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Foresight impacts from around the world: a special issue

Jonathan Calof (Professor at the Telfer School of Management, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada)
Jack E. Smith (Adjunct Professor at the Telfer School of Management, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada)

Foresight

ISSN: 1463-6689

Article publication date: 24 February 2012

1492

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this article and special issue is to propose a framework for foresight impacts on policy and decision making. The need to identify direct impacts, measure them and identify the factors that lead to impact is the primary objective of the special issue and, as outlined in the article, represents a critical addition to the foresight field. On the basis of case studies, experience, and theoretical‐evaluative frameworks this issue seels to offer suggestions regarding the factors that may help policy makers, academics, consultants, and others involved in foresight produce impactful results.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology deployed for this article is both empirical and meta analysis. This introductory article is based on the special issue articles as well as the authors' extensive practical experiences in foresight.

Findings

Foresight does impact policy. Case studies and experiences in Europe, North America, Africa and Asia identified in the special issue provide support for this. Also, as difficult as it is to measure impact, the authors explore several frameworks that will help the foresight community demonstrate impact and prove the value of foresight.

Originality/value

The article highlights several frameworks that will help the foresight community demonstrate impact and prove the value of foresight.

Keywords

Citation

Calof, J. and Smith, J.E. (2012), "Foresight impacts from around the world: a special issue", Foresight, Vol. 14 No. 1, pp. 5-14. https://doi.org/10.1108/14636681211214879

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2012, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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