BONUS: "Using Scenarios" Book Launch Interview with Thomas Chermack

Alexander (Alex) Lyon is a professor of communication at the State University of New York, an author and a YouTube content creator. Also available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRKNGF95rN0 CHAT OUTLINE [03:38] To what extent interventions on leaders’ communication can actually change their mindset? [08:29] What’s the biggest challenge that prevents leaders from changing their communication style? [11:23] How long does it take for a leader to see substantial change in their communication style? [13:03] Is letting others know that you are working on your communication style any useful? [15:23] Tips for facilitation [19:20] Tips for situations where the person we talk to is in fight mode [22:30] Is leaving difficult conversations an option? [25:05] Why communication is often not in the business school curriculum [29:04] Advice for educators who are considering to start using YouTube [35:15] Success as an educator-YouTuber MENTIONED SOURCES Mirivel, J. C., & Lyon, A. (2023). Positive Communication for Leaders. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers: https://www.amazon.com/Positive-Communication-Leaders-Strategies-Inspiring/dp/1538167611 Communication Coach Alexander Lyon (YouTube channel): https://www.youtube.com/@alexanderlyon Alex Lyon's Linkedin page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexlyoncommunicationcoach/ Communication Coach Academy: https://www.alexanderlyon.com/ Supports Alex's videos: https://www.patreon.com/alexfergnani

Henry Mintzberg is a management educator and writer. He is currently Cleghorn Professor of Management Studies at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. He authored 20 books and received 21 honorary doctorate degrees. He is one of the most influential management thinkers of all times. Also available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/1_GjzfOkKqA CHAT OUTLINE [02:38] Henry's latest book "Understanding Organizations...Finally!" [07:06] The value of lumps (organizational archetypes) for the practitioners who do not see it [10:36] What has changed in Henry's ideas about strategy over the past few decades [13:08] Strategy & serendipity [15:29] Can scenarios help us to determine/improve strategy from the futures in the same way synthesis of experience helps us to determine/improve strategy from the past? [20:02] Isn't scenario planning a prediction of several possibilities? [22:58] Henry's ideas about the “obsession with theory” in management research and the detachment of PhD programs in management from management practice [30:00] Advice for business schools' deans on ways out of the problems in management education [34:43] Henry's work on rebalancing society: guidelines for policymakers [41:13] Canoeing and the view of the lake out of Henry's house MENTIONED SOURCES Mintzberg, H. (2023). Understanding Organizations...Finally!: Structure in Sevens: https://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Organizations-Finally-Structure-Sevens/dp/1523000058 Mintzberg, H. (2023). Is serendipity serendipitous?: upcoming Mintzberg, H. (2015). Rebalancing Society: Radical Renewal Beyond Left, Right, and Center: https://www.amazon.com/Rebalancing-Society-Radical-Renewal-Beyond-ebook/dp/B00NJ2HIO2?ref_=ast_author_dp Rebalancing society website: https://rebalancingsociety.org/ Henry's personal website: https://mintzberg.org/ Henry’s YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@Mintzberg141?si=4bDiEgXxgMn2LXIb Henry's LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/henrymintzberg/ Supports Alex's videos: https://www.patreon.com/alexfergnani

Nicolai J. Foss is a professor of strategy at the Copenhagen Business School. He is a prolific contributor to the research literature in management and is one of the world's most cited management scholars. He is mainly interested in the organizational and individual-level aspects of processes of creating and capturing value. Also available in video format on YouTube: https://youtu.be/QgKJOuJ1uNM CHAT OUTLINE [02:58] Can you give us a quick introduction to your recent book “Why Managers Matter: The perils of the Bossless Company”, with Peter Klein? [10:21] Mark 1 and Mark 2 authority and how the bossless company narrative confuses them [15:14] The bossless company narrative in in high power distance contexts and its psychological costs [17:15] When does the bossless company actually work? [23:23] The bossless company narrative in highly turbulent/highly uncertain environments [25:14] The deeper epistemological and political values behind the bossless company narrative [31:20] The bossless company narrative and postmodernism [34:03] Why do companies go woke? [36:16] The public response to Nicolai's work on bossless company and wokeness [40:10] Why do business schools do so little research on sensitive themes such as wokeness and capitalism? [44:52] What are the biggest problems in management research? [54:52] Lighthearted closing question: What is your experience as a business school professor in Bocconi (Italy)? MENTIONED SOURCES Foss, N. J., & Klein, P. G. (2022). Why Managers Matter: The Perils of the Bossless Company: https://www.amazon.com/Why-Managers-Matter-Bossless-Company/dp/1541751043 Wulf, J. (2012). The Flattened Firm—Not as Advertised: https://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/the-flattened-firmnot-as-advertised Hamel, G. & Zanini, M. (2016). Excess Management Is Costing the U.S. $3 Trillion Per Year: https://hbr.org/2016/09/excess-management-is-costing-the-us-3-trillion-per-year Foss, N. J., & Klein, P. G. (2022). Why Do Companies Go Woke? Academy of Management Perspectives: https://journals.aom.org/doi/10.5465/amp.2021.0201 Commentaries (and rejoinder) to the book on the Journal of Organizational Design: https://link.springer.com/journal/41469/volumes-and-issues/12-1 Heterodox Academy: https://heterodoxacademy.org Audio by Bensound Affiliated with the journal Futures & Foresight Science: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/25735152 Support Alex's videos: https://www.patreon.com/alexfergnani

Dr. Aubrey de Grey is a biomedical gerontologist based in Silicon Valley, California, USA, and is the founder, President and Chief Science Officer of LEV Foundation, a biomedical research and advocacy charity focused on repairing the molecular and cellular damage of aging. He received his BA in computer science and Ph.D. in biology from the University of Cambridge. His research interests encompass the characterisation of all the types of damage that constitute mammalian aging and the design of interventions to repair and/or obviate that damage. Dr. de Grey is a Fellow of both the Gerontological Society of America and the American Aging Association, and sits on the editorial and scientific advisory boards of numerous journals and organisations. He is a highly sought-after speaker who gives frequent invited talks at scientific conferences, universities, companies in areas ranging from pharma to life insurance, and to the public. Also available in video format on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8tUWAG-pyI CHAT OUTLINE [03:23] What is longevity escape velocity (LEV)? [08:40] When can we reasonably achieve longevity escape velocity? [12:32] What kind of treatments would be available if we were to achieve longevity escape velocity? [14:20] What are the conditions of old age we would do away with if we were to achieve longevity escape velocity? [17:30] Can loss of neurons be addressed by these treatments? [21:33] The differences and similarities between the various treatments to combat aging [24:16] The long term change in value system about living longer lifespans and death vs short term anticipation of such change [27:58] What societal conflicts can we reasonably expect when people will start anticipating living longer? [32:25] Should we be concerned about such conflicts or not? [34:00] Alex tries to convince Aubrey about the effectiveness of scenario planning applied to the futures of longevity [43:00] The postmodern view: what could go spectacularly wrong in the future of longevity (at the political level, research level, molecular level, or else)? [51:16] Other than research, what do you do/suggest others to do to extend our lifespans? [52:58] How about diet? [54:56] How about fasting? [59:15] How to give to the LEV foundation? MENTIONED SOURCES de Grey & Rae (2008). Ending Aging: The Rejuvenation Breakthroughs That Could Reverse Human Aging in Our Lifetime: https://www.amazon.com/Ending-Aging-Rejuvenation-Breakthroughs-Lifetime/dp/0312367074 Arrison (2013). 100 Plus: How the Coming Age of Longevity Will Change Everything, From Careers and Relationships to Family and Faith: https://www.amazon.com/100-Plus-Longevity-Everything-Relationships/dp/0465063764 Longevity Escape Velocity (LEV) Foundation: https://www.levf.org/ Give to the Longevity Escape Velocity (LEV) Foundation: https://www.levf.org/donate Aubrey on Twitter: https://twitter.com/aubreydegrey?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor Aubrey on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aubrey-de-grey-24260b/ Aubrey on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aubrey.degrey Support Alex's videos: https://www.patreon.com/alexfergnani Audio by Bensound

Daniel is a sociologist and transdisciplinary thinker specializing in metamodernism, the stage of societal development that comes after and goes beyond postmodernism. Alex is Co-founder and Head of Foresight at the Ideactio Centre for Foresight Research & Consulting (Singapore).   Also available in video format:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-x1xVy4n8o CHAT OUTLINE  [04:03] For an audience of which mental development stage is this self-help book? In contrast, for an audience of which mental development stage are Peterson's self-help books? what is the difference between the two?  [18:50] Why it is not necessary to wait until one has resolved personal problems to engage in social critique, contrary to Jordan Peterson’s argument [35:33] Why it is more important to pursue day-to-day happiness/joy of being rather than or beyond meaningful goals (AKA what’s meaningful), contrary to Jordan Peterson’s argument [48:53] Hanzi Freinacht's self-help vs Jordan Peterson's self help as self-help for the remembering self vs self-help for the experiencing self. [56:45] What kind of new public intellectual and new philosophical framework, i.e., metamodernism, does this book point us to?  [1:06:14] Why talking to Daniel (and metamodernism in general) makes Alex feel more intelligent and more stupid at the same time.   MENTIONED SOURCES  Freinacht (2023). 12 Commandments: For Extraordinary People To Master Ordinary Life: https://www.amazon.com/12-Commandments-Extraordinary-People-Ordinary-ebook/dp/B0BR62T9QG/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2N0F46GPX1UUA&keywords=hanzi+freinacht&qid=1672985297&sprefix=hanzi+freina%2Caps%2C1483&sr=8-1  Support Alex's videos: https://www.patreon.com/alexfergnani  Audio by Bensound

George is a professor of management science at the university of Strathclyde (Glasgow), Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Behavioral Decision Making and Editor-in-Chief of the recently launched Wiley journal, Futures & Foresight Science. Alex is co-founder and head of foresight at the Ideactio Centre for Foresight Research & Consulting (Singapore).   Also available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSLE0Q7ayyY CHAT OUTLINE:  [1:10] Introduction, scope and vision of the journal "Futures & Foresight Science" (FFS)  [05:39] Why would  futures/foresight/scenario planning researchers and practitioners want to publish their work in FFS?   [10:57] Why would management and organization researchers/executive educators want to publish their work (about foresight/scenarios and related topics) in FFS?   [15:08] The experience of the FFS review process from an author's perspective  [18:43] The experience of FFS from a reader's perspective     MENTIONED SOURCES:  Mills & Wilner (2022). The science behind “values”: Applying moral foundations theory to strategic foresight: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ffo2.145   Schoemaker (2020). How historical analysis can enrich scenario planning: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ffo2.35   Spaniol & Rowland (2018). Defining scenario: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ffo2.3    Support Alex's videos: https://www.patreon.com/alexfergnani

Dennis Tourish is a professor of leadership and organization studies at the University of Sussex Business School. Alex Fergnani is the co-founder and head of foresight at the Ideactio Centre for Foresight Research and Consulting (Singapore)   Available in video format:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bD5kuYFHg0w CHAT OUTLINE:  [02:35] Some statistics about the crisis in management studies  [05:20] Summary of the many interlinked problems behind the crisis in management studies (overemphasis of theory, questionable research practices, lack of relevant research, overemphasis of journals' impact factors, etc.)  [12:08] Taking a complexity view of the issue, what is/are the problem(s) that we absolutely have to address first?  [15:40] Why we are underestimating our agency to solve the problem  [18:20] Why referring to scientific publications by using the phrase “playing the game”  is deleterious  [20:20] Taking a (simplified) foresight view of the issue, what is the best case future scenario and the worst case future scenario of management studies? [24:06] Possible solutions, e.g., a shorter review process, grant lottery for researchers, etc.  [28:57] Research malpractice, e.g.,  only positive results are shown, tautological hypotheses, etc.  [31:37] The necessity of promoting abductive research and case studies  [33:38] P-hacking and the crisis of reproducibility  [34:26] How to address the problem collectively  [39;28] Resistance to change  [42:37] Why and how to do more relevant management research?  [48:02] What has recently changed in the field about the problem   MENTIONED SOURCES:  Tourish (2019). Management Studies in Crisis: Fraud, Deception and Meaningless Research: https://www.amazon.com/Management-Studies-Crisis-Deception-Meaningless-ebook/dp/B07S7DWWDB/ref=sr_1_2?crid=DZBBU4AVB09C&keywords=dennis+tourish&qid=1668507482&sprefix=dennis+tourish%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-2  Tourish (2020).The Triumph of Nonsense in Management Studies: https://journals.aom.org/doi/10.5465/amle.2019.0255  Haley et al. (2022). In Search of Scholarly Impact (AMLE Editorial): https://journals.aom.org/doi/10.5465/amle.2022.0327  Sharma et al (2022). Cocreating Forward: How Researchers and Managers Can Address Problems Together: https://journals.aom.org/doi/10.5465/amle.2021.0233  Ramani et al. (2022). Defining, Measuring, and Rewarding Scholarly Impact: Mind the Level of Analysis: https://journals.aom.org/doi/10.5465/amle.2021.0177  Fergnani & Chermack (2021). The resistance to scientific theory in futures and foresight, and what to do about it: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ffo2.61  Responsible Research In Business and Management network: https://www.rrbm.network    Support Alex's videos: https://www.patreon.com/alexfergnani  Audio by Bensound

Marcus is Associate Professor at the Beijing Institute of Technology in Zhuhai, China. Alex is PhD Candidate at NUS Business School, Singapore.   Also available in video format: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_Ug2Frhcco

Gerard is Vice Dean for Research of the Faculty of Humanities and Professor of Strategic Management and Behavioural Science at Alliance Manchester Business School. Alex is PhD Candidate at NUS Business School, Singapore.  Available in video format:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqvNxpeG90k Chat outline:  -The role of emotions in foresight and strategic decision making  -How to take emotions into account as foresight practitioners (both in others and ourselves)  -Risks as feelings  -The science-practice divide  -Critical realism as a philosophical framework to study futures and foresight   MENTIONED REFERENCES:  Hodgkinson and Wright (2002). Confronting Strategic Inertia in a Top Management Team: Learning from Failure: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0170840602236014  David Teece’s dynamic capabilities framework: https://www.davidjteece.com/dynamic-capabilities  Kahneman (2013). Thinking, Fast and Slow: https://www.amazon.com/Thinking-Fast-Slow-Daniel-Kahneman/dp/0374533555  Loewenstein, Weber, Hsee, and Welch (2001). Risks as feelings: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11316014/  Evans (2008). Dual-processing accounts of reasoning judgment, and social cognition: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18154502/  Evans and Stanovich  (2013). Dual-process theories of higher cognition advancing the debate: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1745691612460685  Anderson, Herriot and Hodgkinson (2001). The practitioner–researcher divide in Industrial, Work and Organizational (IWO) psychology: Where are we now, and where do we go from here?: https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2002-10499-002  Fergnani and Chermack (2021). The resistance to scientific theory in futures and foresight and what to do about it: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ffo2.61  Hodgkinson (2021). Why appealing to the virtues of scientific theory (and method) is necessary but insufficient for effecting systemic change: A commentary on Fergnani & Chermack 2021: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ffo2.79  Hodgkinson and Healey (2008). Toward a (Pragmatic) Science of Strategic Intervention: Design Propositions for Scenario Planning: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0170840607088022  To know more about Gerard, see: https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/gerard.hodgkinson.html  Support Alex's videos: https://www.patreon.com/alexfergnani  Audio by Bensound

This conversation is an interview between Tom Chermack and Alex Fergnani about Tom's latest book, "Using Scenarios". Tom is a Professor in organizational learning, performance and change at Colorado State University. Alex is a PhD Candidate at NUS Business School.     CHAT OUTLINE:  -Motivation behind writing the book  -How to choose which "after scenarios" method to use  -Translating scenarios into financials  -Responding to potential criticism  -The rationale behind the design of the book cover The conversation is also available in video format: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgmfkHtGURk "Using Scenarios: Scenario Planning for Improving Organizations" can be found at: https://www.amazon.com/Using-Scenarios-Scenario-Improving-Organizations/dp/1523092882  Tom's previous book on scenario planning, "Scenario Planning in Organizations: How to Create, Use, and Assess Scenarios" can be found at: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00F9FMYGO/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i1 You can support Alex's podcast here: https://www.patreon.com/alexfergnani