I've been reading a little bit today on scenario planning which is a tool to help forecast possible futures in the strategic planning process. I've included a link to the right that explains the process very simply as well as another link to a related blog. Scenario planning, at its core, is about looking out into the future to possible scenarios that could take place for the company. Usually, there are four extremes that are selected and the real future lies somewhere in between these four extremes.
Scenario planning can be used in the most basic sense, however. We need to use this process in business continuity and disaster planning to dream beyond our wildest imaginations to possible worst case scenarios. For example, had our government dared to dream outside what we consider reality, would we have envisioned 9-11 before it happened? We never even considered the possibility. Had BP ever dreamed that the Gulf disaster could happen? I doubt it. Given these recent events, perhaps scenario planning to the outermost extremes has a place in many business environments -- from the most positive possible to the worst possible.
Food for thought for today.
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