Strategic Foresight Setup

Embed Strategic Foresight as an organizational capability

Ad-hoc trend analyses provide snapshots. But strategic decisions require a continuous foundation. Strategic Foresight Setup makes future-oriented work an integral part of your organization – with clear processes, roles, and tools.
Systematize Foresight
Foresight operating system with processes, roles, and responsibilities
Trend management workflow from scouting to strategy integration
Training and enablement of internal teams
200+ companies shape the future with us

Why foresight projects fizzle out

Insights without processes
You've done trend research, perhaps developed scenarios. But six months later, everything is shelved. No one has defined how these insights should feed into ongoing decisions.
"We developed great scenarios, but no one looks at them anymore. There's no process to keep them current."
Every department does its own thing
Marketing monitors consumer trends. R&D tracks technologies. Strategy creates scenarios. But none of it is connected. No common language, no shared tools, no synergies.
"We have three different trend lists in three different formats. Nobody knows which one applies."
Expertise, but no structure
Individual employees possess foresight expertise. But when they leave the company, that knowledge goes with them. There's no methodology, no manual, no handover.
"Our best trend expert is retiring. We have no idea how we're going to manage without her."

The Approach

From Ad-hoc Foresight to Systematic Competence

Strategic Foresight doesn't deliver one-off results – but rather the ability to continuously generate and strategically utilize future knowledge.
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Define processesHow do trends flow into your organization? Who evaluates relevance? How are insights translated into decisions? We define clear processes.
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Clarify rolesWho is responsible for foresight? Who provides input, who decides, who implements? We clarify responsibilities.
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Establish toolsWhat tools support the process? From trend databases and evaluation frameworks to communication – we set up the right infrastructure.

What we build

The result is not just a report, but a functional system: processes, roles, tools, and methodology that empower your organization to conduct foresight independently.
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Foresight Operating System
Documented system with all processes, roles, and responsibilities – your guide for systematic future work
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Trend Management Workflow
Defined process for how trends flow within your organization – from scouting and evaluation to strategic utilization
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Tool Setup
Configured tools (e.g., Trend Manager) for systematic trend management
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Control Logic
Review cycles, KPIs, and decision-making structures for ongoing foresight work
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Enablement
Training of internal teams to ensure the system operates autonomously

The Setup Project

Five steps to an operational system

1. Current State Analysis

How do you currently work with future topics? What processes, tools, and competencies already exist? What works, and what doesn't? Stakeholder interviews and process assessment.

2. Develop the Target Vision

What should foresight achieve in your organization? What outcomes do you expect? How should it be integrated into existing strategy and innovation processes? Definition of goals, scope, and success criteria.

3. Design the Foresight System

Developing your Foresight Operating System: the trend management workflow (Trend Scouting → Evaluation → Innovation Areas → Communication → Monitoring), roles and responsibilities, tool landscape, control logic.

4. Implementation

Setup of tools, team training, piloting of the process. Not PowerPoint, but real application with initial runs and adjustments based on learnings.

5. Roll-Out & Support

Roll-out to the organization. Completion of initial review cycles. Optional: Ongoing sparring and support for continuous optimization.

What sets us apart

Why our setups actually work

Integrated, not parallel
Foresight becomes part of existing processes, not additional work. We integrate with your strategy cycles, portfolio processes, and innovation routines – instead of building a parallel system.
Scalable
The system scales with your needs. From a small strategy team to an organization-wide foresight culture. We build modular structures, not rigid monoliths.
Empowering
Internal teams are empowered to operate the system independently. We don't just deliver concepts, but also training, methodology, and tools.
Proven
The 5-phase process is based on 600+ innovation projects and 20 years of foresight experience. We know which setups are shelved and which are actually implemented.

Project Example

Semperit: Strategically embedding Corporate Foresight

Industrial company
  ·  6 weeks
  ·  4 Workshops
Semperit, a global manufacturer of industrial polymer products, wanted to establish Strategic Foresight as a core element of its corporate strategy. The challenge: future-oriented work should not remain sporadic, but rather be systematically integrated into strategic cycles.
Download Case Study
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The Process
Status quo analysis of existing foresight activities
Definition of 7 search fields and relevant megatrends
Development of a baseline scenario and 4 alternative scenarios
Establishment of structured foresight with clear review processes
Involvement of 20+ employees from various departments
The OutcomeImplemented strategic foresight as part of corporate planning, alignment within the leadership team on future assumptions, vibrant innovation culture through bottom-up participation.
Together with TRENDONE, we established a structured foresight process at SEMPERIT. Alternative scenarios reveal the future of our industry and enable us to prepare for risks and uncertainties.
Hossein Kharazian
Corporate Development Manager SEMPERIT
, 
Semperit

When is Strategic Foresight Setup the right approach?

Strategic Foresight Setup permanently embeds future work in your organization. This approach is right for you if:
check mark in white with blue background colorYou want to permanently embed foresight in your organization
check mark in white with blue background colorYou have already conducted foresight projects and now want to systematize them
check mark in white with blue background colorYou want to involve several departments or teams in foresight
check mark in white with blue background colorYou need clear processes, roles, and tools for foresight
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When other approaches are a better fit:

Future Research

Are you looking to research trends for a project for the first time? Future Research provides targeted analyses without system implementation.
Learn more
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Strategic Scenario Planning

Do you want to secure a specific investment decision? Scenario Planning tests your options against various futures.
Learn more
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Trend Manager Platform

Do you want to observe trends occasionally before building a full system? The Trend Manager is the ideal starting point.
Learn more
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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a setup project and future research?

Future Research provides unique trend analyses. Strategic Foresight Setup builds a durable system. Both can be combined: First research as a pilot project, then set-up for anchoring.

How long does a Strategic Foresight setup take?

Typically 3-6 months, depending on scope. A focused basic setup takes 8-12 weeks. More comprehensive setups with multiple areas 4-6 months. We clarify the exact time frame during scoping.

Do we need future research or scenario planning beforehand?

Not necessarily. If you've already done Foresight projects, let's start with the setup right away. If you're new to foresight, we recommend a pilot project first. This creates quick wins and shows how foresight works in your organization.

Is the Trendmanager part of the setup?

Usually yes. We configure the TrendManager as a central platform for your foresight system. Alternatively, we integrate it into your existing tool landscape.

Can we also do the setup without external tools?

Basically yes. However, we recommend a digital platform to systematically manage trends. Experience shows that without a tool, Foresight quickly becomes Excel lists and PowerPoint decks again.

What happens after go-live?

They operate the system independently. That is the goal: Empowerment, not dependency. Optionally, we provide sparring and support for continuous optimization.

Is the setup suitable for smaller companies?

It depends on your foresight ambition. If you want to anchor foresight as a strategic competence, yes. If you want to observe trends occasionally, the trend manager is a better way to start.

Ready for systematic future work?

Sometimes you might need one-off projects (research, scenarios) before a system setup makes sense. Other times, the setup is the logical next step after successful individual projects. Tell us about your situation.
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Ihr Ansprechpartner

Alexandra Liepe Head of Business Development
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