Introduction

Nothing is more difficult than to introduce a new order. Because the innovator has for enemies all those who have done well under the old conditions and lukewarm defenders in those who may do well under the new. Nicolai Machiavelli, 1513

There have been times in history when people realised that much of what they knew would be of little value when confronting emerging challenges. Now is one of those times.

At such times, imagination and innovation are vital ; not only to see new possibilities but also to understand which bits of what we already know might be of use. This is not about creating products and services in the current paradigm but about using imagination and innovation as essential tools for rethinking the paradigm itself. Imagination provides the basis for the discovery process that will give us the new ideas and ways, which in turn will help us navigate through challenges into a different world.

Will the future be really different, though? The logic of Ian Lins networked world (see Chapter 1) is well documented, and each day brings more news and evidence that confirms its reality. The problem is that our management thinking and practices have yet to catch up with this new reality. However, it is one thing to see what this world might look like; it is another to navigate through it.

This chapter focuses on ways of thinking and acting that will get us to the future we anticipate and that we wish to create. It suggests that we need to be sensitive to rhythms different to the ones we have known. It outlines navigation principles, the need to think differently and why whichever journey we choose must be done at speed. It requires all of us to accept a world of considerable paradox and chaos that undermines those things we know well and feel most comfortable with. Finally, it suggests that those who use imagination and innovation in this way are future- makers not future-takers .

One of the difficulties of exploring ideas involving imagination and innovation in a many faceted future is to find a logical sequence for the flow of ideas. Chapters such as this are linear, with a beginning and an end, and with all the ideas flowing in a straight line between the two. But the road to the future is not a linear one. So please arrange the ideas and concepts presented here into an order that is right for you. Also remember that these are only some, not all, of the ideas you will need for the future. No doubt, with hindsight, some will prove to be wrong. I hope, though, that they serve as the beginning of a conversation, rather than the end. They are designed to stimulate your imagination and encourage the conversations from which innovation will flow.