Function | Time lag | Targeted and/or unintended impact |
---|---|---|
Informing | Immediate | • Increased recognition of a topic area • Awareness of science, technology and innovation among players, creating database • Awareness of systemic character • Training of participation in foresight matters • New combination of experts and stakeholders, shared understanding (knowledge network) |
Intermediate | • Articulation of joint visions of the future, establishing longer-term perspectives | |
Ultimate | • Integrate able new actors in the community | |
Counselling | Immediate | • Make hidden agendas and objectives explicit |
Intermediate | • Devising recommendations and identifying options for action • Activate and support fast policy learning and policy unlearning processes • Identify hidden obstacles to the introduction of more informed, transparent, open participatory processes to governance | |
Ultimate | • Influence on (research/policy) agendas of actors, both public and private (as revealed, for instance, in policy strategies and programmes) • Incorporate forward-looking elements in organisations’ internal procedures | |
Facilitating | Immediate | • Effective actions taken |
Intermediate | • Formation of action networks • Creation of follow-up activities | |
Ultimate | • Adoption of foresight results in the research and teaching agenda of organisations; Foresight spin-off activities in various disciplines • Improved coherence of policies • Cultural changes towards longer-term, holistic, and systemic thinking |