Three experiments: The exploration of unknown unknowns in foresight

Authored by Leena Ilmola, Elena Rovenskaya

Date Published: 2016

DOI: 10.1016/j.techfore.2015.12.015

Sponsors: No sponsors listed

Platforms: AnyLogic

Model Documentation: Other Narrative Flow charts

Model Code URLs: Model code not found

Abstract

Emerging uncertainties present a challenge to decision making. On the basis of a review of existing scenario methods, we examine how ontological uncertainty, that is, the situation in which we do not know what we do not know, is included in scenario processes. We present three experimental foresight methods applicable for cases dominated by uncertainty; structural scenarios, shock scenarios and action portfolio and Agent-Based Modeling. The main finding of our experiment is that in order to address uncertainty, we have to relax the plausibility requirements and focus the analysis on futures that are perceived to be non-probable. In this way we are able to challenge existing perceptions and multiply the number of mental models of the futures. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Tags
Uncertainty Innovation Decision-Making resilience Methodology Scenarios Organization Future Causal layered analysis Strategic foresight