STRATEGIC FORESIGHT

We explore different, plausible futures that could occur, and the opportunities and challenges that might unfold with each.

WHAT IS STRATEGIC FORESIGHT?

Strategic Foresight is a disciplined, structured and systemic way of looking at and using ideas about the future to anticipate and better prepare for change and disruption.

Foresight is not the practice of predicting the future but rather helps you establish and examine the risks and opportunities of possible, credible pathways of change. We use exploratory approaches and a rigourous methodology to determine and investigate those potential futures; then we help people make better decisions today to ensure a resilient tomorrow.

In a world filled with constant and increasingly disruptive change, who has not been surprised or even blind-sided or by an unexpected news story, a rapid shift in operational norms, or a dramatic turn of events? Does your business need to rethink a strategy or offering because of something you had not expected? Navigating so much uncertainty can be overwhelming. We help organizations prepare for change before it happens. How could advancing technology change the way you create or deliver value? How might climate change radically interfere with your organization’s budgets, schedules or resource availability? How will demographic changes alter your strategy? What economic implications might there be from global power shifts or local events?

Through horizon scanning, trend and driver analysis, and scenario planning, foresight will help you anticipate and better prepare for the future. Human centred design approaches like ethnographic research, stakeholder engagement, and iterative prototyping can help you target solutions more specifically and effectively. Wind tunnelling and stress testing allows you to trial the effectiveness of your ideas before you launch. Foresight supports strategy, resiliency planning, policymaking, and business blueprints. It facilitates open-minded thinking in a collaborative environment to help you build consensus and plan. It forewarns of challenges to mitigate and opportunities to exploit.

OUR EXPERIENCE

Wide-ranging, International Experience

Founded in 2003, KerrSmith has established a reputation as one of North America's leading Strategic Foresight firms through international and broad cross-sector experience. Our foundation is built on deep foresight expertise that spans a wide range of industries, the public sector and clients of every size. We boast an unparalleled commitment to excellence in our futures work, underpinned by rigorous engagement, research and investigative standards. We use critical thinking throughout our process to frame projects, articulate needs and outline strategies.

KerrSmith’s strength lies in a vast proprietary database of signals of change, coupled with our unique abilities in customized Horizon Scanning, Scenario Planning, Future Ready Innovation Platforms, Resiliency Planning, Speculative Design and Immersive Futures.

A sampling of some of our Strategic Foresight reports.

KSD_Canada Council for the Arts Report Cover

A SELECTION OF OUR STRATEGIC FORESIGHT CLIENTS

Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning

City of Vancouver

Elections Canada

Canadian Forces College

Scotiabank

Ontario Ministry of Transportation

United Way

Secretariat of the Pacific Community

Canadian Opera Company

Metrolinx

City of Calgary

City of Toronto

Ontario College of Teachers

Creative Many Michigan

Strategic Foresight:
Deep Cross-Sector Expertise

KerrSmith operates with a service-driven approach. We collaborate with our clients, immersing ourselves in an understanding of their culture, context and their issues. The team, comprised of experienced researchers and Foresighters takes immense pride in our work ethic, accuracy, and reliability. This dedication has enabled KerrSmith to work in partnership with clients around the world, always prioritizing their best interests and striving for outstanding insightful results.

In the ever-evolving landscape of research, strategy and design, where the demands of volatile markets constantly shift, KerrSmith leads with our deep expertise across sectors, locations, and scales of Strategic Foresight. We recognize that while standard research and strategy frameworks have made formulating solutions appear easier, the true challenge lies in discovering, articulating and exploring future issues. Our Strategic Foresight approach builds truly resilient future-aware solutions.

We look at our clients’ culture, purpose, their competitive environment, value propositions, target markets and internal systems with a nuanced approach to Foresight, which involves understanding goals and capabilities. By doing a situation analysis, looking for ‘faint” signals on the horizon, using a framework to eliminate bias and scan in unexpected places we identify major trends and then pinpoint the "Drivers of Change" behind those trends for our clients. From there it is possible to create plausible scenarios for the future. The next step is to discuss implications and insights to lay the groundwork for appropriate or innovative solutions. Strategic Foresight is about looking forwards, not backwards for solutions in a collaborative and energetic process. Strategic Foresight is useful for risk management, corporate strategies, policies or the development of innovative design strategies and concepts that look towards the future.

KerrSmith Design
550 Queen St. East, Unit 335
Toronto, ON M5A 1V2
416-703-5377