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We just finished our visioning module in Strategies class. So it seems time to review the vision of our beloved Houston Foresight program. Also, I’ve been thinking it’s time to revisit our plan. The last effort was in 2014 when I took over the program. We are now in a different place with a nice jump in enrollment, a solid research portfolio, and a thriving certificate program. I recall the late Clay Christensen of Innovator’s Dilemma fame that the best time to plan is when things are going well (not when you’re in trouble).
A happy coincidence there is that we are going to apply to the new WFSF accreditation program, which of course will require us to take stock anyway.
The graphic suggests how we think about our vision. We start by noting the importance of our work. I think the Houston program has a reputation of being very project-focused. I think that is true and I’m pleased about that. BUT, that doesn’t mean we don’t care about the big issues of the future of humanity and the planet. It is our view that our best hope for addressing these big issues is having competent futurists doing project work on them!
Our big vision is for the field at large – foresight is routine and in widespread use. Another way to look at that is we don’t have to explain what it is all the time.
The program vision is that we hope that when organizations feel like they need a person or persons to be trained in Foresight – or when an individual feels they must be trained to be a futurist — we’re the place to go. – Andy Hines
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