Strategic Prospective: Definitions and Key Concepts

Abstract

The prospective approach introduced the possibility of recognizing several possible states in the next time interval, because it does not reduce the dynamics of change to a simple rational choice, as is the case when reflections on the future focus only on the identification or extrapolation of trends. Thus, the prospective provides the basis for long-term reflection on the system being studied that give a multi-dimensional and multi-scale vision of it. There are a variety of available methods and techniques that have been developed to deal with long-term strategic reflections, which ability to decision-makers to make estimations of futures, identify future-bearing facts and to make inferences about the future. Therefore, this chapter hopes to help the reader identify the key definitions and concepts around the prospective approach, in addition to recognizing similarities and divergences with other approaches in the field of Future Studies.