Assessing the correlation of creativity and foresight : a grounded theory-related approach

Abstract

Although creativity might not be a fundamental prerequisite to conduct foresight, it can be inferred that creative thinking contributes to a positive outcome of a foresight exercise. In the light of current economic developments, which are impacting on the ability of private and public organisations to safeguard their long-term survival in particular, foresight offers an increasingly popular approach to address these difficulties.

This dissertation investigates the correlation of creativity and foresight with a view to determining the extent to which knowledge on creativity is disseminated and accessible to the foresight community. Involving representatives of the foresight community, it analyses possible short-comings of the prevailing knowledge, and discusses the effects an expanded understanding of creative thinking can have on foresight.

After delivering a review of the theoretical progression of both subjects, the selected research methodology is introduced. Then, results of data collection and data analysis are given and discussed. The findings refer to ‘platforms of understanding’ for both the phenomena of creativity and foresight, which indicate an essential understanding of both the phenomena of creativity and foresight, as well as their overlapping characteristics. Further findings refer to the understanding of creativity prevalent in the foresight community, and the improvements creative thinking might provide with regards to the knowledge foresight provides, e.g. by identifying inevident drivers of change, by influencing the behaviour of foresight actors, or by enhancing the implementation of foresight results.