Foresight with multistakeholder groups

A lot of work recently focused on foresight for alignment building between multi-stakeholder groups, for instant between the trade unions, employers associations and state with regards to an industrial policy for a Swiss Canton, and a consultative committee made up of various civil society representatives regarding a future infrastructure project.

Whilst participants in such projects will never agree on absolutely everything, it is remarkable how it is possible to develop a much more positive dialogue by having all share their understanding of what the future may bring. Having done this, they are much better able to understand why others behave as they do. It is not because they are unfriendly or foolish, but rather where they sit means they see different trends and future changes, and as a result, they believe other things need to be done today.

This realisation opens the door to finding options that work for all concerned, regardless of which future turns out to be true. It also allows a group of participants to bond in a way that would otherwise be more difficult.