A Visual Thinking Framework for Strategic Foresight

Horizon Mapping is a strategic foresight tool that helps organizations identify and prioritize emerging trends, technologies, and market shifts across different time horizons.

By breaking down the future into three distinct “horizons,” this visual framework enables a more structured and comprehensive approach to long-term planning and innovation.

Thinking in Horizons

Horizon Mapping organizes the future into three distinct time frames. The core idea is to think the future in separate stages, assess the opportunities and risks for each and weave threads of continuity that tie them all in.

Horizon 1: The Present

This horizon is probably the easiest to visualise, and is supported by existing data. This encompasses the core business activities and revenue streams that are currently driving your organization’s success. Horizon 1 is all about optimizing and maintaining your existing operations.

Horizon 2: The Emerging Future

This horizon focuses on emerging trends, technologies, and market shifts that are starting to gain traction. These represent potential opportunities for growth, but may still be in the early stages of development.

Horizon 3: The Distant Future

This final horizon looks at more radical, transformative changes that could disrupt your industry or create entirely new markets. These are the wild cards and long-term possibilities that require a more speculative, visionary approach.

Applying Horizon Mapping

These three distinct time horizons help organizations develop a more comprehensive and balanced strategic plan. Horizon Mapping encourages you to:

• Identify and prioritize emerging trends and technologies across different time frames
• Allocate resources and investments across the three horizons to ensure a healthy, diversified portfolio
• Envision and prepare for potential future scenarios, both near-term and long-term
• Foster a culture of innovation and strategic foresight within your organization

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