Horizon scanning
Spot the signals that matter, before your competitors do.
Horizon scanning across sectors, technologies and regions, turned into a short list of the changes that matter to you.
Horizon scanning is the systematic search for early signs of change, such as new technologies, emerging trends and weak signals, that could affect an organisation in the future. The 311 Institute scans across sectors, technologies and regions rather than one industry, and tracks more than 1,000 emerging technologies and more than 1,000 trends in the 311 Starburst, so you see the signals your competitors overlook.
Outputs
What you receive
- The signals that matter to you, ranked by how soon and how hard they hit
- When each technology or trend is expected to reach the mainstream
- Which industries, markets and business functions each one affects
- Signposts to watch, and what to do first
How 311 does it
Anticipate, Assess, Act
Every 311 Institute foresight engagement follows the same three steps, researched by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
Anticipate
What is coming? We scan for the signals, technologies and trends that matter to you, and when each is likely to arrive.
Assess
Why should we care? We work out what each change means for your organisation, your sector, your markets and your people.
Act
What do we do about it? We turn the insight into decisions, signposts to watch and clear next steps your leaders own.
Who it is for
Built for the people who decide
Strategy and risk teams
Who need early warning of change.
Innovation and R&D leaders
Who need to know what to explore next.
Boards and executive committees
Who want a regular, evidence-led view of what is coming.
Governments and policy bodies
Who need to anticipate change across a whole economy.
How it works
What happens
- ScopeWe agree the areas, time horizon and questions that matter to you.
- ScanThe 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit scans conventional and unconventional sources across sectors, technologies and regions.
- FilterWe keep the signals that matter to you and date when each is likely to arrive.
- BriefMatthew briefs your leaders, and you agree what to watch and what to do.
Formats
In person first, virtual when you need it
In person (recommended)
In your boardroom, offices or offsite, anywhere in the world.
Virtual
A video session when travel is not possible.
One scan
A horizon scan ahead of a strategy day or investment decision.
Ongoing
Regular horizon scanning briefings for your leadership team.
Fees depend on the format, location and scope. Send a brief and we reply within one working day with a proposal.
Proof
Our horizon scanning in public
- The 311 Starburst CentreEmerging technologies and trends, mapped by when each arrives
- The daily foresight briefThe world's news on 15 global categories, every day
- Emerging technologies A to ZA page for every technology the 311 Institute tracks
- The 311 Foresight AtlasForesight organisations worldwide, A to Z
- SamsungShaped their 50-year Centennial vision of the future.
- WPPKey role in their global restructuring for the AI era.
“Led a 4-day think tank… far exceeded our expectations… incredible breadth of knowledge”
Robert Dessert, Qualcomm
Foresight tools
The 311 tools behind the work
The 311 Starburst
More than 1,000 emerging technologies and more than 1,000 trends, mapped by when each is expected to reach the mainstream.
ExploreThe 311 Foresight Atlas
The world's foresight and futures organisations, listed A to Z and never ranked.
ExploreThe daily foresight brief
Every day the 311 Foresight Tower reads the world's news on 15 global categories and writes a short brief.
ExploreThe 311 Prediction Benchmark
We publish every prediction before it happens, then mark it against a public source, hits and misses together.
ExploreStrategic Foresight for Leaders
A 137-page codex by Matthew Griffin on how to run your own strategic foresight programmes. Free to download.
ExploreTrusted by leadership teams at
and more than 500 organisations in 102 countries
- Accenture
- Adidas
- Coca-Cola
- IATA
- KPMG
- Microsoft
- PepsiCo
- Qualcomm
- Samsung
- Siemens Energy
- Workday
Answers
Common questions
What is horizon scanning?
The systematic search for early signs of change, such as new technologies, emerging trends and weak signals, that could affect an organisation in the future.
How is your horizon scanning different?
Most horizon scanning looks at one sector. We scan across sectors, technologies and regions, and date when each change is expected to reach the mainstream.
What sources do you use?
Thousands of conventional and unconventional sources, including research, patents, startups, investment and the world's news, read by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
How often should we scan the horizon?
At least once a year, and before any big strategy, investment or risk decision. Many organisations choose ongoing briefings.
How much does horizon scanning cost?
Fees depend on the format, location and scope. Send a brief and we reply within one working day with a proposal.
Briefing for your board or leadership team
A private, closed-door briefing on what is coming and what to do about it, in person first, anywhere in the world.
Enquire
Tell us what you need.
Matthew works in person first, so tell us where and when. We reply within one working day.
Related
Other ways to work with Matthew
Keynotes
Matthew Griffin brings the future to your stage, in language your audience can act on.
ExploreExecutive briefings
Private briefings for boards and leadership teams.
ExploreLeadership workshops
Hands-on sessions that turn the future into decisions.
ExploreCommission a report
Research on the question your organisation needs answered.
Explore