Thinking Forward, Thinking Foresight: towards a framework for designing foresight options

1
Thinking Forward, Thinking Foresight towards a
framework for designing foresight options

• Dr. Maria Nedeva, PREST, The Victoria University
  of Manchester, UK

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Why is a framework for designing foresight
options necessary?

• Issues in the context of providing advice
  regarding the organisation, running and
  implementation of Foresight Programmes
• Countries using foresight methodologies are
  culturally different
• Countries using (or wishing to use) foresight
  methodologies are at different socio-economic
  stages of development
• Assumption that there is always more than one
  good way to do things

3
Analytical framework

• Three axes of the analytical framework
• Elements of Foresight
• Diachronic axis
• Structural axis

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Elements of Foresight

• Coalition building
• Sponsorship
• Objectives
• Scope of the programme
• Research elements and methods

• Reflexivity
• Resources
• Level of the programme
• Type of intervention
• Outcomes

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Diachronic axis

• The discussion of the elements of a Foresight
  Programme should be conducted in the context of
  three points in time, namely initiation of the
  programme, running of the programme and
  implementation of its results.

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Structural axis

• The structural axis is provided by the
  actors/stakeholders involved in a Foresight
  programme and the patterns of relationships among
  these. Allocation of responsibilities and the
  ability of actors to enact these is highly
  dependent on their structural position.

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Relevant background information

• Orientation into the political, economic and
  research realities of a country
• Government and policy-making
• Industry and its research intensity
• National Research/Innovation System and its
  features