Stretch your thinking! Purpose : Create a better understanding of developments in the external environment Application: Business, Political, Creativity, Personal

1. - Creating an awareness discussion -
Foresight Cards
Order the pack of cards or download
more free workshops using the
Foresight Cards on:
www.foresightcards.com

2. Foresight cards Trendwatching?
Future of “our values”
5 minute discussion with your group
- How does this theme develop itself
into the future?

3. Foresight cards Trendwatching?
Future of “our values”
5 minute discussion with your projectgroup
- How does this theme develop itself into
the future?
Future of “our values”
In your discussion about the future…
- Which elements are important, when
you are talking with eachother about
the future?
Again, 5 minute discussion

4. Foresight cards Talking about the future
Oil spill
Future events…
- Perspective of Time
- Perspective of Relevance
- Perspective of Reliability of information
- Perspective of Uncertainty
Predetermined <-> Controversy
- Perspective of Change
Trend / Gradual- / Abrupt discontinuity
Increased usaged of digital devices 

5. Foresight cards Perspective of change

6. Foresight cards Perspective of change
Time, Relevance, Uncertainty,
Reliability of information and CHANGE:

7. Foresight cards Our (STEEP) environment
PEST, DESTEP, PESTLE, STEEPLE, LESTEP…
Macro – contextual level
The contextual level consists of ‘global forces’,
think about: economical developments,
demographics, politics, technological
developments and social developments.
Foresight Cards – STEEP edition focusses on
external forces that address the contextual level.
Meso – transactional level
The transactional level consists of ‘market forces’,
think about: suppliers, supply and demand,
distribution, competitors and strategic alliances.
Micro – organizational level
The organizational level involves forces that
address the internal environment of the firm.
Think about: vision, mission, strategy, resources,
processes, products and services.

8. Foresight cards Foresight Cards

9. Foresight cards Playing with our beliefs
and think about the future
Purpose: Creating awareness about our own (dominant) thinking.
Components: The card ‘patterns of change’.
Method
• Shuffle the cards and deal each player seven cards.
• The first player places a card in front of him and
takes the first pattern of change symbol.
• The player speaks out 2 concrete and demonstrable
developments from his knowledge, based on the
pattern of change.
• If succesful, the player loses his card,
if NOT succesful, he takes a new card from the deck.
The old card remains at its place.
• The next player chooses a card from his hand and
takes the next pattern of change symbol,
…and speaks out… (see bold text above)
• The first player to empty his hand has won the game.

10. Foresight cards Playing with our beliefs
and think about the future
Purpose: Creating awareness about our own (dominant) thinking.
Components: The card ‘patterns of change’.
Method
• Shuffle the cards and deal each player seven cards.
• The first player places a card in front of him and
takes the first pattern of change symbol.
• The player speaks out 2 concrete and demonstrable
developments from his knowledge, based on the
pattern of change.
• If succesful, the player loses his card,
if NOT succesful, he takes a new card from the deck.
The old card remains at its place.
• The next player chooses a card from his hand and
takes the next pattern of change symbol,
…and speaks out… (see bold text above)
• The first player to empty his hand has won the game.
• LEVEL UP:
When placing a card, the player has to relate the developments to the previous card

11. Foresight cards Perspective of change
“Reflection” - What did you/we learn?

12. Foresight cards Foresight Cards information
This analysis tool helps to assess the external macro environment!
The Foresight Cards contains 125 macro forces classified into the STEEP categories (social,
technological, economical, environmental and political). Other known acronyms derived
from STEEP are: PEST, PESTLE, STEP, STEPJE, STEEPLED, DESTEP and LEPEST. The STEEP
acronym is well known and used all over the world as a basis for external analysis.
For example the STEEP cards can be used by individuals and groups to have workshops to:
• create awareness about past, current and future changes;
• stress test a business model;
• create a SWOT analysis;
• energize;
• tell a story;
• discuss certain (strategic) topics;
• think about systems and how external developments connect to each other;
• determine key-uncertainties to create future scenarios (scenario planning);
• etc. etc. etc.
Check the www.foresightcards.com website for more information, to download other
workshops and how to order the pack of cards.