Death of Environmental Scanning
“It is not the strongest or the most intelligent who will survive but those who can best adapt to change.”
― Charles Darwin (attributed)
Environmental scanning should no longer be treated as a static exercise in fact-finding. Rather, it should be treated as a dynamic process to continuously inform strategic thinking throughout the organization. When performed effectively, environmental scanning can also play a vital role in helping to inform decision-makers about vital issues, risks and trends likely to impact their organizational health and sustainability. It is time to overhaul old methods of environmental scanning and deploy emerging dynamic tools and techniques to support strategic management.