Gathering Internal Strategies for Scenario Building

The Importance of Human Perspective in gathering Internal Strategies for Scenario Building

Scenario building is a crucial process for any organization that wants to anticipate and prepare for potential future challenges and opportunities. One of the key components of effective scenario building is stakeholder management, which involves identifying and engaging with relevant stakeholders in the organization.

However, simply gathering internal strategies from various stakeholders is not enough.

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It's important to approach this process with a human perspective, which involves understanding the motivations, perspectives, and needs of the people involved in creating and implementing these strategies.

In this blog post, we will explore the importance of human perspective in gathering internal strategies for scenario building and provide practical tips on how to do so effectively.

Understanding the Total Ecosystem of Innovation

To effectively gather internal strategies for scenario building, it's important to understand the total ecosystem of innovation. This includes identifying the problem that the organization wants to solve, understanding the organizational structure and support systems in place, and considering the broader market perspective.

Once these factors have been identified, it's important to focus on gathering internal strategies that can help address the problem identified in the ecosystem of innovation.

Gathering Internal Strategies

Larger organizations typically have numerous strategies in place, including business, sales, product development, sustainability, and innovation strategies. To gather these internal strategies effectively, it's important to:

Identify the strategies: Start by reviewing the intranet of the organization and identifying all the strategies and initiatives in place. This will help you create a comprehensive list of the strategies that need to be considered for scenario building.
Identify the owners: Once the strategies have been identified, it's important to determine who owns each strategy. This includes department heads, vice presidents, and other key stakeholders involved in developing and implementing the strategy.
Understand the strategies: Review each strategy in detail and make notes on key points and questions that need to be addressed when meeting with stakeholders.

Approaching Internal Strategies with a Human Perspective

To approach internal strategies with a human perspective, it's important to understand the motivations, perspectives, and needs of the stakeholders involved in creating and implementing the strategies. This involves:

Meeting with stakeholders: Schedule meetings with key stakeholders involved in each strategy. This includes owners, contributors, and key influencers.
Asking questions: During the meetings, ask questions that go beyond the surface-level information provided in the strategy documents. Ask stakeholders about their perspectives on the future of the organization and the strategy in question.
Understanding the political landscape: Understanding the political landscape is crucial when it comes to identifying key stakeholders and their motivations. Ask stakeholders about any political factors that may have influenced the development and implementation of the strategy.

Gathering internal strategies is a crucial step in the scenario building process, but it's important to approach this process with a human perspective. Understanding the motivations, perspectives, and needs of stakeholders involved in the strategies can help identify potential blind spots and ensure that the scenarios developed are more comprehensive and effective in addressing future challenges and opportunities. By following the tips outlined in this post, organizations can gather internal strategies with a human perspective and prepare for a more successful future.

This blogpost is inspired by my podcast Episode 206.

Have a listen or watch the video of episode.

Enjoy the fulle episode

Have questions?

Feel free to reach out I am happy to help.

Podcasts to innovate:

Teenage Innovators - Hugo Pickford-Wardle on teenage innovation programs and startups run by teenagers

Teenagers are often underestimated for their potential, but a UK-based organization called Startup Sherpas is proving that wrong. The organization empowers teenagers by providing them with opportunities to develop their ideas and gain work experience through their Super Squads program. Over six weeks, teenagers gain confidence and skills while working on real projects for companies like a national children's charity, a multimedia company, and a hospitality company.

One standout participant, has completed four Super Squads and three startups by the age of 16. Her CV includes working with Aviva and developing a sneaker brand that uses droplets of blood in the base. She is now leading a squad of 100 teenagers and has become one of the most sought-after teenagers for companies.

Startup Sherpas recognizes that teenagers have many influences in their lives, and they aim to be a positive part of their journey by helping them make changes as quickly as possible. The organization believes that whether teenagers go to university, do an apprenticeship, or start a business, what matters most is their ability to make a difference.

The Super Squads program is a great example of how empowering teenagers can lead to incredible outcomes. It shows that teenagers have valuable ideas and skills that can be harnessed for the benefit of society. By giving teenagers opportunities to develop their potential, we can create a brighter future for everyone.

Learn more about Startup Sherpas and the super Squads from the Founder Hugo Pickford-Wardle in the podcast episode

Have a listen

Videos that touched a nerve:

The trend of becoming a connoisseur of different food and drink items continues to grow, with chocolate being the latest addition. People are becoming increasingly interested in learning how to taste and appreciate new flavors, and a tasting adventure is a great way to introduce them to different types of chocolate. This trend is similar to the emergence of sommeliers and other experts in the wine, coffee, and beer industries. As people continue to geek out on different types of food and drink, there is a great opportunity for them to learn and appreciate chocolate in new and exciting ways.

Cielo Cantoni and Niklas Begau from the startup chocNchoc joined me to discuss the future of chocolate.

Watch it here

Books that help me innovate:

The Icarus Deception by Seth Godin

"The Icarus Deception" by Seth Godin is an inspiring and thought-provoking book that challenges the reader to think differently about their approach to work and creativity. Drawing on the myth of Icarus, Godin argues that in today's rapidly changing and competitive world, playing it safe and sticking to the status quo is actually the riskiest path one can take. Instead, he advocates for embracing our inner artists and taking bold, creative risks in order to stand out and succeed.

Godin's writing is engaging and accessible, and he offers numerous examples and anecdotes to illustrate his points. He also includes practical advice and exercises to help readers tap into their creative potential and overcome the fear of failure that often holds us back.

Overall, "The Icarus Deception" is a powerful call to action for anyone who wants to achieve more and make a difference in the world. Whether you're an artist, entrepreneur, or simply someone who wants to live a more fulfilling life, this book is sure to inspire and motivate you to take your creativity to the next level.

More about the book here

And don’t forget to Innovate the human way

Jens

P.S.

Human innovation is an ever growing need in the way we work. Human leadership skills will define if organizations will succeed long term or not. Let me know if you agree or not and contact me.

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