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In Futures Resea
rch class last week, we reviewed our Framework Foresight method from A to Z. I emphasize that my goal for everyone is to understand how a core foresight method works so that they can look at other methods and understand the similarities and differences. My view is that methods have much more in common than they are different. I referred to the difference as that method’s “special sauce.” It’s how the method (well, really its practitioner) differentiates what they do.
I believe that some practitioners will argue that they have “magic sauce.” The method is better than everyone else’s because they have secret ingredients. Baloney! Special, sure… magic, nope! When you dig into methods you see the core of them is hard work. It’s not magic. A good method helps guide the hard work that must be done to understand your topic. There are no shortcuts or easy answers.
Special sauce is indeed very important. I hope that my students find their special sauce, so-to-speak. What are they drawn to? What are they good at? Where can they make a unique contribution? That is a great thing for the individual to find, and it benefits the field when we have lots of tasty varieties of foresight sauce.
What’s your Foresight “special sauce? – Andy Hines
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