In 1965, Royal Dutch Shell started experimenting with a new approach to preparing for the future. This approach, called scenario planning, eschewed forecasting in favor of plausible alternative stories. By using stories, or "scenarios," Shell aimed to avoid the false assumption that the future would look much like the present--an assumption that marred most corporate planning at the time. The Essence of Scenarios offers unmatched insight into the company's innovative practice, which still has a huge influence on the way businesses, governments, and other organizations think about and...

The ever tighter linking of our food, water, and energy systems in the context of a changing climate is leading to increasing turbulence in the world. As a consequence, it becomes ever more crucial to develop cities, regions, and economies with resilience in mind. Because of multinational corporations' global reach, substantial resources, and information-driven leadership structures, these entities can play a major, constructive role in improving our understanding and design of resilient systems.
This volume is the product of the Resilience Action Initiative, a collaboration among Dow,...