Destination Z: The History of the Future

By Robert Baldock

Book Overview

Ziel dieses Buches ist es, Unternehmen eine radikalere Denkweise nahezubringen, wenn sie im 21. Jahrhundert überleben wollen. Die Geschäftswelt hat sich in den vergangenen 20 Jahren drastisch verändert. Für die kommenden 5 Jahre sagt der Autor einen noch rapideren Wandel von vergleichbarem Ausma voraus, wobei sich eine völlig neue Industriestruktur herausbilden wird. Das Buch analysiert, wie diese Veränderungen sich auf zukünftige Entwicklungen und unser Leben auswirken. Der Autor behandelt das Thema so, als ob seine Vorhersagen schon eingetroffen seien, daher auch der Titel 'The History of the Future'. (TIS)

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0471861618
• ISBN13: 9780471861614
• Release Date: February 2000
• Publisher: Wiley
• Length: 296 Pages
• Weight: 0.98 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Not Terribly Original But Nevertheless Immensely Useful

In recent years, businesses have learnt to accept change as a permanent factor in their lives. But in order to survive in the next century, businesses must learn to think far more radically and be willing to accommodate yet more dramatic changes throughout their organisations. The past is no longer a reliable indicator of the future. The face of business today is virtually unrecognisable from that of 20 years ago. Robert Baldock forsees an even greater degree of change in the next five years, reflecting an acceleration in the process.Innovatively written as if the author's suppositions are already history, the book presents five very different scenarios of the future of business, including a "wild card" which pushes predictions of the future to the boundaries of plausibility. Five very different scenarios-and yet elements of them are bound to transpire. Thinking about these outcomes can help managers to thrive in the emerging world of the future. To point you towards your own action plan the final chapter draws together lessons of the five scenarios and harnesses them into reliable strategies which will serve in any eventuality.If your role is in management you must prepare for the unpredictable. Read this book before the future arrives.Robert Baldock (1955- ) was, until recently, a global managing partner in Anderson Consulting, the management and technology consultancy, responsible for eCommerce, Customer Relationship Management and Mergers and Acquisitions within the Financial Services Industry. He led a team within Andersen's global financial services practice in developing a set of scenarios for the future of the financial services industry as well as an initiative looking at the future shape of the consumer serving industries. He is the author of The Last Days of the Giants?.

A great springboard for starting to look ahead 5+ years?

This is an absobing and informative book that applies scenario planning to peer ahead viewing the consumer and the supplier as the primary engines of change. The author paints a provocative picture of five possible scenarios: (1) the consumer is in control and suppliers are competing for their business; (2) suppliers have formed Keiretsu-style network alliances; (3) large, vertically integrated companies competing for local market share; (4) specialized suppliers, excelling in their core competencies concerning process rather than product, while outsourcing all else; and (5), a scenario that assumes political and social disaster plunging the world economy into havoc. To deal with the uncertainties of tomorrow, Baldock recommends companies develop robust strategies, keep in a constant state vigilant awareness for early warning signs, and create future-oriented, wide-angle thinking management teams. If you are trying look ahead 5+ years, this book is a superb springboard. To make "Destination Z" yet more meaningful, you may want to complement it by reading "Learning From the Future," Liam Fahey and Robert M., Randall, editors to provide additional insight into using scenario learning and planning.Baldock has written an outstanding book that will benefit all who are engaged in strategic planning and be of interest to anyone with a lust for finding out what lies ahead in the world of economics and business. Gerry Stern, Founding Partner, HRconsultant.com and Stern & Associates.