Business Futures Project
The Business Futures Project brings together the world’s best ideas and insights, resources and toolkits, on the fast-evolving topics of strategic business innovation and transformation, helping business leaders to interpret and embrace the future.
It is supported by a range of world class keynotes, seminars, workshops, consulting approaches and executive development programs, led by global leadership and strategy expert Peter Fisk and supported by a partner network.
The content is structured as below but can be customised into any format, and supported by additional content and case studies, depending on audiences and objectives.
Additional case studies, just added include Canva, Gymshark, Lilium, Northvolt, Nubank, OpenAI, Rappi, Shopify, Temu, Ultima Genomics and Webtoon.
We create a synthesis of the best frameworks, concepts and case studies, and also practical and applied in the form of tools and templates to support effective application and implementation.
Theme 1: Megatrends
- Exploring megatrends … Explore the rapidly changing business world, and how markets are being dramatically reshaped by new technologies, geopolitical and demographic shifts, economics impacts, and new agendas.
- Practical tools: Megatrend Evaluator
- Additional resources:
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Megatrends 2030 by Peter Fisk
- Global Trends 2040 by US National Intelligence Council
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Megatrends 2050 by Roland Berger
- Megatrends 2023 and Megatrend Cards by SITRA
- Megatrends 2024 by Dubai Future Foundation
- Global Consumer Trends 2024 by Mintel
- Global Risks Report by WEF and McLellan
- A New World Disorder by Ipsos
- Trend Kaleidoscope 2024 by Peter Fisk
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- Opportunity mapping … Consider the challenges and opportunities for you and your business in this changing environment, how to see it from new perspectives, and have the potential to shape it to your advantage.
- Practical tools: Disruptive Challenges
- Additional resources:
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Future Maps by Richard Watson
- Pixels of Progress by McKinsey
- Timeline of Next by Cognizant
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The Global 50 2023 by Dubai Future Foundation
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The Global 50 2024 by Dubai Future Foundation
- Science Breakthrough Radar by GESDA
- Strategy at Work by Thinkers50
- Chief Strategy Officer Playbook by Thinkers50
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- Changing markets … Examine specific scenarios through which your own market might evolve, disrupted by new customers and competitors, and how fit your business and strategy is for these alternative futures.
- Practical tools: Scenario Planning
- Additional resources:
- Playbook for Strategic Foresight by Stanford
- Scenario Templates and Approaches by FTI
- 4 scenarios for economic globalisation by WEF
- 4 scenarios to address climate change
- 4 scenarios for future of telecoms by Deloitte
- The future of energy and 4 scenarios by Deloitte
- Energy transformation scenarios by Shell
- Scenarios for construction industry by WEF
- Futures Toolkit by UK Government
- Buying into Better: Consumer Futures (Summary) by Deloitte
- Buying into Better: Consumer Futures (Presentation) by Deloitte
- Tech possibilities … Consider how new digital technologies – from AI to big data, digital platforms and smart devices, Web3 and the metaverse, genetics and nanotech – are transforming the possibilities to solve problems, and drive business futures.
- Practical tools: Industry Shifts
- Additional resources:
- What Every Executive Needs to Know about AI by Bain
- Impromptu by Reid Hoffman and GPT-4
- Generative AI Bible by CB Insights
- Big Ideas 2023 by Ark Invest
- 10 Breakthrough Technologies by MIT
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Tech Trends 2022 by FTI
- Tech Trends 2024 by FTI
- DHL Future Logistics Radar
- CEO’s Guide to the Metaverse by McKinsey
- A Pragmatist’s Guide to the Metaverse by Cognizant
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Videos What is Web 3, What is Blockchain by HBR
- Future mindset … Reflect on what it takes to be focused on, and ready for, the future – to be curious and creative, to explore and experiment, to learn and change – rather than just optimising the existing world.
- Practical tools: Future Map
- Additional resources:
- Business Recoded: The courage to create a better future by Peter Fisk
- Futures Thinking by Kantar
- 4 Types of Future Thinking by IFTF
- Foresight Playbook by UN
- Video: 21st Century Englightenment by RSA
- Video: What Growth Mindset Actually Means by HBR
Theme 2: Purpose
- Finding purpose … Understand the role of purpose in a business, how it creates a “north star” direction – from which vision, strategy and action follow – and why a more purposeful business is also likely to be more profitable.
- Practical tools: Purpose Circle
- Additional resources:
- BlackRock’s Larry Fink’s Annual Letter to CEOs
- DSM Purpose Led Performance Driven
- Business Roundtable Statement about Purpose
- The Purpose Premium and Infographic by Deloitte
- Video: Golden Circle by Simon Sinek
- Finding your Massive Transforming Purpose by ExO
- Help employees find purpose by HBR
- Business for Good … Consider why business can be one of the most powerful forces for change in the world, a how it can become a platform for good – delivering positive impact itself, and enabling many others to do so too.
- Practical tools: Sustainable Catalysts
- Additional resources:
- Video: World on Fire by Rebecca Henderson
- Video: Net Positive Company by Paul Polman
- Net Positive by Paul Polman
- Net Positive Readiness Test by Paul Polman
- SDG Compass for Business by GRI and UN
- Trailblazer by Marc Benioff
- Driving Growth … Explore how to find and frame new pathways to growth in a world where on average growth might seem limited, but by seeing things differently you can unlock new opportunities to innovate and grow.
- Practical tools: Strategic Choices
- Additional resources:
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Growth in an uncertain world by Deloitte
- 4 Stages of Growth: Start-up, Grow-up, Scale-up
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Video: AG Lafley on Growth Strategy
- Video: Inside P&G’s Growth Factory
- Now New Next: Growth Champions by Mckinsey
- Leading for Growth by McKinsey
- Growth Triple Play by McKinsey
- 6 Strategies for Growth by McKinsey
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10 Rules of Growth by McKinsey
- Summary of Growth IQ by Tiffani Bova
- Growth IQ Workbook by Tiffani Bova
- Life Centricity Playbook by Accentur
- 11 Secrets for Exponential Growth by Salim Ismael
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- Aligning Purpose … Understanding how purpose changes your choices – but also needs to align throughout your organisation – from brands and propositions to actions and metrics – to unlock the value potential and full impact.
- Practical tools: Future Story
- Additional resources:
- Video: Leading with Purpose by Hubert Joly
- Map of Modern Brand Building
- Purpose Led Growth of Brands by Kantar
- Purpose Driven Business by FourZero
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Chief Strategy Officer Playbook by Thinkers 50
- The Strategy Activation Playbook by Xplane
- Future Story … Develop an inspiring, engaging and coherent “future story” – connecting your purpose, vision, mission, strategy and brand – in a way that is meaningful to each stakeholder group, and its practical to action.
- Practical tools: Strategy Map
- Additional resources:
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The Magic of Storytelling by Peter Fisk
- Pixar’s 22 Rules of Storytelling by Jon Lasseter
- Storytelling in Business by de Burgh
- The New Age of Storytelling by Deloitte
- The Pyramid Principle by Barbara Minto
- You are a fish: The truth about brands by Nick Liddell
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Theme 3: Moonshots
- Moonshot thinking … Explore the concept of moonshots to develop audacious ideas to solve wicked problems, by thinking bigger and disruptively and experimenting with new technologies and human ingenuity.
- Practical tools: Moonshot Configurator
- Additional resources:
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Video: What is Moonshot thinking?
- Video: Moonshots start with a big question
- Video: Astro Teller, Captain of Moonshots, GS Talks
- Wicked7 by Christian Sarkar
- What’s your moonshot? by John Sanai
- New Metaphors Toolkit: Generating ideas, reframing problems
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- Future back … Plan the implementation of your strategies and innovations from the future backwards, by jumping forwards and then working backwards to define the future-proofed actions to deliver the future, starting today.
- Practical tools: Concept Innovator
- Additional resources:
- Video: NASA’s Visions of the future
- Video: ChatGPT and Beyond
- Lead from the Future by Mark Johnson
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The Perils of Now Forwards by Innosight
- Design Thinking. Where did it go wrong? by MIT
- Changing the game … Disrupt your market, not just your business, by thinking how you can reframe the market, or change the major variables – who, why, what and how – and therefore shape the future to your advantage.
- Practical tools: Game Changers
- Additional resources:
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Gamechangers, Innovative Strategies by Peter Fisk
- 36 Strategems Cheat Sheet
- Disruptors 50 by CNBC
- A new definition of design by MIT
- Collective Intelligence Design Playbook by Nesta
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Video: Neom Line City Explained
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Video: The Rise of Shein
- Shein Shine Story by F2F
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- Innovating business … Evaluate the many different ways in which you can drive innovation across the whole business – looking far beyond the product – and combinations of aspects to innovate together.
- Practical tools: Innovation Solutions
- Additional resources:
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10 Types of Innovation by Doblin
- From Innovation to Impact by Frog
- The Corporate Startup by Tendayi Viki
- Problem Framing Canvas by Griffith Centre
- From Innovation Theatre to Growth Engine by Strategyzer
- Innovation in a Crisis by McKinsey
- Video: How to be a disruptor by HBR
- Innovation at Work by Thinkers50
- Compendium of Innovation Methods by Nesta
- 5 Step Development Process by SpaceX
- 20 Tools for Innovating in Government by Nesta
- Innovation Engine for Growth Playbook by PA
- Anticipatory Innovation in Public Sector by LabX
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- Exponential acceleration … Unlock the exponential power of networks to accelerate growth – where networks are typically driven by tech-enabled connectedness of customers and behaviours, channels and partners, devices and content.
- Practical tools: Innovation Map
- Additional resources:
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Video: Think like a Rocket Scientist by Ozan Varol
- Video: Exponential Organisations by Salim Ismael
- Exponential Organisations by Salim Ismael
- Exponential Transformation, ExO Sprint by Salim Ismael
- Hypothesis-driven Experimation
- The New Normal Exponential Growth by Accenture
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The Book of Dreams by Microsoft
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Theme 4: Transformation
- Transforming business … Consider how to drive and accelerate lasting, holistic business change – as a transformational journey – that enables the business to keep pace with markets, and shape the future to your advantage.
- Practical tools: Transformational Shifts
- Additional resources:
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Transformation 20 by Innosight
- Total Enterprise Reinvention by Accenture
- Mastering the Transformation Journey by Roland Berger
- Jump Starting Transformation by Scott Antony
- Video: Green Transformation of Orsted
- Rewired in Action by McKinsey
- Organisation Transformation by Project Management Institute
- Business transformation is much more than change by Peter Fisk
- What is business transformation by McKinsey by McKinsey
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- Business models … Learn how the business works, operationally and commercially, by creating new dynamic models – from ingredients and platforms, to subscription and communities – and how to migrate from old to new.
- Practical tools: Business models
- Additional resources:
- Video: Business model canvas explained by Strategyzer
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Business Model Generation by Alex Osterwalder
- 50 Business Models by Board of Innovation
- 50 Types of Business Models and Examples by BStrategyHub
- Business Model Compendium by ProBM
- Video: Innovate your business model by Alex Osterwalder
- Exploit and explore … Explore to develop your business with “dual thinking” – in order to exploit the present, and explore the future – by separately creating two portfolios of business initiatives, and then sustain performance and transformation.
- Practical tools: Exploit-Explore Portfolio
- Additional resources:
- Business Model Portfolios by Strategyzer
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Video: Dual Transformation by Innosight
- PingAn Group Report and Strategy Document
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Video: Jessica Tan, Co-CEO, Ping An
- Video: The Business Portfolio Map Explained by Strategyzer
- Ecosystem ventures … Work together as an ecosystem of start-ups, ventures, collaborators and contributors, to achieve more together and faster – sharing purpose and performance, and accelerating change.
- Practical tools: Horizon Planning
- Additional resources:
- Power of Ecosystems by Thinkers50
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Business Ecosystems Come of Age by Deloitte
- How do you design a business ecosystem by BCG
- The Corporate Startup by Tendayi Viki
- Ecosystem Economy by Atluri
- Video: Pirates in the Navy by Tendayi Viki
- Video: Unilever Foundry
- Transformational company … Reflect on what it takes to become a transformational company – one that never stops exploring, innovating and changing – in order to drive and sustain transformation.
- Practical tools: Transformation Map
- Additional resources:
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The Invincible Company by Alex Osterwalder
- Purpose Led Transformation by EY
- Pivot to the Future by Omar Abbosh
- Video: Teiichi Goto, CEO Fujifilm
- Building the Transformational Company by StrategyTools
- The Transformation Playbook by Thinkers50
- Executing successful transformations by Deloitte
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Theme 5: Leadership
- Transformational leadership … Explore what it takes to be an effective business leader in a world of speed, uncertainty and relentless change – how to transform your business and yourself, as a “performer-transformer” leader.
- Practical tools: Leadership Strengths
- Additional resources:
- Business Recoded: The courage to create a better future by Peter Fisk
- Leading through Transformation by Deloitte
- Transformative Leadership for Extraordinary Times by PwC
- Video: Satya Nadella, CEO Microsoft
- Jeff Bezos’ Letters to Amazon Shareholder
- Assessment of Leadership Potential by Korn Ferry
- Video: Transformational Change Story by McKinsey
- Living organisations … Consider how organisations can be as amazing as the people inside them, by becoming more human, eliminating old structures and limits, and to become an organisation that is dynamic, alive, and a platform for talent.
- Practical tools: Humanocracy Profiler
- Additional resources:
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Video: Humanocracy by Gary Hamel
- BMI, Bureaucratic Mass Index and Tool by Gary Hamel
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New Future of Work Report 2022 by Microsoft
- Will AI fix work? by Microsoft
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Reinventing Organisations by Frederic Laloux
- From/To: The Future of Work by Cognizant
- The 15 All Black Principles
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- Extreme teams … Evaluate how you can build more energy and rhythm into your organisation and ways of working – and in particular to build extreme teams that combine psychological safety and performance stretch.
- Practical tools: High Performance Teaming
- Additional resources:
- 10 Shifts Transforming Organisations by McKinsey
- Revolut Culture Code
- Google’s Project Aristotle on Effective Team
- Video: How to Turn Strangers into Teams by Amy Edmundson
- Disrupt yourself … Understand what it means lead yourself, to play to your strengths, to find your flow, and align your purpose – and also to change, to challenge and disrupt yourself to develop a better self for the future ahead.
- Practical tools: Life Compass
- Additional resources:
- Smart Growth by Whitney Johnson
- Video: Whitney Johnson on Disrupting Yourself
- Strengths Profiler by Positive Psychology
- Daring Greatly by Brent Brown
- Video: Tan Le, founder, Emotiv
- Leadership magic … Be inspired by some of the world’s greatest business leaders to have the courage to step up, to achieve more, and unlock your potential – to love what you do, and make a difference to the world.
- Practical tools: Leadership Map
- Additional resources:
- Business Recoded: The courage to create a better future by Peter Fisk
- Leadership challenges in a rapidly changing world by Forbes
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How to be a great 21st century CEO by Bloomberg
- Leadership Potential Framework by Korn Ferry
- Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
- Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman
- The leadership skill of rethinking by Adam Grant
- Multipliers by Liz Wiseman
- 20 leadership quotes from Brene Brown
- Video: Steve Jobs, Commencement, Stanford 2005