Links to Scenarios and Strategic Planning

Portal

EarthTrends "is a comprehensive online database, maintained by the World Resources Institute, that focuses on the environmental, social, and economic trends that shape our world" (Enough said).

Scenario planning resources - "Welcome to the reference page on scenario planning and scenario thinking!" Texts, blogs, articles, links, etc.

Some pages with concepts

From scenario thinking to strategic action, by Ian Wilson of Wolf Enterprises. The basics of scenario planning (as compared to traditional planning) in a business environment.

How to build scenarios by Lawrence Wilkinson. An example of driving forces and development of scenarios as they shape the technological world. Colourful site, in more ways than one.

Visioning in planning: is the practice based on sound theory? by Robert Shipley. Downloadable paper from Environment and Planning, Vol 34, January 2002.

Some more complete guides and documents

Anticipating change: Scenarios: As a tool for adaptive forest management - a guide. By Eva Wollenberg et al. CIFOR 2000. Excellent, readable report on techniques and implementation issues in natural resource management. Includes a good discussion of different variations on the concept of scenarios. (warning: pdf doc – 2.5 MB).

Scenario Planning. Useful site with background, step-by-step guide, and links to resources, etc., from JISC infoNet, which "aims to be the UK's leading advisory service for managers in the post-compulsory education sector promoting the effective strategic planning, implementation and management of information and learning technology".

Scenario Planning to Guide Long-Term Investments in Agricultural Science and Technology: Theory and Practice from a Case Study on India. By Rajalahti, R., van der Heijden, K., Janssen, W. and E. Pehu (2006). Agriculture and Rural Development Department of the World Bank.

Making Investments in Dryland Development Work: Participatory Scenario Planning in the Makanya catchment, Tanzania. by Enfors, E.I., Gordon, L.J., Peterson, G.D., Bossio B., 2008.