Special Report for Executive Boards: “Strategy in an Unpredictable World”

Download the report and get:

• An explanation of why the era of forecasting has come to an end and how strategic foresight differs from futurology: it is not a more accurate “crystal ball,” but a completely different way of thinking about the future.
• McKinsey’s four-level framework of uncertainty and an analysis of the most costly mistake made by boards: planning at Level 1 in a world that is already operating at Level 3 or 4.
• Hard data shows that resilience pays off: companies that are well-prepared for the future achieve 33% higher profitability and 200% faster market capitalization growth than the industry average, while 50–90% of strategies fail to deliver the expected results.
• A map of the five schools of foresight (from Shell and McKinsey to MIT Sloan) and the five foundations of strategic vigilance—from a system for detecting weak signals to the early-learning loop.
• An analysis of the three types of scenarios and the four pitfalls that turn a well-crafted script into a document that ends up in a drawer (including the “middle scenario” pitfall).
• A framework for a portfolio of strategic options (big bets, options, no-regrets moves) and principles for building an early-warning radar system that bridges the gap between thinking about the future and specific management decisions.
• Strategic Resilience Audit — 10 Diagnostic Questions for the CEO with Immediate Interpretation of the Results: Does Your Company Need Strategic Foresight, and How Urgent Is It?