Chapter 34 Global Trends

Question 1

Trend analysis

Trend monitoring

Trend projection

Computer simulation

Historical analysis

Answer 1

Organizations anticipate, forecast, and assess future events using a variety of rational, scientific methods including:

Trend analysis: A trend is examined to identify its nature, causes, speed of development, and potential impacts.

Trend monitoring: Trends viewed as particularly important in a specific community, industry, or sector are carefully monitored, watched, and reported to key decision makers.

Trend projection: When numerical data are available, a trend can be plotted to display changes through time and into the future.

Computer simulation: Complex systems, such as the U.S. economy, can be modeled by means of mathematical equations and different scenarios can be run against the model to conduct “what if” analysis.

Historical analysis: Historical events are studied to anticipate the outcome of current developments.

Question 2

Four technologies that are changing our world, our future, and our lives

Answer 2

• Alternative energy sources
• Teleliving
• Autonomic computing
• Digital ink/digital paper

Teleliving refers to using information devices and the Internet to conduct all aspects of life seamlessly. This can include such things as shopping, working, learning, playing, healing, and praying.

Autonomic computing is a self-managing computing model named after, and patterned on, the human body’s autonomic nervous system. Autonomic computing is one of the building blocks of widespread computing, an anticipated future computing model in which small—even invisible—computers will be all around us, communicating through increasingly interconnected networks

Question 3

According to the World Future Society, the following 7 trends have the potential to change our world, our future, and our lives.

Answer 3

• The world’s population will double in the next 40 years.
• People in developed countries are living longer.
• The growth in information industries is creating a knowledge-dependent global society.
• The global economy is becoming more integrated.
• The economy and society are dominated by technology.
• The pace of technological innovation is increasing.
• Time is becoming one of the world’s most precious commodities.

Question 4

According to the World Future Society, the following 7 trends have the potential to change our world, our future, and our lives.

Answer 4

• The world’s population will double in the next 40 years.
• People in developed countries are living longer.
• The growth in information industries is creating a knowledge-dependent global society.
• The global economy is becoming more integrated.
• The economy and society are dominated by technology.
• The pace of technological innovation is increasing.
• Time is becoming one of the world’s most precious commodities.