All of our experience is with the past, but all of our decisions are about the future. Many people have assumed that their past experience is a fairly reliable guide to the future-the future will simply be a bigger and better version of the world with which they are familiar. However, the pace of change now makes it clear to thoughtful people that continuity can no longer be taken for granted. In area after area today, we are confronted by true uncertainty: we really do not know what will happen, but we know it is going to happen more quickly.

The future cannot be predicted. The word "futures" in futures studies is plural because there is no one preordained future that is fated to occur. Rather, there are many different possible alternative futures. Instead of predicting what the future will be, futurists use a wide range of methodologies to engage in structured and thoughtful speculation about future possibilities. This helps people prepare for whatever future comes, and positions them to be more able to create the future they prefer.

You can view IAF’s Wiser Futures Compendium that showcases IAF’s Aspirational Futures approach to futures studies. The Wider Futures Compendium is part of the Wiser Futures Workshop run annually at the World Futures Society Annual Conference and is one of IAF’s many workshop conducted with clients. You can learn more about the services offered by IAF here.