A view from the helicopter: Lessons learned after 80 scenario planning interventions in two years

This paper presents insights earned after the implementation of scenario-planning interventions across 80 firms over a two-year period. This extensive initiative, funded by the Danish Industry Foundation, resulted in the development of more than 200 scenarios annually. We contend that several unique lessons only crystallized because of the high frequency and scale of implementation. We have identified five practical lessons that, in our assessment, possess broad applicability to organizations seeking to enhance their strategic readiness. With these lessons we are able to articulate a life-cycle of the person taking on the role of the chief strategist: How they get into the role, what to expect once they are in it, how to gain traction, and exit out of the role. These insights can assist strategists, their managers, and scenario consultants to anticipate blind spots along the pathway to building readiness within the prevailing context of permacrisis.