2008: 1 Global Watching: Generation Ambition
Kairos Global Watching no 1-2008
– The newsletter is published and distributed by Kairos Future International AB
Issue: 1, year 2008
Date: February 7, 2008
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CONTENT:
FEATURE:
- Challenges for Generation Ambition in Denmark
NEWS:
- Focus: Scenario Planning
UPCOMING EVENTS:
- Copenhagen, Denmark: Presentation of Generation Ambition
- Amersfoort, Holland: Course on Scenario Planning
- Los Angeles, USA: Developing Leaders for Future Competition
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Dear reader,
In this issue of Global Watching we take a closer look at the mid-life generation, the 30-50 year olds – we call them “Generation Ambition”. How do some people succeed with everything in life: love life, family, career etc and still feel that they lead balanced lives? What happens with a generation that has high ambitions in all areas of life? Will they just be extra motivated or will they get sick from all the pressure? Read more about the Danish “Generation Ambition” in Marie Skov Christensen’s article below!
We are also focusing on the method Scenario Planning! Creating scenarios is a way of anticipating alternative futures – what different situations can be expected from the future, how would each of these affect your business and how can you prepare for them? Kairos Future has been working with Scenario Planning for many years, together with clients who want to be prepared for the future, but also giving courses and lectures, making it possible for you to become Scenario Strategists on your own! Read more about Scenario Planning in Dr. Mats Lindgren’s article below!
Best regards,
Sofia Johnsson
Editor
Kairos Future
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FEATURE:
CHALLENGES FOR GENERATION AMBITION IN DENMARK
By: Marie Skov Christensen
In a time of extremely low unemployment and increasing sick leave the welfare of the workforce is more crucial than ever. We face a situation with lack of skilled and unskilled staff and companies that search for new employees abroad. Meanwhile the expectations for economic growth in Europe are reduced.
This is very much reflected in the Danish job market and calls for initiatives and solutions.
A survey carried out by Kairos Future in six European countries, including Denmark, focuses on the age group 30 to 50 year-olds. How is this generation able to meet their own high ambitions, the increasing demands from employers and still lead a balanced life?
The survey paints a picture of the middle-aged Danes as generally positive and optimistic people but this generation still faces the cost of high ambitions in all aspects of life.
Download and read the whole article here!
Please contact Marie Skov Christensen for more information, by e-mail or by phone: +45 24603279!
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FOCUS: SCENARIO PLANNING
IMPROVE YOUR DECISION MAKING: BE A SCENARIO STRATEGIST
New article by Dr. Mats Lindgren
For thousands of years, humans have made up scenarios, trying to explore not yet realized futures. Man is by definition a scenario-planning creature. We have been “creating” the future in our minds, exploring consequences of other’s actions as well as our own.
Nevertheless, most organizations are fairly poor scenario planners. They do not explore the uncertainties in the surrounding world and their potential consequences – threats and opportunities – for their own business. At least not in a systematic way, and definitely not on a continuous basis.
Download and read the whole article here!
We offer an international course on Scenario Planning in Holland in May. Read more and register here!
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UPCOMING EVENTS:
SEMINAR IN COPENHAGEN ON FEBRUARY 14:
All you need is love? – Relationships crucial for successful work-life
Kairos Future invites you to a presentation of “Generation Ambition” – a survey of people in the midst of life. What makes people happy and what is needed in order to reach balance in life?
Date: February 14, 2008.
Time: 10 am – 11.30 am
Place: Central location in Copenhagen. Full address upon registration.
Registration: Send an e-mail to infodk@kairosfuture.com before February 10. State your name, organization/company and telephone number in the registration.
Read more about the seminar here!
Please contact Ms. Marie Skov Christensen for more information, by phone: +45 24603279 or by e-mail!
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SEMINAR IN LOS ANGELES ON MARCH 12:
Developing Leaders for Future Competition – A Comparative Look at America’s Current Strategies in a Global Context
On March 12, 2008 , Dr. Mats Lindgren, founder and CEO of Kairos Future Group, will present the results of the management study Successful Leaders of the Future in Los Angeles, USA, at a seminar organized by the Interchange Group.
As the global marketplace for talent tightens and demographics shift to an ageing workforce, it will become harder to recruit and retain valuable employees. Understanding the attitudes, behaviors and values of today’s and tomorrow’s leaders is a crucial first step to remaining competitive. Dr. Mats Lindgren presents the results of recent leadership and workforce studies from around the world and discusses the implications for the competitiveness of U.S. based companies.
Read more about the seminar here!
Contact Project Coordinator Sofia Johnsson for more information, by e-mail or by phone: +46(0)70 531 94 74
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COURSE IN HOLLAND MAY 21-23:
Register for a course on "Scenario Planning" in Holland!
On May 21-23 2008, Kairos Future invite you to participate in the course "Scenario planning -
the link between future and strategy" in Amersfoort, the Netherlands. Hans Bandhold and Karin Andersson will hold the course in English.
The ability to foresee, understand and shape the future is the key to an organization’s long-term performance. The program “Scenario planning – the link between future and strategy” gives you an opportunity to learn concrete methods in exploring the future and developing new strategies, based on insights from the future. The program will shift between practical tools and theories of future-based models and trend development.
Duration: 3 days
Dates: 21-23 May 2008
Place: Amersfoort, outside of Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Amersfoort is
located 40 minutes from Schipol Airport by train. Exact location upon
registration.
Register here for the course on Scenario Planning in Holland!
Read more about Scenario Planning here!
Please contact International Coordinator Sofia Johnsson for more information:
by e-mail or by telephone: +46(0)8- 545 225 18!
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E-mail: info@kairosfuture.com
Kairos Future International AB is a Swedish futures research and strategy consulting firm that helps companies understand and shape their future. We have done youth surveys and values research for over a decade and possess unique methods to assess futures scenarios.
