Future predictions are integral to active strategic planning. They also drive successful implementation. The types of predictions that you’ll need will vary, though, based on the stage you’re at in developing strategy.
Brainzooming helps guide organizations through these six types of predictions while developing strategy plans. Each type has a different purpose and application during strategic planning. For each prediction, we’ve included an example prediction from a healthcare organization.
Predictions that Direct Visioning
Vision-oriented predictions are important early in a strategy process. They help ensure that the organization’s strategic thinking considers the right range and depth of potential options.
1) Signaling Big Thinking
Broad predictions can signal visionary leadership for both internal and external audiences. These types of predictions should balance aspiration and credibility. They allow an organization to showcase its relevance and energize stakeholders. Coupled with bold and focused messaging, looking dramatically ahead reinforces the organization’s ability to articulate transformative ideas.
Example: A healthcare organization predicts that by 2040, advancements in personalized medicine and AI will make treatments for chronic diseases 90% more effective. This suggests the strong need to position itself as a leader in predictive health analytics and precision care.
2) Challenging the Status Quo
If current strategies won’t lead to future success, bold predictions can challenge entrenched thinking. Combining fact-based insights and emotional appeals highlight risks from inaction. Doing this also motivates change. Engage stakeholders early in the process to address skepticism and build momentum for innovation.
Example: If the healthcare organization doesn’t embrace virtual care technologies, it predicts a 25% drop in patient satisfaction scores within five years.
Considering Strategic Options
When exploring strategic options, predictions help you quantify, assess, and rank alternative directions. Some assessments are detailed. Others are simply approximate estimates that aid in making quick, effective decisions about potential.
3) Exploring Emerging Opportunities
Predictions can stimulate creativity and foresight. They can also push organizations to consider trends and disruptions before they materialize. Speculative forecasts need to be grounded in research and customer insights. The goal is to inspire bold thinking and uncover potentially overlooked possibilities.
Example: Remote patient monitoring devices will grow into a $10 billion market within ten years. This demands exploring partnerships with tech companies to create wearable devices for at-home health tracking.
4) Evaluating Multiple Scenarios
Scenario-based predictions address future uncertainties. The objective is to prepare for a range of potential outcomes. They enable you to evaluate risk and varied plan contingencies. Then, aligning strategic activities with likely scenarios provides a more stable direction, even amid unpredictable conditions.
Example: The healthcare organization considers scenarios (and plans) for varied ways that healthcare delivery could evolve. These include universal access to telehealth, fragmented use and adoption, and a hybrid model of in-person and virtual care.
Planning and Implementation Forecasts
As strategy development moves toward implementation, predictions become more specific and detailed. These predictions set the stage for articulating specific goals. They help make strong decisions that align resources and opportunities.
5) Defining Future Directions
When an organization’s strategic goals are clear, predictions help describe the anticipated future environment. These forecasts support alignment around long-term goals. Beyond numbers, storytelling can bring the vision to life. This creates a tangible and inspiring change roadmap.
Example: By 2030, 70% of patient interactions will occur digitally. This necessitates prioritizing digital-first consultations, AI-assisted diagnostics, and real-time health monitoring.
6) Allocating Resources with Precision
Predictions related to investment and resource planning require greater accuracy. While some flexibility is beneficial, these forecasts must balance optimism and realism to avoid significant risks. Precise forecasts ensure that plans can be implemented within real-world constraints.
Example: The organization will experience a 15% increase in mental health services demand during the next three years. It will shift funding toward hiring additional therapists, expanding telehealth capabilities for mental health, and developing new wellness programs.
How Are You Making Predictions?
Which types of predictions are you using in your organization? Are you thinking strategically about when and where each type of prediction makes sense?
Understanding each prediction’s purpose assists in crafting forecasts with appropriate detail and certainty. Then, each prediction you make will empower strategic decisions and driving meaningful actions. - Mike Brown
The Brainzooming Group helps make smart organizations more successful by rapidly expanding their strategic options and creating innovative plans they can efficiently implement. Email us at info@brainzooming.com or call us at 816-509-5320 to learn how we can help you enhance your strategy and implementation efforts.
