In English
Addressing the complexity and rapid rate of change requires an in-depth understanding of the future strategic environment. However, NATO, as well as individual nations or institutions, often approach this issue in very different ways with some lacking the necessary know-how and experience. The objective of the SAS-154 research task group was to identify a code of best practice on how to undertake future strategic environment assessments to help with this issue. The work is especially aimed at those states seeking to incorporate foresight in their defence planning and strategic thinking for the very first time. This report is in the form of a handbook that provides a generic framework of how to plan and conduct foresight, it is built on identified best practices and is adaptable to each user’s needs and resources. The Handbook contains practical advice on how to build a foresight project from the initial project management issues through selecting the appropriate combination of foresight methods towards delivering the results to the decisionmakers. It also provides recommendations about how to prevent or address some of the most common challenges that may hinder the quality or relevance of a foresight project; highlighting especially the role of diversity and the need to engage stakeholders throughout the entire process.