In a recent book titled The Future of Work, author Darrell M. West describes the Work 2.0 scenario on this emerging future visual. In exploring possible implications of a shifting work paradigm, he gets prescriptive about possible responses. This implication-response exercise sits at the heart of Future Thinking.

No one can predict this complex and uncertain future – but exercises like this help us see possible futures. In seeing them, we position ourselves to proactively shape them. In the context of work, Mr. West explores several possible responses, including another future scenario which he calls Republic 2.0. How this scenario plays out has a direct impact on the path of other scenarios. The scenario speaks to a new kind of politics. Mr. West states:

Economic change is not the only thing required in the current period. To make progress on the various initiatives discussed in this book, a new kind of politics is needed, one that allows more substantive policy discussions and a greater capacity to make effective decisions.

Not everyone will agree with his prescribed actions, but that’s why discussion and compromise are critically important. Mr. West identifies warning signals and dares to recommend responses; specifically, changes to our social contract. In a video titled The Great Reset economist Tyler Cowen uses a metaphor of canaries in coal mines to describe the warning signals that seem like local events – but actually represent greater and broader stress. He uses several recent examples to highlight the growing stress in the system and the potential for a great reset in the future.

We need to shape that great reset, limiting its societal impact. Future thinking is a mechanism to do just that, and the emerging future visual is but a small attempt to focus on possible futures. So to the visual (Explained Here) we add Republic 2.0.