The World Economic Forum is proposing a “Great Reset” for a more equitable and sustainable world. Useful, I hope, but risks becoming a too simplistic or tentative response.
Many have an opinion onwhat the future should look like. But figuring out how we want the changes to happen is harder. The UK’s think tanky-like The RSA has a helpful framework.
Much of the commentary about getting ready for opening up the lockdown seems like a set of racehorses at the starting gate. Different ideas and special interests in fine fettle, champing at the bit waiting for the gates to open. A better future though is not about winning but travelling well.
Wellington, 2041. Most political imagery is trite and self-serving. But sometimes one captures the moment, galvanizes not just a party but the populace, and even endures. So it was with the then opposition leader Jo Smith’s 2029 “Pohutukawa speech.”
Another pandemic symptom is that everyone has opinions. But everything seems uncertain, so how can you reduce that? I look at a couple of approaches that help weed out some uncertainty so you can get to useful insights and actions.
Futures folk like animal metaphors for uncertainties. “Black swan” for example. This and other animal metaphors have also been applied to the coronavirus pandemic. They aren’t usually correct, but the metaphorical menagerie characterising uncertainties can be a useful tool in foresight.
