FTA break new ground in response to grand challenges

Abstract

Purpose

This Guest Editorial aims to demonstrate the diversity of application fields in which FTA methods are being used and to offer a glimpse into possible consequences that grand challenges may imply for the development of FTA.

Design/methodology/approach

This introductory paper provides an overview of selected FTA 2011 Conference contributions for this Special Issue.

Findings

FTA approaches create spaces where an effective dialogue between key players in different policy domains facilitates vision‐building and consensus‐building for engineering major processes of transformation. Therefore, sound approaches of futures thinking will help to better address the grand challenges.

Research limitations/implications

From a large set of excellent papers presented at the FTA 2011 Conference, only a restricted number of papers could be included in this Special Issue highlighting the broad diversity of FTA application fields in response to grand challenges.

Practical implications

FTA can contribute not only to the steering of diverse innovation systems, but also to their adjustment, adaptability and ability to shape responses to grand challenges.

Social implications

The papers of this Special Issue point to the need for FTA to take into account user perspectives and to shape the social context.

Originality/value

This Special Issue brings together papers that explore not only the opportunities and limitations of implementing FTA methods in a variety of policy domains, but also their benefits in enabling a better understanding of complex systems that interact in each situation and in defining effective policy responses.

Citation

Carabias, V., De Smedt, P. and Teichler, T. (2012), "FTA break new ground in response to grand challenges", Foresight, Vol. 14 No. 4, pp. 279-281. https://doi.org/10.1108/14636681211256062