Global Foresight Public Lecture: Reaching for the moon? How to move distant and unknown futures

We know little about how organizations move towards distant and unknown futures. However, it is imperative to understand how, for example, actors can work towards CO2-neutral futures, which lie far beyond their strategic time horizons. The field has relied either on goal- or strategy-driven models or processes of imagining distant futures on the other. Neither of these seems satisfactory to understanding this crucially important conundrum of present-day organizations. I will discuss one way of addressing the problem, based on a recent paper co-authored with Miriam Feuls and Majken Schultz, in which I propose the concept of path enactment. Path enactment is a way to understand how future solutions act as “placeholders” that constitute multiple possible paths towards the future. While enacting paths of solutions, actors draw upon various mechanisms to select or validate alternative paths. I conclude the presentation by suggesting further research.

To register for in-person attendance, please contact Ellen Werner at ellen.werner@swedishcollegium.se.

Physical space is limited; however, online participation via Zoom is available for those who cannot attend in person: https://uu-se.zoom.us/j/64437263580