What does the future mean?

This may seem obvious, but formal definitions aside the notion of the future has multiple meanings and will suggest differing plans of action for your institution. Here’s an example.

The “future” can mean

creativity, fear, risk, instability, knowable and unknowable…
in addition to  simply the “time after the present.”

Take time to define it for yourself –brainstorm

Sorting out a definition  for your institute and for the future is critical. Depending on how your institute defines future will have an impact on what you will be able to include or challenge as territory to be addressed.

Consider a vertical definition of the future in a college example. If “the future” is a body of knowledge to be learned and studied (yes, researched, too) , the institute becomes another  “department.”  So an empire of detached futures and futures studies emerges, perhaps to buddy up along side history, sociology, biology and math.

On the other hand, if you take an integrated, a more horizontal view, one builds the institute to explore and create linkages. For example, futures is essential in leadership, in planning, in finance and economics.  To the degree that it is integrated in thinking, it strengthens synergy and personal as well as organizational performance.

Futures wheels and mind mapping are useful here to brainstorm your definition.  Best to do one and use the forthcoming outcome as an initial, dynamic way to build your institute.

Define “The Future” Futures Wheel

What are your assumptions about your future?

Once you have preliminary definition for the future in place and have staked out some of the domain and range issues around that definition, you’re ready to draw some lines… or project some lines.

Here we’re applying the notion of assumptions to the expectations around critical forces that internally and externally drive your institute.

Here is AACC’s example:

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