ABSTRACT
Making changes to processes, systems, and even strategies is commonplace in every organization, but thinking into the future isn't so ordinary. Whenever a change or modification is being contemplated or considered, it is critical to think about the potential negative effects or consequences of the change. This chapter explores basic ways to prevent problems rather than trying to solve them after they materialize. It looks at ways to stroll into the future, predict what could happen, and then return to the present, developing ways to prevent any potential future problems. The chapter also looks at ways to take control of the future rather than having the future control us. It demonstrates several tools that can be used to predict what could happen. Since we can never be certain of future events, we will speak in terms of simple probabilities and look at ways to predict the future with a relative degree of certainty.
