Using long-term trend assessment
in business strategy
@fdemeyer
frederic@i4fi.com
fredericdemeyer.com
Instituteforfutureinsights
fdemeyer
my background
my 20’s
my 30’s
my 40’s
my 50’s
helping you anticipate the future
???	
  
I admit, I am a futurist…
But what does it mean?
"Airplanes are interesting toys but of no
military value."
Marshal Ferdinand Foch, Professor of Strategy, Ecole
Superieure de Guerre
“I think there is a world market for maybe
five computers”
Thomas Watson (IBM) 1943
“640k ought to be enough for anybody”
Bill Gates, 1981
…Seeing beyond the paradigm
is extremely difficult, but not
impossible…
Ways to assess the future
What it means for businesses
Which trends to follow?
Advise to (aspiring) trend watchers
Ways to assess the future
What it means for businesses
Which trends to follow?
Advise to (aspiring) trend watchers
Sophistication
Accuracy
Ways to assess the future
Frederic	
  De	
  Meyer	
  @	
  i4fi	
  
GUT	
  FEEL	
  
…just by walking around…
…is this an indication of a trend
towards URBAN FARMING?
Sophistication
Accuracy
Ways to spot long-term
trends
Frederic	
  De	
  Meyer	
  @	
  i4fi	
  
GUT	
  FEEL	
  
…mass customization is
spreading to many consumer
products…
…what if it would apply to other
industries?
Health Care Retail
Education Energy
Sophistication
Accuracy
Ways to spot long-term
trends
Frederic	
  De	
  Meyer	
  @	
  i4fi	
  
GUT	
  FEEL	
  
BanksMusicPress
…what do we see?
BanksMusicPress
…we are witnessing a growing
trend to desintermediation…
Sophistication
Accuracy
Ways to spot long-term
trends
Frederic	
  De	
  Meyer	
  @	
  i4fi	
  
GUT	
  FEEL	
  
Pa5ents	
  now	
  have	
  limitless	
  ways	
  
to	
  be	
  as	
  knowledgeable	
  as	
  the	
  
doctor	
  
(mass)	
  Customiza5on	
  	
  of	
  health	
  care	
  
becomes	
  the	
  new	
  paradigm	
  
Open	
  source	
  pharma	
  challenges	
  the	
  current	
  
business	
  R&D	
  model	
  
New	
  market	
  for	
  DIY	
  health	
  	
  
(9000	
  Apple	
  apps	
  for	
  personal	
  health	
  
care)	
  
…look at what is happening in
health care…
Patients now have limitless
ways to be as knowledgeable
as the doctor
(mass) Customization of health care
becomes the new paradigm
Open source pharma challenges the current
business R&D model
New market for DIYhealth
(9000Apple apps for personal
health care)
…the future? Health provision ‘as
a service’…
Sophistication
Accuracy
Ways to spot long-term
trends
Frederic	
  De	
  Meyer	
  @	
  i4fi	
  
GUT	
  FEEL	
  
…the power of system thinking…
Sophistication
Accuracy
Ways to spot long-term
trends
Frederic	
  De	
  Meyer	
  @	
  i4fi	
  
GUT	
  FEEL	
  
Sophistication
Accuracy
Ways to spot long-term
trends
Frederic	
  De	
  Meyer	
  @	
  i4fi	
  
GUT	
  FEEL	
  
Sta5s5cal	
  
certain5es	
  
…Statistical certainty? Here is a
bold prediction…
Ways to assess the future
What it means for businesses
Which trends to follow?
Advise to (aspiring) trend watchers
…prepare for future threats…
…prepare for future threats…
…prepare for future threats…
Limited customer
dialogueProduct
focused
Branch
Separate
channels
Digital
Fast time
to market
Omni
channel
Customer
centric
Data
driven
Intuitive
apps
Real
time
…prepare for future threats…
…prepare for future
opportunities…
…prepare for future
opportunities…
…prepare for future
opportunities…
…align your business to the
future…
…room for innovation…
…room for innovation…
…room for innovation…
external
internal
new
competitors
new business
models
new needs of
customers
new customer
segments
new talents and
competencies
new marketing
mix
new
ecosystems
new go-to-
market models
new production
processes
megatrends!
…sharpen your strategy by
understanding these trends
#2 discuss Megatrends
internally
#3 draw conclusions
and recommendations
#4 Communicate results
internally and externally
#1 identify
Megatrends to discuss
Mega	
  trends	
  
A way to assess these long-term
trends
one hurricane is not a trend, it’s an event...
an increasing number of hurricanes in the US
is a trend, not necessarily a megatrend
a worldwide increase in number and intensity of
hurricanes would be a megatrend
and the consequences might trigger new
(mega)trends
What are megatrends?
•  long-lasting (>10 years)
•  amplifying
•  cause disruptive shift
•  have a global impact
•  not prone to change of taste or mood, lobby	
  
My ‘rules of thumb’
The power of exchanging views
and opinions
Ways to assess the future
What it means for businesses
Which trends to follow?
Advise to (aspiring) trend watchers
•  Demographic trends
–  Growing world population
–  Ageing population
–  Migration patterns
–  Urbanization
–  Gap rich-poor
–  Generation Y
–  Generation Z
–  War for talent
•  Environment and
sustainability
–  Climate change
–  Scarce resources
–  Peak oil
–  Water shortage
–  Food stress
–  Clean energy
–  Smart cities
–  Bio materials
–  New materials
–  Cradle-to-cradle
–  Biomimicry
–  Urban farming
–  Eco activism
–  New urban models
•  Geopolitical trends
–  Power shift
–  Globalization 3.0
–  Rising middle class
–  Energy dependence
–  The Market State
•  Consumer & societal trends
–  Mass customization
–  Ethical buying
–  ‘Buy local’
–  Social & Group buying
–  Personalization
–  Sharing economy
–  Radical transparency
–  Massive Open Online Courses
(MOOCs)
–  Personal Health
–  Digital divide
–  Virtual Currencies
–  Blockchain technology
–  New jobs
•  Technology trends
–  Big Data/ data science
–  Internet of Things (IoT)
–  Augmented Reality
–  Consumerization of IT (BYOD)
–  Technology ‘as a Service’
–  Home 3D printing
–  Business 3D printing
–  Drones for business
–  Bioprinting
–  Enhanced Humans
–  Wearable Technologies
•  Business trends
–  Life Cycle Assessment
–  Disintermediation
–  Crowdsourcing & funding
–  Open innovation
–  Gamification
–  Corporate Social Responsibility
(CSR)
–  Cause Marketing
–  Social Business Innovation
–  Social entrepreneurs
–  Intrapreneurship
–  Businesses get social
–  Holacracy
–  Business as a platform
–  Virtualization of the corporation
MY FAVORITES FOR THE
MOMENT
In 2008 climate change was responsible for 20M
migrants, on the long run this number will grow to
200M
A new golden age for materials: ‘smart’ material can heal
themselves, things can be built atom by atom, light materials
get stronger and stronger, …
Many architects are radically rethinking our urban models in
preparation of climate change
RETURN
TO MENU
Blockchain has the potential to decentralize and transform
transactions, making them more efficient, participative and
scalable
The worldwide 3D printer market will experience growth from
2012 to 2017, with compound annual growth rates of 59%
and 29%, respectively (IDC)
65% of current students will later be working in jobs that do
not exist yet
THE NEW NORMAL IN
BUSINESS
Teaser: what would be the advantage
if planes would land upside down?	
  
On Amazon marketplace you
will often find (new) products at
a substantially lower price
compared to Amazon’s.
Cannibalization? Probably, even
if Amazon gets a commission on
each transaction. On the other
hand, this move has probably
limited the number of emerging
copycats of Amazon’s
business !
If your market is declining you
might as well sell directly to your
competitors… Peugeot’s Expert
vans will be sold as Toyotas as
from mid 2013, competing with
the same van… of Peugeot !
sell your products to your competitors, and let
them sell it under their brand…
Admittedly, ‘multibranding’ is
anything but new. Procter &
Gamble has used this technique
for years. But what if it was
applied to other industries?
Telecom operator KPN, for
instance, offers mobile services
through 5 different brands on
the Dutch market. No doubt this
comes at an additional cost.
That’s okay just as long as you
get a bigger piece of the pie…
(no guarantee though)
why not compete with yourself?
Most businesses will face
competition from new business
models developed by startups…
so why wouldn’t you embrace
them, by serving as an
incubator (the cheap way) or
invest in them in very early
stage (the risky way)?
you can invite your future competitors to join you!
In virtually every industry, agility
will be key to strengthen your
competitive position. Most likely
you will need to adapt your
organizational model (and your
culture, processes, employee
profiles, etc) in order to become
and remain agile. Easier said
than done, but vital
nevertheless…
Source:	
  agile2lean.blogspot.be	
  
innovate your organisational model
www.fredericdemeyer.com
the age of platforms
www.fredericdemeyer.com
the age of platforms
www.fredericdemeyer.com
the age of platforms
Limited customer
dialogueProduct
focused
Branch
Separate
channels
Digital
Fast time
to market
Omni
channel
Customer
centric
Data
driven
Intuitive
apps
Real
time
the age of platforms
the age of platforms
www.fredericdemeyer.com
the age of intrapreneurship
www.fredericdemeyer.com
the age of intrapreneurship
www.fredericdemeyer.com
the age of intrapreneurship
Ways to assess the future
What it means for businesses
Which trends to follow?
Advise to (aspiring) trend watchers
#1: read a(n awful) lot
#2: read even more…
#3: follow the start-up scene
#4: get efficient in researching
evidence
#5: look for patterns and links
#6: constantly ask yourself “what
does it mean?”
#7: build a (strong) opinion
•  “In 20 years we will all be freelancers”
•  “The role of government will become
obsolete in 50 years”
•  “Sustainable future will be driven by
population, not government(s)”
#8: communicate… extensively!
Write articles for media friends
+240K views
+900 downloads
	
  
Slideshare works
Blogs still work (for now)
Special mention…
Usual suspects
#9: look for role models (but
remain yourself)
#10: offer things for free
ü 	
  charity	
  	
  
ü 	
  non-­‐profit	
  
ü 	
  audience	
  of	
  poten6al	
  clients	
  
ü 	
  exis6ng	
  clients	
  
ü 	
  conferences	
  I	
  would	
  have	
  
paid	
  for	
  to	
  a<end	
  
#11: but not everything…
60 Megatrend Fact Sheets
(briefing document for long-term planning and
innovation sessions)
@fdemeyer
frederic@i4fi.com
fredericdemeyer.com
Instituteforfutureinsights
fdemeyer
#12: be patient…
2 years
lead time
if you want revenue out of your efforts
…be patient
if you want glory out of your efforts
…don’t
but never give up!
…never
after all…
…you’re having the best job on earth
www.i4fi.com	
  
www.fredericdemeyer.com	
  
@fdemeyer	
  
	
  
addi6onal	
  ques6ons:	
  frederic@i4fi.com	
  
Thank	
  you!	
  
If you are not ashamed looking back at
what you did 6 months ago, you’re doing
it wrong…
Don’t aim for control. If you think you
control your business, it means you’re
not going fast enough…
Don’t take any advise of people who
never been entrepreneurs themselves…
No matter what you do… have fun!

Hogeschool gent 2016 publication

  • 1.
    Using long-term trendassessment in business strategy @fdemeyer frederic@i4fi.com fredericdemeyer.com Instituteforfutureinsights fdemeyer
  • 2.
    my background my 20’s my30’s my 40’s my 50’s helping you anticipate the future ???  
  • 3.
    I admit, Iam a futurist… But what does it mean?
  • 5.
    "Airplanes are interestingtoys but of no military value." Marshal Ferdinand Foch, Professor of Strategy, Ecole Superieure de Guerre “I think there is a world market for maybe five computers” Thomas Watson (IBM) 1943 “640k ought to be enough for anybody” Bill Gates, 1981 …Seeing beyond the paradigm is extremely difficult, but not impossible…
  • 6.
    Ways to assessthe future What it means for businesses Which trends to follow? Advise to (aspiring) trend watchers
  • 7.
    Ways to assessthe future What it means for businesses Which trends to follow? Advise to (aspiring) trend watchers
  • 8.
    Sophistication Accuracy Ways to assessthe future Frederic  De  Meyer  @  i4fi   GUT  FEEL  
  • 9.
  • 10.
    …is this anindication of a trend towards URBAN FARMING?
  • 11.
    Sophistication Accuracy Ways to spotlong-term trends Frederic  De  Meyer  @  i4fi   GUT  FEEL  
  • 12.
    …mass customization is spreadingto many consumer products…
  • 13.
    …what if itwould apply to other industries? Health Care Retail Education Energy
  • 14.
    Sophistication Accuracy Ways to spotlong-term trends Frederic  De  Meyer  @  i4fi   GUT  FEEL  
  • 15.
  • 16.
    BanksMusicPress …we are witnessinga growing trend to desintermediation…
  • 17.
    Sophistication Accuracy Ways to spotlong-term trends Frederic  De  Meyer  @  i4fi   GUT  FEEL  
  • 18.
    Pa5ents  now  have  limitless  ways   to  be  as  knowledgeable  as  the   doctor   (mass)  Customiza5on    of  health  care   becomes  the  new  paradigm   Open  source  pharma  challenges  the  current   business  R&D  model   New  market  for  DIY  health     (9000  Apple  apps  for  personal  health   care)   …look at what is happening in health care…
  • 19.
    Patients now havelimitless ways to be as knowledgeable as the doctor (mass) Customization of health care becomes the new paradigm Open source pharma challenges the current business R&D model New market for DIYhealth (9000Apple apps for personal health care) …the future? Health provision ‘as a service’…
  • 20.
    Sophistication Accuracy Ways to spotlong-term trends Frederic  De  Meyer  @  i4fi   GUT  FEEL  
  • 22.
    …the power ofsystem thinking…
  • 23.
    Sophistication Accuracy Ways to spotlong-term trends Frederic  De  Meyer  @  i4fi   GUT  FEEL  
  • 24.
    Sophistication Accuracy Ways to spotlong-term trends Frederic  De  Meyer  @  i4fi   GUT  FEEL   Sta5s5cal   certain5es  
  • 25.
    …Statistical certainty? Hereis a bold prediction…
  • 26.
    Ways to assessthe future What it means for businesses Which trends to follow? Advise to (aspiring) trend watchers
  • 27.
  • 28.
  • 29.
  • 30.
    Limited customer dialogueProduct focused Branch Separate channels Digital Fast time tomarket Omni channel Customer centric Data driven Intuitive apps Real time …prepare for future threats…
  • 31.
  • 32.
  • 33.
  • 34.
    …align your businessto the future…
  • 35.
  • 36.
  • 37.
  • 38.
    external internal new competitors new business models new needsof customers new customer segments new talents and competencies new marketing mix new ecosystems new go-to- market models new production processes megatrends! …sharpen your strategy by understanding these trends
  • 39.
    #2 discuss Megatrends internally #3draw conclusions and recommendations #4 Communicate results internally and externally #1 identify Megatrends to discuss Mega  trends   A way to assess these long-term trends
  • 40.
    one hurricane isnot a trend, it’s an event... an increasing number of hurricanes in the US is a trend, not necessarily a megatrend a worldwide increase in number and intensity of hurricanes would be a megatrend and the consequences might trigger new (mega)trends What are megatrends?
  • 41.
    •  long-lasting (>10years) •  amplifying •  cause disruptive shift •  have a global impact •  not prone to change of taste or mood, lobby   My ‘rules of thumb’
  • 42.
    The power ofexchanging views and opinions
  • 43.
    Ways to assessthe future What it means for businesses Which trends to follow? Advise to (aspiring) trend watchers
  • 44.
    •  Demographic trends – Growing world population –  Ageing population –  Migration patterns –  Urbanization –  Gap rich-poor –  Generation Y –  Generation Z –  War for talent •  Environment and sustainability –  Climate change –  Scarce resources –  Peak oil –  Water shortage –  Food stress –  Clean energy –  Smart cities –  Bio materials –  New materials –  Cradle-to-cradle –  Biomimicry –  Urban farming –  Eco activism –  New urban models •  Geopolitical trends –  Power shift –  Globalization 3.0 –  Rising middle class –  Energy dependence –  The Market State •  Consumer & societal trends –  Mass customization –  Ethical buying –  ‘Buy local’ –  Social & Group buying –  Personalization –  Sharing economy –  Radical transparency –  Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) –  Personal Health –  Digital divide –  Virtual Currencies –  Blockchain technology –  New jobs •  Technology trends –  Big Data/ data science –  Internet of Things (IoT) –  Augmented Reality –  Consumerization of IT (BYOD) –  Technology ‘as a Service’ –  Home 3D printing –  Business 3D printing –  Drones for business –  Bioprinting –  Enhanced Humans –  Wearable Technologies •  Business trends –  Life Cycle Assessment –  Disintermediation –  Crowdsourcing & funding –  Open innovation –  Gamification –  Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) –  Cause Marketing –  Social Business Innovation –  Social entrepreneurs –  Intrapreneurship –  Businesses get social –  Holacracy –  Business as a platform –  Virtualization of the corporation
  • 45.
    MY FAVORITES FORTHE MOMENT
  • 46.
    In 2008 climatechange was responsible for 20M migrants, on the long run this number will grow to 200M
  • 47.
    A new goldenage for materials: ‘smart’ material can heal themselves, things can be built atom by atom, light materials get stronger and stronger, …
  • 48.
    Many architects areradically rethinking our urban models in preparation of climate change RETURN TO MENU
  • 49.
    Blockchain has thepotential to decentralize and transform transactions, making them more efficient, participative and scalable
  • 50.
    The worldwide 3Dprinter market will experience growth from 2012 to 2017, with compound annual growth rates of 59% and 29%, respectively (IDC)
  • 51.
    65% of currentstudents will later be working in jobs that do not exist yet
  • 52.
    THE NEW NORMALIN BUSINESS
  • 53.
    Teaser: what wouldbe the advantage if planes would land upside down?  
  • 54.
    On Amazon marketplaceyou will often find (new) products at a substantially lower price compared to Amazon’s. Cannibalization? Probably, even if Amazon gets a commission on each transaction. On the other hand, this move has probably limited the number of emerging copycats of Amazon’s business !
  • 55.
    If your marketis declining you might as well sell directly to your competitors… Peugeot’s Expert vans will be sold as Toyotas as from mid 2013, competing with the same van… of Peugeot ! sell your products to your competitors, and let them sell it under their brand…
  • 56.
    Admittedly, ‘multibranding’ is anythingbut new. Procter & Gamble has used this technique for years. But what if it was applied to other industries? Telecom operator KPN, for instance, offers mobile services through 5 different brands on the Dutch market. No doubt this comes at an additional cost. That’s okay just as long as you get a bigger piece of the pie… (no guarantee though) why not compete with yourself?
  • 57.
    Most businesses willface competition from new business models developed by startups… so why wouldn’t you embrace them, by serving as an incubator (the cheap way) or invest in them in very early stage (the risky way)? you can invite your future competitors to join you!
  • 58.
    In virtually everyindustry, agility will be key to strengthen your competitive position. Most likely you will need to adapt your organizational model (and your culture, processes, employee profiles, etc) in order to become and remain agile. Easier said than done, but vital nevertheless… Source:  agile2lean.blogspot.be   innovate your organisational model
  • 59.
  • 60.
  • 61.
  • 62.
    Limited customer dialogueProduct focused Branch Separate channels Digital Fast time tomarket Omni channel Customer centric Data driven Intuitive apps Real time the age of platforms
  • 63.
    the age ofplatforms
  • 64.
  • 65.
  • 66.
  • 67.
    Ways to assessthe future What it means for businesses Which trends to follow? Advise to (aspiring) trend watchers
  • 68.
    #1: read a(nawful) lot
  • 69.
  • 70.
    #3: follow thestart-up scene
  • 71.
    #4: get efficientin researching evidence
  • 72.
    #5: look forpatterns and links
  • 73.
    #6: constantly askyourself “what does it mean?”
  • 74.
    #7: build a(strong) opinion •  “In 20 years we will all be freelancers” •  “The role of government will become obsolete in 50 years” •  “Sustainable future will be driven by population, not government(s)”
  • 75.
    #8: communicate… extensively! Writearticles for media friends +240K views +900 downloads   Slideshare works Blogs still work (for now) Special mention… Usual suspects
  • 76.
    #9: look forrole models (but remain yourself)
  • 77.
    #10: offer thingsfor free ü   charity     ü   non-­‐profit   ü   audience  of  poten6al  clients   ü   exis6ng  clients   ü   conferences  I  would  have   paid  for  to  a<end  
  • 78.
    #11: but noteverything… 60 Megatrend Fact Sheets (briefing document for long-term planning and innovation sessions) @fdemeyer frederic@i4fi.com fredericdemeyer.com Instituteforfutureinsights fdemeyer
  • 79.
    #12: be patient… 2years lead time
  • 80.
    if you wantrevenue out of your efforts …be patient
  • 81.
    if you wantglory out of your efforts …don’t
  • 82.
    but never giveup! …never
  • 83.
    after all… …you’re havingthe best job on earth
  • 84.
    www.i4fi.com   www.fredericdemeyer.com   @fdemeyer     addi6onal  ques6ons:  frederic@i4fi.com   Thank  you!  
  • 85.
    If you arenot ashamed looking back at what you did 6 months ago, you’re doing it wrong… Don’t aim for control. If you think you control your business, it means you’re not going fast enough… Don’t take any advise of people who never been entrepreneurs themselves… No matter what you do… have fun!