Foresight as an Outsider Activity

Futurist consultants who work with client organizations are typically outsiders, who may bring subjectivity to their foresight work but also less expertise in the client’s industry than insiders possess. Challenges include recognizing internal competing constituencies, engaging participants across departmental silos, building stakeholder networks, and overcoming an issue many consultants face of clients’ expectation not just to advise but also to implement strategies based on the foresight work. By Timothy C. Mack