Peter Ellyard - Key Principles of His Futures Work

Key Principles of His Futures Work

His work is based on the recognition that a key aspiration of all of humanity is to successfully shape the future. He has developed a number of universally applicable methodologies that can be taught to and learned by all who are interested in becoming more effective shapers of the future. This work is based on integrating the six future shaping tools, namely management, leadership, planning, design, innovation and learning, into a single integrated methodology to achieve what he describes as ‘resilient future-taking’ and ‘purposeful future-making’. His work recognises that scenarios can be used to describe six alternative futures: plausible, probable, particular, prospective, preferred and possible futures.

A second aspect of his work seeks to assist all to understand 21st century global trends so that they can better position themselves for future success by better understanding both their current situations and emerging possibilities, options, threats and opportunities. Much of this work is based on the development of the emerging 21st century global paradigm that he calls ‘Planetism’ : planetism this involves making a first allegiance to planet, the shared home of humanity. It is a 21st Century successor to two other allegiances characteristic of earlier eras: namely tribalism (first allegiance to tribe) and nationalism (first allegiance to nation). Planetism embraces 10 key values shifts as compared with the modernist past and the post modern present. These values shifts can be used to predict the products and services that will emerge in global markets in a generation’s time. This paradigm shift is outlined in his books and other writings and is central to his work. His most recent work is focussed on evolution of a planetary society to the year 2050 and beyond and how a society that is universally prosperous, sustainable, harmonious, just and secure might be created by 2050.