Futures Analysis and Long-Term Planning

Decisionmakers often face strategic choices, the outcomes of which remain uncertain for the coming decades. The success of these decisions depends on a variety of factors, many of them beyond the control of the decisionmakers. RAND has been instrumental in developing and applying futures methodologies as tools to support decisionmaking under such conditions of high uncertainty.

Throughout its history, RAND Europe has carried out strategic analysis for many UK and European institutions. We have assessed the future impacts of actions over a wide range of policy areas, from science and technology to social cohesion. By drawing on RAND's tradition of considering the future through new lenses, we offer innovative, tailored approaches based on qualitative and quantitative methodologies, including scenario thinking, modelling and forecasting, gaming, roadmapping and Delphi. In doing so, RAND Europe works closely with its clients, facilitates workshops with participants from many different backgrounds, and communicates research results in engaging and concise ways.

Additionally, RAND Europe draws on the expertise of the RAND Pardee Center for Longer Range Global Policy and the Future Human Condition. RAND researchers from this programme have been developing and testing novel approaches that aim to address some of the shortcomings of current scenario practice.

RAND Europe also holds a framework contract with the Horizon Scanning Centre at the UK Office of Science and Technology. As part of this relation, RAND provides strategic futures analysis through a range of methods to UK government departments facing future challenges.