Reflection – Storytelling to draw the future

By Luz Marina Mora

Challenge & selection

Storytelling is a very useful tool when doing future studies and Foresight. I am a consultant and  researcher in strategic thinking and foresight, and in each exercise the main challenge is to empower  actors in a long-term vision and collective thinking about the future, be it a territory, an organization  or a productive sector. The main mission of foresight is to define a long-term future scenario, taking  into account some elements of the past, an analysis of trends and signs of the future, as well as  technological disruptors that can generate specific changes in the development of a specific  phenomenon, But the people involved have trouble having short-term thoughts, with anxiety to  solve current problems or “put out fires”.

Most of our leaders and decision makers think more about short-term planning than future  projection, therefore, the result of a foresight study should allow us to see the future in such a way  that it feels real, tangible and challenging, so that those involved are encouraged to work on its  construction, thus, the use of narration allows the prospective to create a logical, coherent message  that generates enough emotional and optimistic connection to influence strategies and actions in  the construction of that future.

Application

In 2018, a company dedicated to meliponiculture, that is, breeding and management of stingless  bees for the extraction of honey and other products, we requested to carry out a prospective study  for the sector of native bees or stingless bees in Colombia. Although it was a small and private  company, we wanted to promote a shared vision for all the producers in the country, that would  include the academy, government institutions and other producers, therefore, it was necessary to  sell the idea to all involved.

The participation of agricultural producers, the academy was achieved through researchers from  the country's leading universities, the state through the technical secretariat of the Ministry of  Agriculture and other professionals who were interested in the development of meliponiculture,  But there was a greater challenge than bringing them together, it was to generate a broader and  more complete vision of the breeding and management of stingless bees, in which all those actors  were interested in working.

Insight and approach

The best way was to build a history based on the importance of meliponiculture, its ancestral origins  and the great advantages it has in terms of ecosystem care, pollination, food security and, of course,  on the economic issue, in addition, this type of bees are part of our ecosystem.

We built history, which is also real, telling that since long before the arrival of honey bees from  Africa and Europe to the American territory, our continent had its own bees that were in charge of  doing the work of pollinating forests and the crops, which fed the native population and produced

honeys that, in addition to being a natural and delicious sweetener, had medicinal properties of  great importance to ancestral communities.

And later, we draw them a future where bee populations increase with technology, honey  production is optimized and becomes an input for the pharmaceutical industry, the value chain is  strengthened with the participation of all and is consolidated meliponiculture as an economically  profitable, environmentally sustainable and socially viable sector.

The storytelling tool helped to internalize the idea of a future that has not yet arrived, but can be  built. Therefore, it is a tool that I will continue to use, with the particularities that each study  phenomenon requires because it is not always the same, but with the same purpose: to generate  enough connection to make future dreams come true.


Reflection – Storytelling to draw the future By Luz Marina Mora Challenge & selection Storytelling is a very useful tool when doing future studies and Foresight . I am a consultant and researcher in strategic thinking and foresight , and in each exercise the main challenge is to empower actors in a long - term vision and collective thinking about the future , be it a territory , an organization or a productive sector . The main mission of foresight is to define a long - term future scenario , taking into account some elements of the past , an analysis of trends and signs of the future , as well as technological disruptors that can generate specific changes in the development of a specific phenomenon , But the people involved have trouble having short - term thoughts , with anxiety to solve current problems or “ put out fires ” . Most of our leaders and decision makers think more about short - term planning than future projection , therefore , the result of a foresight study should allow us to see the future in such a way that it feels real , tangible and challenging , so that those involved are encouraged to work on its construction , thus , the use of narration allows the prospective to create a logical , coherent message that generates enough emotional and optimistic connection to influence strategies and actions in the construction of that future . Application In 2018 , a company dedicated to meliponiculture , that is , breeding and management of stingless bees for the extraction of honey and other products , we requested to carry out a prospective study for the sector of native bees or stingless bees in Colombia . Although it was a small and private company , we wanted to promote a shared vision for all the producers in the country , that would include the academy , government institutions and other producers , therefore , it was necessary to sell the idea to all involved . The participation of agricultural producers , the academy was achieved through researchers from the country 's leading universities , the state through the technical secretariat of the Ministry of Agriculture and other professionals who were interested in the development of meliponiculture , But there was a greater challenge than bringing them together , it was to generate a broader and more complete vision of the breeding and management of stingless bees , in which all those actors were interested in working . Insight and approach The best way was to build a history based on the importance of meliponiculture , its ancestral origins and the great advantages it has in terms of ecosystem care , pollination , food security and , of course , on the economic issue , in addition , this type of bees are part of our ecosystem . We built history , which is also real , telling that since long before the arrival of honey bees from Africa and Europe to the American territory , our continent had its own bees that were in charge of doing the work of pollinating forests and the crops , which fed the native population and produced honeys that , in addition to being a natural and delicious sweetener , had medicinal properties of great importance to ancestral communities . And later , we draw them a future where bee populations increase with technology , honey production is optimized and becomes an input for the pharmaceutical industry , the value chain is strengthened with the participation of all and is consolidated meliponiculture as an economically profitable , environmentally sustainable and socially viable sector . The storytelling tool helped to internalize the idea of a future that has not yet arrived , but can be built . Therefore , it is a tool that I will continue to use , with the particularities that each study phenomenon requires because it is not always the same , but with the same purpose : to generate enough connection to make future dreams come true .