<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>For more than half a century scenario planning has been part of the toolbox for many strategic planners. The usefulness of the scenario approach is emphasized in turbulent times, as the ones we are living at present. Besides having proven its role in traditional strategic decision making, scenario planning can create value for a number of different purposes. In this article we briefly describe the history of scenario planning and its application in the field of strategy. Our main contribution is in highlighting other application areas for scenarios, like innovation, leadership, branding etc. Scenarios are in our opinion an excellent method to create appreciation for alternatives. And, at best, they contribute to exploration and learning of strategic territories that the decision maker has not been paying attention to. From “thinking the unthinkable” we now use scenarios to spot opportunities and build road maps to preferable futures. A proper scenario process allows disagreement of potential developments become an asset for the organization, fostering a constructive strategic discussion. And uncertainty becomes a friend, not a risk.</p>
</abstract>

For more than half a century scenario planning has been part of the toolbox for many strategic planners. The usefulness of the scenario approach is emphasized in turbulent times, as the ones we are living at present. Besides having proven its role in traditional strategic decision making, scenario planning can create value for a number of different purposes. In this article we briefly describe the history of scenario planning and its application in the field of strategy. Our main contribution is in highlighting other application areas for scenarios, like innovation, leadership, branding etc. Scenarios are in our opinion an excellent method to create appreciation for alternatives. And, at best, they contribute to exploration and learning of strategic territories that the decision maker has not been paying attention to. From “thinking the unthinkable” we now use scenarios to spot opportunities and build road maps to preferable futures. A proper scenario process allows disagreement of potential developments become an asset for the organization, fostering a constructive strategic discussion. And uncertainty becomes a friend, not a risk.

Scenarios – the art of bringing the future into today’s decision making!

Law and Business

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

For more than half a century scenario planning has been part of the toolbox for many strategic planners. The usefulness of the scenario approach is emphasized...

Scenarios – the art of bringing the future into today’s decision making!

Article Category: Research Article

Published Online: Dec 29, 2023

Page range: 12 - 21

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/law-2023-0003

Keywords
scenarios, strategic planning, applicarions

© 2023 Mikael Paltschik, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Scenarios – the art of bringing the future into today’s decision making!

Article Category: Research Article

Published Online: Dec 29, 2023

Page range: 12 - 21

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/law-2023-0003

Keywordsscenarios, strategic planning, applicarions

© 2023 Mikael Paltschik, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
scenarios, strategic planning, applicarions