Questioning the Future: Methods and Tools for Organizational and Societal Transformation

by Sohail Inayatullah

Questioning the Future presents chapters on foundational concepts, theories and methods in futures studies in addition to constituting a practical workbook for the manager or social activist who desires to use the future to transform organizations. It addresses the questions such as: How can anticipatory action learning help organizations plan for the future? What are the limits to strategic planning and scenario planning? What are the latest trends in Futures Studies? How can causal layered analysis unveil the future? How can the study of grand patterns of social change help in understanding the future? In sum, Questioning the Future addresses these and other questions on the nature of futures studies, action learning and organizational transformation are explored in this book.

The book is divided into two parts. Chapters in Part one are focused on:

The Study of the Future
Macrohistory and Grand Patterns of Change
Case studies in Scenario Planning and Visioning
New Methodologies, such as Nuts and Bolts and Causal Layered Analysis
Poststructuralism as method
Tips and Pitfalls of Futures studies as a consultancy
Trends in Futures Studies.

Chapters in Part two are focused on:

Using the Future to Transform Organizations
Action Learning and Futures Studies
Layered Questioning
Creating a Learning Organization and Healing Organization
Implementing Futures
Questions and Answers for the Busy Associate, an imaginary conversation with a bottom-line oriented executive.

Over 40 pages of appendices provide bullet point illustrations of approaches and methods in Futures Studies.

The book is divided into two parts and consists of thirteen chapters. In addition, over 40 pages of appendices provide bullet point illustrations of approaches and methods in Futures Studies.

243 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002