Scenarios are a tool that can help you to imagine and therefore manage the future of your organisation more effectively. They can help you to:
- Anticipate, prepare and manage change giving advanced warning of the opportunities and threats that lie just out of sight
- Highlight possibilities for working in new ways and with other organisations
- Pinpoint demographic trends in the population which might require or desire particular services
Using these pages
You can find information here to understand the processes involved in horizon scanning should you wish to commission work in this area for your organisation. It is also envisaged that this information could be used to facilitate small in-house sessions in horizon scanning.