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Strategic Foresight and Scenario Planning for Leaders, 311 Institute
Connectivity, digitisation, and new technologies are accelerating the rate of global disruption, and its impact on global business, culture, and society is increasing with every new cycle. As a result strategic foresight and scenario planning are now must haves not nice to haves.
Cite or link to this article
Griffin, M. (2024) 'Strategic Foresight and Scenario Planning for Leaders, 311 Institute', 311 Institute, 1 March. Available at: https://www.311institute.com/strategic_foresight_and_scenario_planning_for_leaders/ (Accessed: 1 October 2026).
STRATEGIC FORESIGHT FOR LEADERS
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THE FUTURE is ours to create and while we all have the responsibility to help create a utopian, rather than dystopian, future its benefits must be accessible to all of us. For many of us though reaping the benefits of this future, whether those are cultural, economic, or social, is little more than a pipe dream. Therefore at the 311 Institute it’s our mission to democratise access to the future and support and amplify the voices of people who create and promote change for good, which then brings me to the reason why this codex exists, to help each of you unlock your own potential and play your role in creating this fair future.
The purpose of this codex is to give academia and governments the insights and tools they need to future proof students against the best and worst our shared future has to offer.
As a futurist I have the privilege of having a front row seat to the future and because I work with many of the household brands you use every day to build it it’s arguable that I know more about it’s intricacies, oddities, and nuances than anyone, which puts me in a good position to harness my knowledge and insights for you and your students benefits.
As a result of this I see first hand the giant gap between our current “Industrial Age” education systems curricula, forged long ago and little changed since, and the education system we need to have to ensure our children prosper not flounder in the future we’re creating.
I’m also not the only one with this view. From billionaire philanthropists and business leaders, to parents, regulators, teachers, world leaders, and even the education ministers of countries such as the UK and UAE I have yet to meet anyone who thinks that our current education system is fit enough to meet the of our future society or workforce. Or even today’s.
Ultimately, if left unaddressed this gap risks leaving hundreds of millions of individuals around the world in a future limbo where their future lives will be dominated by technology led change, which will happen at increasing speed, and by a jobs market that’s in a constant state of flux which they’ll struggle to find a place in, navigate, and understand.
It is my hope, therefore, that this codex and the Exponential Futures Curriculum (EFC) will help close this gap and give everyone, irrespective of their ability, background, or circumstances, the opportunity to contribute and prosper in the future.
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Matthew Griffin
Founder
What this means for your organisation
Disruption cycles are speeding up.
Connectivity, digitisation and new technologies are increasing the pace of change. Plans built on the past age quickly. Leaders should refresh scenarios more often than annual plans.
Education lags the future.
Industrial Age curricula have changed little while work keeps shifting. Many leaders and ministers agree the system is not fit for purpose. Firms should invest in future skills for their own people.
Access to foresight should be wide.
Benefits of the future are not shared equally today. Broad access helps more people adapt and contribute. Make foresight part of training at every level, not just the board.
Three questions for your next leadership meeting
- How often do we update the scenarios behind our strategy?
- Which future skills are missing from our workforce today?
- Who outside the board takes part in our foresight work?
The trends and technologies behind this story
From the 311 Starburst, the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit’s map of the technologies and trends shaping the next 50 years.
Analysis by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit, from Matthew Griffin’s article and 311 data. First published on Fanatical Futurist.
FAQ
Why does this matter?
Connectivity, digitisation, and new technologies are accelerating the rate of global disruption, and its impact on global business, culture, and society is increasing with every new cycle. As a result strategic foresight and scenario planning are now must haves not nice to haves.
About the author
Matthew Griffin Founder, President and Futurist, 311 Institute
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath."
Read full bio
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath." 17-time best selling author of the "Codex of the Future" series, Matthew is the Founder, President and Futurist of the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures advisory firm working with royal households, world leaders, G7, G20, and G77 governments, NGOs, and multi-national mid and mega cap firms to help them explore, shape, and lead the next 50 years of business and society.
An award-winning YouTube creator with over a million followers, with an unrivalled global reach and impact, Matthew is a highly sought-after international keynote speaker, lecturer, and mentor who collaborates with global leaders through the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to shape pivotal initiatives such as the UN’s AI for Humanity programme, the United Nations Conference of the Parties (UN COP), and the World Economic Forum in Davos.
As the former Global Head of Cloud, National Security, and Enterprise Sales for companies including Atos, Dell-EMC, and IBM, Matthew has a proven track record of building multi-billion dollar business units and turning failing divisions into market leaders. His ability to identify, analyse, and communicate the implications of hundreds of emerging technologies and trends is unparalleled, and his insights are trusted by many of the world’s most respected organisations, including ABB, Accenture, Adidas, AON, ARM, BCG, Centrica, Citi, Coca-Cola, Dentons, Deloitte, Dow Jones, EY, Google, KPMG, Lego, Legal & General, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Qualcomm, RWE, Samsung, Siemens AG and Siemens Energy, T-Mobile, UBS, VISA, Walmart, Workday, Worldpay and many others.
Regularly featured in the global media including the AP, BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, Discovery, Forbes, Khaleej Times, Telegraph, TIME, ViacomCBS, WIRED, and the WSJ, Matthews mission is to help organisations create a fair and sustainable future whose benefits are shared by everyone irrespective of their ability, background, or circumstances.
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Source: first published by the 311 Institute on 1 March 2024. Cite as: Griffin, M. (2024). Strategic Foresight and Scenario Planning for Leaders, 311 Institute. 311 Institute. https://www.311institute.com/strategic_foresight_and_scenario_planning_for_leaders/
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