Foresight Competency Model published in WFR

What do futurists need to know how to do? The APF’s Foresight Competency answers that in a new article: Building Foresight Capacity: Toward a Foresight Competency Model in World Futures Review. The development of a competency model is a nice milestone in the evolution of foresight – we’re growing up!

The purpose of the multi-cluster model is to clarify how futurists collectively view their knowledge, skills and abilities. The central cluster of the model is a circle of 6 foresight competencies: framing, scanning, futuring, designing, visioning and adapting (explained below). This central node is undergirded by a base of 3 clusters: personal, academic and workplace competencies. In turn, two competency clusters: sector and occupational roles are above the center foresight competencies.

Framing           Scoping the project, defining the focal issue and current conditions

Scanning         Exploring signals of change or indicators of the futures

Futuring          Identifying a baseline and alternative futures

Visioning         Developing and committing to a preferred future

Designing        Developing prototypes, offerings and artifacts to achieve vision and goals

Adapting         Enabling organizations to generate options to alternative futures

The model drew upon the framework that APF members helped develop for “Thinking about the Future” and “Framework Foresight.” One update was replacing the term “forecasting” with “futuring” to avoid confusion with non-futurist forecasting. Another was the addition of “designing,” with planning moved as a sub-competency. Finally, acting was renamed as adapting.

The model was a product of a task force of 23 futurists from 4 continents working on issues in professionalizing foresight. It was driven by a core team: Cornelia Daheim (Germany), me and Jay Gary (US), and Luke van der Laan (Australia) — I really enjoyed working with these folks. A great spirit of listening, understanding, sharing, and working toward solutions!

We followed the steps outlined in “A Guide for Developing Competency Models,” and accompanying tutorials from the Competency Model Clearinghouse website, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. The model is intended to demonstrate the recommended competencies that individuals preparing for or considering a futurist career ought to possess. They wrote up and posted a nice piece on our work.

We will, of course, revisit and update the competency model in the years ahead as needed. — Andy Hines

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