Written by Jale Gonulkapan Suder Adapting to the rapid changes of today can feel overwhelming. However, when we look toward a future filled with hope and prosperity, the journey becomes more manageable. Fortunately, momentum is building around certain trends and positive disruptions on the horizon, offering potential solutions to the complex challenges we face today. These shifts, driven by evolving societal priorities and breakthrough technologies, give us reason to be optimistic. At OCAD U CO, we believe in the power of positive change because it shapes a better, more equitable future for everyone. Change is inevitable, but progress is intentional—and we are committed to driving progress by equipping individuals and organizations with the tools to navigate complexity and seize opportunities. We care about fostering positive changes because they create ripple effects that benefit communities, businesses, and the world. By focusing on solutions promoting sustainability, innovation, and resilience, we’re not just reacting to the future but actively shaping it.  Here, we explore four major trends that illustrate a glimpse of the exciting future ahead. Purpose-Driven Workforce Rapid advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation are transforming workforce dynamics across industries. Today’s workforce, particularly younger generations, seeks meaning and impact in their work, valuing employers that demonstrate social and environmental responsibility. Companies that prioritize purpose beyond profit often benefit from operational efficiency, brand loyalty, access to capital, innovation, and a competitive edge. Purpose-driven organizations not only perform better but also create sustainable, long-term value. Businesses can thrive in the evolving landscape by advancing purpose alongside workforce aspirations. Green Cities Cities worldwide are embracing green urban planning to create healthier, more resilient environments. This shift includes developing walkable, bike-friendly spaces instead of car-centric layouts, expanding public parks, and implementing nature-based solutions to reduce urban heat and pollution, fostering a closer connection to nature even in cities with high population density. Smart and sustainable buildings are being designed to optimize energy and water use while prioritizing waste management. Green cities are expected to adopt circular models focused on sharing, reusing, and restoring resources, significantly reducing municipal waste. Additionally, urban and small-scale farming initiatives are gaining traction, offering fresh, healthy food while cutting carbon emissions and strengthening local economies. Clean Energy According to United Nations data, while fossil fuels still play a major role in global energy production, renewables like wind, solar, hydro, and geothermal now account for about 29% of global electricity generation. Although there's a long way to go, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) projects that 90% of the world’s electricity could come from renewable sources by 2050. Encouragingly, renewable energy is already more affordable in many regions, with technology costs dropping quickly. For example, the cost of solar power decreased by 85% between 2010 and 2020. Renewable energy also generates three times more jobs than the fossil fuel sector. By 2030, over 30 million jobs could emerge in clean energy, efficiency, and low-emissions fields. Furthermore, renewable technologies are resilient and less vulnerable to market shocks, enhancing energy security by diversifying supply. Personalized Healthcare Advances in science and the decreasing cost of personalized healthcare bring us closer to a future where care is customized to each individual. Integrated into the healthcare system, personal healthcare offers more precise diagnoses, early disease risk prediction, and tailored treatment plans designed to optimize safety and effectiveness. Personalized treatment based on genetic and molecular data, coupled with digital health technologies like mobile apps, wearables, and voice assistants, empowers healthcare providers to monitor treatment progress and make adjustments based on each person’s unique characteristics . These trends and forces of change offer businesses the opportunity to stay competitive while fostering positive societal impact. Sign up for our Leading with Foresight course  today and gain the tools to anticipate change, adapt with confidence, and shape the future!

Written by Jale Gonulkapan Suder As the world faces unprecedented uncertainties, what are the next major disruptions that could redefine Canadian society? In recent years, we've seen crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, regional wars, extreme climate disasters, and global supply chain interruptions. While we can't predict exactly what’s next, it's crucial to explore these potential disruptions and prepare for the future. Events and circumstances that may seem unlikely or far-off can quickly become real, and when multiple disruptions occur at once, their effects on society can be overwhelming. Policy Horizons Canada, the Government of Canada's Centre of Excellence in Foresight, recently released The Disruptions on the Horizon 2024  report. The goal? To help leaders, policymakers, and decision-makers build resilient policies and strategies that can navigate these potential scenarios. Understanding these disruptions is essential to prevent system failures, safeguard vital services, and mitigate risks that could destabilize critical sectors like healthcare, infrastructure, and governance.  The report outlines plausible events and circumstances that could take place in the next 3 to 10 years. These disruptions were assessed based on their likelihood and impact - how likely it is to occur and how much impact it could have; their time horizon - when it could occur; and, for some, their interconnectedness - which related disruptions are likely to occur. We have compiled and summarized the top 10 disruptions from the report to help you explore and assess their implications. Taking a proactive approach will also help you identify challenges early, allowing your organization to avoid, adapt to, or mitigate impacts before they unfold. Here are the Top 10 Disruptions  to be aware of: People cannot tell what is true and what is fake The information ecosystem is flooded with AI-generated and human-created content. Mis- and disinformation make it nearly impossible to discern real from fake, leading to distrust and fragmentation within society. Biodiversity is lost and ecosystems collapse Ecosystems may collapse due to habitat destruction, pollution, and climate change. This loss could severely affect human well-being, food security, and industries such as agriculture and fishing, potentially leading to increased conflicts over resources. Emergency response is overwhelmed Climate change leads to more frequent and severe natural disasters like floods and wildfires. Emergency services struggle to respond, which exacerbates displacement, mental health crises, and disrupts economic stability. Cyberattacks disable critical infrastructure Cyberattacks increasingly target essential services like electricity, internet, and transportation. As a result, society faces more disruptions in daily life, and trust in technological systems and governance weakens. Billionaires run the world Extremely wealthy individuals bypass democratic systems, influencing public policy and even acquiring military or diplomatic capabilities, undermining democratic governance and destabilizing international relations. Artificial Intelligence runs wild Rapid AI development outpaces regulatory efforts. AI-driven misinformation, privacy concerns, and resource exploitation increase amplifying societal divisions and putting critical infrastructures at risk. Vital natural resources are scarce Essential resources like water and critical minerals become scarce due to overuse and geopolitical conflicts. This shortage could lead to volatile pricing, economic instability, and increased geopolitical tension over resource control. Downward social mobility is the norm As housing becomes more unaffordable and jobs more precarious, many Canadians experience worse socioeconomic conditions than previous generations, leading to growing inequality and social unrest. Healthcare systems collapse Overwhelmed by crises like aging populations, antimicrobial resistance, and climate-related health emergencies, healthcare systems deteriorate, leading to increased mortality rates and social instability. Democratic systems breakdown Authoritarian regimes on the rise and democratic systems face challenges even in established democracies. Social fragmentation and wealth concentration fuel divisions, threatening the stability of democratic governance globally. The report also examines unanticipated disruptions that require more attention. To learn more about prominent and unanticipated disruptions, please refer to the full report at this link. The disruptions could have cascading implications in unexpected areas with unanticipated speed, they could appear as positive or negative, and they could create challenges or opportunities. Contact us at hello@ocadu.co to start a conversation on how to stay ahead of the disruptions shaping our future and to improve your organization's preparedness.

Written by Jale Gonulkapan Suder Innovation was the buzzword of the last decade, often portrayed as the remedy for the complex problems businesses face in the digital age. In many cases, it has been. However, the critical question remains: is innovation for the sake of innovation enough? As a business leader, fostering an innovation culture in your organization may sound promising, but it's essential to consider whether it genuinely serves your strategic priorities. How can you remain aligned with your corporate mission while seeking innovative ways of doing business? The challenge lies in ensuring that innovation projects within the organization are designed to serve the core purpose and long-term objectives of the company. Misalignment can lead to wasted resources, including time, money, and personnel, ultimately stifling innovative efforts and resulting in missed opportunities. A comprehensive Strategic Innovation Framework  is crucial. From our experience, this framework should include several key components: a clear definition of corporate identity and strategic goals, communication of strategic priorities, encouragement of experimentation, building an innovation portfolio, and measuring the impact of innovation initiatives. 1. Know Yourself The question of "who we are" is often overlooked with about us pages filled with business clichés instead of meaningful definitions of corporate missions. However, this is where you should start. Take the time and effort to re-evaluate and redefine your corporate identity. Understand the organization’s mission and strategic priorities. What is the core purpose of your company? What are your values, and how do you integrate these values into your business actions? What are your short-term and long-term strategic goals? Which objectives do you prioritize? At the end of the day, innovation initiatives should support and enhance your organization’s characteristics rather than divert from them. 2. Communicate and Integrate After defining your corporate mission and developing your strategic guidance, sharing it widely within the organization is necessary. Ensure that strategic priorities are well understood across the organization through meetings, internal communications, and other channels. Make the north star visible! As a leader, set the tone for open communication, acknowledge and encourage innovative efforts, and combine diverse skills and perspectives to foster creative solutions. Regularly communicate the importance of innovation within the context of the corporate mission and strategic priorities. Innovation should be seen as an integral part of the company’s operations and growth plans, not just a separate department’s job. 3. Encourage Strategic Experimentation By nature, innovation is experimental. Let your teams have the freedom and space to explore diverse ideas within the scope of your strategic goals. This can be trickier than it sounds. If your goals are too strictly defined and specific, it may limit creative and lateral thinking. On the other hand, if your goals are vaguely articulated, you could end up with no tangible outcomes. Your strategic objectives need to be clear enough to be measurable yet open enough to inspire creativity. Create an environment where calculated risks are taken, and lessons are learned from both successes and failures. 4. Build an Innovation Portfolio Your strategic priorities may change over time, based on market needs or evolving technologies and trends. You know the old saying, “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket”; be flexible enough to pivot or discontinue initiatives that are not delivering the desired results. Adopt various methods to develop promising new innovative projects inside and outside the organization. Building an innovation portfolio through a mix of projects can ensure that the best ones go forward and remain aligned with the corporate mission. 5. Measure and Adjust Continuously evaluate the progress of innovation projects against strategic objectives. Adjustments should be made as necessary to maintain alignment. Implement feedback mechanisms to gather input from employees, customers, and stakeholders about innovation efforts. Adopt a mindset of continuous improvement, regularly refining innovation efforts to better align with strategic goals. Aligning innovation with corporate strategy is a dynamic and ongoing process. There is no one-size-fits-all formula. Your organization may need tailored guidance on how to successfully align innovative projects with strategic priorities. To learn more about our approach, contact us at hello@ocadu.co , and let’s start a conversation.

Written by Debaditya Sekhar Jena Strategy and foresight are two disciplines that are equally important for business growth. It is time for leaders and companies to incorporate foresight into their strategic planning initiatives. The Ability to Adapt Nokia's journey from the top of the smartphone pyramid to its eventual acquisition by Microsoft in 2013 is well documented and understood. Nokia had an exemplary record in strategic agility, technological performance, and posting positive financial results. We know about these stories. We have heard them, and we remember them. But, for the sake of foresight, let's go through one of them again. Management at Nokia knew about their burning platform, and that competition from Apple hardware and software innovations was rapidly disrupting the global smartphone market. Yet, the company could not shift its strategy and incorporate the trends bringing seismic shifts to its playground. In the end, the fall of Nokia's smartphone business was quick and decisive. Nokia had a strategy and the capacity to see the future, yet it failed to pivot and change. As Quy Huy and Timo Vuori mention in their research paper, Nokia's top management's fear of accepting change and the middle management's response of remaining silent and following existing strategies to achieve already set goals paralysed the company's ability to innovate and stay afloat in a rapidly changing smartphone industry. Nokia's faith in obsolete technology and increasing pressure to achieve positive financial results further hindered its ability to grow. Shifting Tides: What is Strategic Foresight? Companies must focus on protecting their existing businesses and developing new products, services, and business models to survive the incoming climate catastrophe and broader societal and systemic shifts. It is essential to recognise that building a corporate strategy based only on quantitative predictive models cannot predict the unpredictable shifting tides in the industry. Strategy alone cannot support innovation and business reinvention. It is time that foresight and strategy are brought under the same umbrella of protecting and growing businesses in an uncertain world. Strategic foresight is a discipline of arts and science that equips organisations with a mindset to anticipate and navigate future uncertainties. Foresight allows businesses to reinvent themselves continuously, understand the forces impacting their playground, anticipate and build capacity for future shifts, and build resilient strategies in shifting tides and turbulent waters. The Way Forward Strategy development is about making choices. It is about navigating uncertainties in the vast ocean of possibilities and moving away from conventional and linear thinking. At OCAD U CO, strategy development is not linear or predictable but inherently creative. It is filled with human imagination and intuition in a symbiotic relationship with data and technology. Traditional strategy development favoured by consulting firms prioritises quantitative analysis and data-driven insights. While it has its own merits and provides valuable information about achieving goals, together with foresight methods, it can provide companies with a more nuanced understanding of threats and opportunities. Numbers and narratives define the future, and businesses must consider both. Strategic Foresight can answer a myriad of questions that influence our world today. For example, consider the following: How do you redefine and protect company brands in an era where Generative Artificial Intelligence is vital to building relationships between the brand and its consumers? How do you maintain a competitive edge in markets facing turbulent times ahead due to changing customer expectations influenced by the mid to late 21st-century climate crisis? OCAD U CO offers services to support businesses in crafting solutions to wicked problems backed by a foresight process. Our futures thinking approach uses strong qualitative research and quantitative data analysis, leading to fresh insights about emerging trends and poignant scenarios that offer a clear image of plausible futures. OCAD U CO offers business results, prepares companies to adopt foresight into day-to-day business activities, and holds foresight and strategy development processes accountable to business goals and objectives. To understand what role future designers play in securing more equitable and profitable futures for your businesses, we encourage you to contact us to learn more about our processes and how our designers bring forward-thinking innovations to life. Don't hesitate to contact us at hello@ocadu.co and follow us on LinkedIn! References Distributed Attention and Shared Emotions in the Innovation Process: How Nokia Lost the Smartphone Battle — Timo O. Vuori, Quy N. Huy, 2016 (sagepub.com) Who Killed Nokia? Nokia Did | INSEAD Knowledge