A brief insight into the life , experience and published books of Alvin Toffler as part of 4th year module in IT-Tallaght. Alvin has many published books such as "Future Shock" and "The third wave" Many of Tofflers predictions were accurate while some of his more outlandish ideas which were near impossible at the time may soon be accomplished with the help of key figureheads like Elon Musk.

1. ALVIN TOFFLER
RENOWNED
FUTUROLOGIST
By Garrett Looney/Dylan
Leonard

2. OBJECTIVE
S OF
PRESENTAT
ION
1. Provide clear understanding of Toffler’s
work and philosophy
2. Influences, scope of work and his
contribution to the discipline
3. Provide key details on Toffler
4. Provide our critical appraisal of Toffler’s
work
5. Reflect on how Toffler has affected our
thinking and behaviour

3. ALVIN TOFFLER
Born on 4th October
1928, in New York City
1
American writer,
specialised in writings
on futurism
2
Working at the labor’s
level and then became a
labor columnist
3
Earlier work focused on
the expansion of
technology and its
impact on the society
(IBM and AT & T)
4
Author of ‘Future Shock’
‘The Third Wave’ ‘Power
Shift’
5

4. TOFFLER’S WORK
AND PHILOSOPHY
(INFLUENCES)
Work
Pennsylvanian daily - New York
City ‘Fortune’ magazine.
‘Fortune’ magazine - IBM
Xerox asked Toffler to analysis
their research laboratory and AT
& T.

5. TOFFLER’S WORK
AND PHILOSOPHY
(INFLUENCES)
Heidi
Met Heidi at New York
University
They left the university
together and relocated to
the Midwest of the United
States
He married Heidi Toffler,
who was a futurist and
intellectual in her own
right.

6. TOFFLER’S WORK
AND PHILOSOPHY
(SCOPE)
Main work (Futurist Trilogy)
Future Shock (1970)
The Third Wave (1980)
Powershift: Knowledge, Wealth
and Violence at the Edge of the
21st Century (1990)
Other Work
Revolutionary Wealth (2006)
‘War and Anti-War: Making Sense
of Today’s Global Chaos’ (1986)
Previews and Premises

7. TOFFLER’S WORK AND
PHILOSOPHY
(CONTRIBUTION)
1. Planted the seed that in order to be successful
business must look to the future
2. Change should be accepted as it is inevitable
3. Business should think strategically

8. TOFFLER’S
WORK AND
PHILOSOPH
Y (MUST
KNOW)
Considered the 3rd most significant business leader
Referred to as the ‘world’s most famous futurologist’
McKinsey Foundation Book Award for Contributions to
Management Literature
Received the Officer de L’Ordre des Arts et Letters
(Heidi) Center for Global Communications in Tokyo and the
scientific committee of the Piu Manzu Foundation
(Both) Co-Chairs of the U.S. Committee for the United Nations
Development Fund for Women.

9. TOFFLER’S WORK AND
PHILOSOPHY (APPRAISAL)
The overall themes discussed by Toffler and his wife are now part
of everyday life.
Got Right
1. The Internet
2. Sharing Economy
3. Telecommuting
4. Business without formal
structure
Got Wrong
1. Colonies in space and
underwater cities
2. The decline of cities
3. Social alienation

10. TOFFLER’S
WORK AND
PHILOSOPH
Y (IMPACT)
Look to the
future
Don’t rely on past
accomplishments
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmH
k5P0JZMQ