Bridging foresight and evaluation: A bridge worth building

Abstract

AbstractFocusing on and supporting the integration of two overlapping but siloed disciplines is an exciting but uncertain endeavor. We can anticipate ambiguity in that it is an exploratory activity, as well as novelty in that we don't know exactly where we are going until we get there. However, we are sure it is worth the effort. As evidenced by the papers in this volume, evaluation and futures studies are two disciplines that have much to offer one another. Evaluation can inform the quality and effectiveness of foresight initiatives, such as whether an environmental scanning system surfaces signals of change that supports organizational long‐term thinking and preparedness. Systematically thinking about the future can free evaluation from being a primarily hindsight‐based discipline and activity and enable it to play a more active role in informing strategy and decision‐making that benefits evaluators, clients, and the program. Looking across this volume's papers, and beyond, we identify themes important to advancing foresight evaluation thinking and practice. In particular, we focus on how foresight thinking and methods can inform evaluation practice (and vice versa), the foresight capacity required on the part of evaluators, and the evaluation capacity that foresight practitioners currently have. Additionally, we provide some observations on gaps and challenges, and recommend ways that evaluators can look inward and outward to advance their foresight evaluation practice.