Learning through foresight. Issue 4 (8th August 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Baskarada, Sasa; Shrimpton, Diana; Ng, Simon
• Editors: Cox, Deborah; Saritas, Ozcan
• Is Part Of: Foresight. Volume 18:Issue 4(2016)
• Publication Date: 2016-08-08
• Subjects: Forecasting -- Periodicals; Policy sciences -- Periodicals; 320.05
• DOI: 10.1108/FS-09-2015-0045
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1463-6689

Abstract

Abstract : Purpose: This paper investigates how and why foresight may affect individual and organizational learning. Design/methodology/approach: This paper builds on prior research through a qualitative study with 13 foresight practitioners. Findings: This paper derives four broad foresight capabilities that are underpinned by a number of interdependent factors, and relates those to the wider literature on individual and organizational learning. Practical implications: Practitioners may use this paper's findings to enhance any individual and organizational learning effects of foresight activities. Deriving four broad foresight capabilities via a range of interdependent factors may assist practitioners with evaluating and/or enhancing the effectiveness of these capabilities in an organized fashion. Additionally, the findings show that foresight mode, with its strong relationship to foresight-related accountabilities and incentives, plays a central role in all four foresight capabilities. This stresses the importance of having a continuous foresight capability with strong top-management commitment, effective governance, and clearly defined roles and responsibilities. Originality/value: This paper makes a number of theoretical contributions. First, it contributes toward further operationalizing foresight. Second, it demonstrates a substantial overlap between the concepts of foresight and absorptive capacity, which suggests that foresight scholars and practitioners may benefit from a large and mature related body of literature. Third, it identifies explicit links between specific foresight and individual/organizational learning constructs.