Other sources and toolkits

A number of futures sources and toolkits are already available. We have looked at some in building this toolkit. We have therefore placed a number of links to related materials throughout Exploring the future: Tools for strategic thinking. These are useful jumping off points to delve deeper into specific topics. We recommend that users interested in learning more about futures visit these and other sources of information.

In addition, the following links take users to other places with general information on using futures.

The strategy survival guide (Prime Minister’s strategy unit)
This site focuses more on strategy than futures, but it is the linkage between the two areas that is important.

For-learn online foresight guide (European Commission)
A helpful site, which includes: a large number of techniques, a focus on case studies within European government bodies and discussions on the purpose and application of futures thinking.

A guide to futures thinking (The Tomorrow Project)
This is an introductory guide to futures. The Glimpses of Tomorrow section describes emerging social, economic and demographic trends.

Horizon scanning (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
A good review of large programmes of work, spanning two years or more, and lessons learnt.

Scenario planning toolkit (Department for Transport)
A deep study on scenarios and its linked techniques. This also has a detailed review of the scenarios developed for the Foresight project on Intelligent Infrastructure Systems (IIS) .

Futures research methodology (The American Council for the United Nations University)
Available for purchase online in CD format, a detailed handbook of some 25 techniques with regard to their history, description, application, strengths and weaknesses.

Shaping tomorrow
This is a subscription membership service to futures thinking, trends and techniques.

Scenarios for sustainability
This web site provides in depth materials for working with scenarios and models. It has a focus on sustainability.

World Future Society
A not-for-profit, non-partisan association interested in how social and technological developments are shaping our future. It describes itself as a 'neutral clearing house for ideas about the future'.

Wikipedia
Searching for ‘futurology’ on Wikipedia, provides an overview of the topic and a number further jumping off points.

Additionally, there are links to other futures related organisations on the Horizon Scanning Centre web site.