Future – Getting There Early
If anyone doubted that we are living in a VUCA world of volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity, recent events have surely erased those doubts. Things that looked stable and predictable just a short time ago are no longer so, deeply held assumptions are being questioned and reconsidered, previously unthinkable ideas are beginning to look like new navigation points.
The major institutional decisions we make today will have significant future implications. To make better decisions today we need to better understand the changes that are underway in our world. This requires a new mindset. Traditionally, choices about the future have been based largely on past experiences as modified by known or pending changes and by accounting for the cyclical nature of past trends. These approaches generally worked well under past conditions. But there are two significant changes occurring that make choices on long term issues more difficult:
- The cumulative and significant impacts of several large-scale changes are all coming at about the same time.
- A transition from mid-20th century policies and structures to the new conditions of the 21st century is upon us.
A continuation of the traditional way of preparing for, and making, the many major choices facing Sundt is not sustainable in this new environment. Adapting to this new world will be uncomfortable for many, but those that recognize the need to adapt early will have a competitive advantage and benefit accordingly.
To help Sundt thrive in this new environment and “Get There Early”, the company has integrated a future environmental scan into its strategic planning process utilizing the SKEPTIC approach. This approach helps Sundt analyze areas of future business challenges and opportunities:
S Socio-demographics
K Competition
E Economics/Environment
P Political
T Technical
I Industry/Substitutes
C Customer
To assist in "Getting There Early" Sundt has been a member of the Institute for the Future (IFTF), and recently joined the World Future Society.
Sundt also consistently uses the services and guidance provided by Futurist Roger L. Caldwell, Professor Emeritus, University of Arizona. Dr. Caldwell prepares
every two years the Caldwell Report which identifies Future Trends and an analysis of the strategic significance of those trends to Sundt. To further support
this Futures initiative, Sundt formed the internal group NEXT, Now Exploring Tomorrow. This group of employee-owners meets quarterly to continue the company's
efforts in strategic anticipation of the future. These processes help insure that Sundt's strategic plan has a proper balance between strategies to improve the
current state and addressing opportunities in the future.