The role of scenario planning in exploring the environment in view of the limitations of PEST and its derivatives

George Burt, George Wright, Ron Bradfield, George Cairns, Kees van der Heijden

    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

    Abstract

    Adapting to change in the contextual environment is one of the key challenges for managers as they try to ensure the survival and longevity of their organization. Yet, both the literature and the textbooks on the subject area of the contextual environment lack unequivocal conceptual and practical guidance for managers interested in this area of management practice. In this paper, we evaluate the seminal studies on understanding the environment, as well as the leading North American and European strategy textbooks, to determine the contemporary appropriateness of the approaches advocated for analyzing the contextual environment and the implications these have for the managers of an organization. We discuss the limitations of these approaches and posit an alternative framework - scenario planning - to help improve the process of analyzing and understanding the environment and to help in adapting to change in the environment. We illustrate the advantages of scenario planning over other approaches using a case example.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)52-57
    Number of pages5
    JournalInternational Studies of Management and Organization
    Volume36
    Issue number2
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2006

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    Derivatives
    Scenario planning
    Managers
    Textbooks
    Guidance
    Management practices
    Appropriateness

    Keywords

    • risk management
    • change management
    • management theory
    • scenario planning
    • organisational theory

    Cite this

    Burt, George ; Wright, George ; Bradfield, Ron ; Cairns, George ; van der Heijden, Kees. / The role of scenario planning in exploring the environment in view of the limitations of PEST and its derivatives. In: International Studies of Management and Organization. 2006 ; Vol. 36, No. 2. pp. 52-57.
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    abstract = "Adapting to change in the contextual environment is one of the key challenges for managers as they try to ensure the survival and longevity of their organization. Yet, both the literature and the textbooks on the subject area of the contextual environment lack unequivocal conceptual and practical guidance for managers interested in this area of management practice. In this paper, we evaluate the seminal studies on understanding the environment, as well as the leading North American and European strategy textbooks, to determine the contemporary appropriateness of the approaches advocated for analyzing the contextual environment and the implications these have for the managers of an organization. We discuss the limitations of these approaches and posit an alternative framework - scenario planning - to help improve the process of analyzing and understanding the environment and to help in adapting to change in the environment. We illustrate the advantages of scenario planning over other approaches using a case example.",
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    Burt, G, Wright, G, Bradfield, R, Cairns, G & van der Heijden, K 2006, 'The role of scenario planning in exploring the environment in view of the limitations of PEST and its derivatives', International Studies of Management and Organization, vol. 36, no. 2, pp. 52-57. https://doi.org/10.2753/IMO0020-8825360303

    The role of scenario planning in exploring the environment in view of the limitations of PEST and its derivatives. / Burt, George; Wright, George; Bradfield, Ron; Cairns, George; van der Heijden, Kees.

    In: International Studies of Management and Organization, Vol. 36, No. 2, 2006, p. 52-57.

    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

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    Burt G, Wright G, Bradfield R, Cairns G, van der Heijden K. The role of scenario planning in exploring the environment in view of the limitations of PEST and its derivatives. International Studies of Management and Organization. 2006;36(2):52-57. https://doi.org/10.2753/IMO0020-8825360303

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