Adam Vigdor Gordon

Research, seminars, workshops, executive education

Hello, welcome. For over 25 years in industry and education I have pursued the science and craft of better foresight. This means, how to construct a superior view of the future implications of today’s situations and choices (both those we control and those we don’t.) Skilled foresight informs leadership decisions, operational management and durable stewardship. This is what I offer.

Research

In the Strategic Foresight Research Network at Aarhus University Business School BSS, I investigate methods for enhancing leadership future-preparedness, including scenario planning, systems dynamics, design thinking, and trend audits.

Facilitation

Applied future-exploration-and-planning workshops. We roll up our sleeves to create signal-and trend-informed pathways. And we use this to guide innovation to compete in markets of tomorrow. Challenge your solutions before your clients do!

Presentations

Not the usual blah. This is a constantly updated guide to the seeds of tomorrow as already evident in today's signals and data. Events trends, disruptors, reframes. Delivered as keynote or bespoke briefings, either in-person or online.

Ongoing Publications

Gordon, A., Ramic, M., Rohrbeck, R, & Spaniol, S. (2020) 50 years of Corporate and Organizational Foresight: Looking Back and Going Forward. Technology Forecasting & Social Change. doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2020.119966
Gordon, A., (2020). Limits and Longevity: A Model for Scenarios that Aim to Influence the Future. Technology Forecasting & Social Change. doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2019.119851
Gordon, A., (2020). Matrix Purpose in Scenario Planning: Implications of Congruence with Organization Purpose. Futures. doi.org/10.1016/j.futures.2019.102479
Gordon, A., Rohrbeck, R., and Schwarz J., (2019). Escaping the 'Faster Horses' Trap: Bridging Strategic Foresight and Design-Based Innovation. Technology Innovation Management Review. doi.org/10.22215/timreview/1259
Rohrbeck, R., Menes, E., Jyssink, T., & Gordon, A (2018). Corporate Foresight Benchmarking Report: How Leading Firms Build a Superior Position in Markets of the Future. doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3178562

Forbes.com Leadership

https://forbes.com/sites/adamgordon/

Education in Strategic Foresight Tools & Methods

Onsite or online:

Strategic Foresight

Tools, methods and perspectives of industry and strategic foresight. Topics: Horizon scanning; trend tracking; cognitive biases; forecast filtering; systems thinking; risk management; scenario planning; navigating complexity; ideation and design thinking; integrating resources; strategy formation; product and service evolution; business model innovation.

Scenario Planning

A course focused on scenario planning, covering various approaches to the topic. In longer versions (4-days) delegates develop scenarios as a primary learning activity. Topics: horizon scanning; trend tracking; issue recognition; management paradigms; levels of uncertainty; adaptive scenarios, advocacy scenarios; building scenarios; from scenarios to strategy.

Design Thinking

Teaching the principles of design thinking and rapid prototyping for product and service advancement. Normally applied to live in-progress innovation situation.Topics: Principles of design; formalist approaches to creativity; ideation; productivity of limits; user analysis; prototyping and renewal; design-based innovation; design and strategy formation.