Scenario planning begins by identifying the focal issue or decision. So we begin the process by agreeing on the issue that we want to address. As managers of our own lives, we can do the same exercise. Let's say that our key concern is the quality of life that we'll have in 15 or 20 years and the personal investments that we'll need to make in preparation for the future. The world is populated by consumers rather than citizens.
Technology breeds unlimited customized choices.
The consumer is served by highly evolved companies, aggressively nimble and conscientious of the market's whims. Computers do increasing amounts of white-collar work. Politics means electronic voting. Governments are virtual corporations, with their heavy lifting privatized to commercial ventures. The have-nots are given spending vouchers.