Singapore's foresight practices should be taken beyond the government

"You've got foresight." We say that when a friend anticipates something which turns out to be true. In academia and organisations though, the practice of foresight goes deeper, and it does not involve predicting the future. Originating from the United States military in the 1940s, foresight practices encourage a systematic study of potential future possibilities. They include trend analysis, a common established tool in many organisations, and less-widespread practices such as causal layered analysis, scenario planning and design fiction.

These practices encourage participants to think more deeply about present assumptions, and how they might be overturned in the future. Participants immerse in several possible future scenarios to enhance their capacity to prepare for and shape the future.

Singapore's public service has also been practising foresight. In a recently published study conducted at the National University of Singapore, we found that foresight practices have been introduced in Singapore by senior public servants over several decades.