SP 2030 Report

THE SCENARIO APPROACH

While the future is inherently uncertain, scenarios help us bound that uncertainty into a limited number of likely paths. Some paths may lead to futures we want to avoid while others point to surprisingly favourable outcomes. Once these alternatives have been articulated, we can more easily explore the inherent uncertainty to find opportunities and challenges we might otherwise miss. These insights can then inform strategic planning processes. ( Institute for Alternative Futures ) 1 S peech Pathology 2030 presents a strong vision for the future of speech pathology in Australia. The vision is just one important part of shaping the best possible future for the profession. As much as we might like to think otherwise, the future has never behaved in a predictable way. The following information presents a number of key drivers of change. Some of these drivers have a reasonably high level of predictability and clarity. Others are far more uncertain and their future direction considerably less predictable.

The content presented is based on Understanding the landscape – a stimulus paper prepared in Stage 1 of Speech Pathology 2030. The stimulus paper, including all relevant references is available at www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/SP2030

This is where scenario planning has a role to play.

Scenario planning begins with identifying key drivers of change likely to shape our future and exploring how they might unfold over time—some will be more predictable than others.

1 Institute for Alternative Futures. (2014). Public Health 2030: A Scenario Exploration. Alexandria, VA. Retrieved from www.altfutures.org/pubs/PH2030/IAF-PublicHealth2030Scenarios.pdf

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Speech Pathology 2030 - making futures happen

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