Foresight combines the processes of forecasting and backcasting (understanding how to prepare for what's to come with a vision of the ideal community in mind). In contrast, foresight starts with the future and reverse-engineers what needs to happen today to achieve the most desirable outcome in the future. In short, community visioning starts in the present and creates goals for the future. A visioning process usually starts in the present, analyzing current challenges that need to be overcome, current and potential future needs that must be addressed, and mutual goals and objectives that need to be achieved. In a visioning process, the community together with planners create a vision of the future and identify goals and objectives based on the community's values. It is important to understand the difference between creating a vision and practicing foresight. INTEGRATE FORESIGHT INTO YOUR COMMUNITY VISION For planners, engaging the community in foresight makes the process more inclusive and will result in equitable and sustainable solutions. In foresight, engaging diverse teams with diverse perspectives is critical to avoid missing signals or trends that might not be obvious or seem immediately related to planning. Scenario planning: creating multiple plausible futures.Sense-making: connecting trends and signals to planning to explore how they will impact cities, communities, and the way planners do their work.Signal sensing: identifying developments in the far future and in adjacent fields outside of the conventional planning space that might impact planning.
THE CENTER AT FORESIGHT DRIVERS
Trend scanning: researching existing, emerging, and potential future trends (including societal, technological, environmental, economic, and political trends, or STEEP) and related drivers of change.The most important components (and most relevant to planning) include the following: There are multiple approaches and methodologies to practicing foresight. And it can foster community engagement and allow for more inclusive and equitable outcomes. It can make long-range planning more resilient and nimbler. Planners can use foresight to help their communities navigate change and uncertainty. Using foresight in planning provides multiple benefits. Understanding how markets, consumer behaviors and preferences, or applications may change can help businesses to adapt as needed to remain successful and become more resilient. In the business world, strategic foresight is used to "future-proof" a product, a business plan, or an entire company. Membership for Allied Professionals & CitizensĮducation, Work, and Experience Verificationįoresight helps planners create a nimble plan for the future.