Journey with us to explore the concept of sejahtera and how this Malaysian concept promotes sustainability and well-being in our lives. Discover more through our reflection on Asia Pacific Futures Network Conference 9 (APFN9) held in Kuala Lumpur in September 2023.

In our rapidly changing world, leaders have always tried to envision a single, predictable future that they can control. However, we are now realising that there are many possible futures that could unfold. Rather than focusing on just one future, we need to embrace the idea of multiple futures, where leadership and all stakeholders work together to create a diverse, inclusive, and sustainable world.

Discover why we use the term “futures” rather then “the future”, and we think you should too.

The futures of work are changing at a rapid pace, and it's hard not to be excited and curious about them! With the rise of robots, artificial intelligence, and smart technologies, it seems as though the possibilities are endless. What could happen next?

Rather than solely striving for financial success, an increasing number of people recognise the importance of leisure time. How could this change in values alter our relationship to work and leisure? What role will AI and automation play? Its time to start thinking about this emerging change and its impact!

Holacracy is a system of governance that seeks to replace the rigidity of a traditional command structure with a more flexible and adaptive system. Could it be the future of work?

Universal Basic Income is a system where all citizens of a country or state receive an income from the government to meet their basic needs. What could futures that include Universal Basic Income look like? How could it be funded?

As artificial intelligence and machine learning continue to evolve, so too will the role of robots in charity fundraising. Can we expect to see more human-robot teams in our futures?

Direct-to-avatar (D2A) is a new business model that allows companies to sell their goods directly to avatars or digital twins of customers in the virtual world. Could it become a reality?

A leased standard of living could exist where people pay one monthly subscription to receive all the goods and services they need - housing, food, entertainment and transport. Could this work appear?

Social ranking systems - part of our futures, or unlikely to happen? Have we already made the decisions that pre-empt a social ranking system?

Participatory budgeting - reality or fantasy? How could citizen lead decision making change the way you operate your for-purpose organisation?

Foresight is the ability to see beyond the present and into the future, and when used correctly, it can provide several benefits. So if you're looking for a way to boost your organisation's performance, foresight may be just what you need. In this post, we'll explore five benefits of using foresight in business. Keep reading to learn more!

The future is now. The pace of change and innovation has never been so fast or relentless. As a result, organisations need to plan for impact and growth with an eye on the future - which means using futures intelligence: trends, signals, emerging changes data to build foresight.

For-purpose CEOs and Boards will need to consider some big challenges as they plan for the next 5 to 10 years.

Here’s two frames to help you with your planning and decision making:

Plans=knowledge+assumptions,

and

performance=Plans(reality)

Building foresight capabilities supports long-term growth plans because foresight assumes that the future is not pre-determined. The future can move in a variety of directions, to some extent influenced by the plans and decisions you make today. Foresight adds value by providing a view of possible, probable and preferred futures, which supports your planning and decision making to deliver impact and future growth.

Forward thinking leaders need to develop the ability to scan for signals, issues and trends that are developing now and create a view on how they might play across a range of futures. We also need to be able to anticipate change and get ready for what might happen next. In some cases, we need to be able to create change ourselves and help build the futures we want to see.

It can be easy to believe that tomorrow will be like today—that customers will have the same demands, that businesses will operate in the same way, or that Governments will make similar decisions. These beliefs are comforting, in part because they suggest that nothing fundamental will change in our futures. But if we believe these things about futures, then we are limiting those who come after us to live in a world that is less than what it could be.

Forward-thinking CEOs and Boards are using foresight to plan for tomorrow. They're looking 5,10,20 years into the future to see what might happen. By doing this, they're able to make today's decisions with more confidence and greater reliability.