Horizon Scanning: Approaches and Methods

Foresight Special Issue on “Horizon Scanning: Approaches and Methods

The journal 
Foresight is an international, peer-reviewed online journal concerned with the study of the future. Foresight is considered essential reading for those who need to keep abreast of research and current thinking about the future and for those making the future. Foresight is the only futures studies journal which seeks to cater for the needs of academics, practitioners and policy makers alike by striking a balance between peer-reviewed articles and topical commentaries. More information on the journal can be found at: www.emeraldinsight.com/fs.htm

Call
For the Foresight journal’s Special Issue on “Horizon Scanning: Approaches and Methods”, we invite papers that look at the various Horizon Scanning approaches and methodologies. Horizon Scanning is “the systematic examination of potential threats, opportunities and likely future developments which are at the margins of current thinking and planning”  [1]. It explores novel and unexpected issues, as well as persistent problems or issues. Horizon Scanning may involve the analysis of Trends, Drivers of Change, Wild Cards / Shocks, Weak Signals and Discontinuities. The contents of the special issue will include methodological papers and book reviews on the specified theme. 

Possible topics for papers include but not limited to:
• Horizon Scanning approaches and methodologies – general overview of existing qualitative and quantitative scanning approaches
• Detailed description of a specific scanning approach with its application
• Novel Horizon Scanning approaches
• Critical analysis of the existing approaches

Instructions for submissions

Abstracts: A pre-application process towards full submissions will be undertaken (i.e. submission of abstracts for approval) for efficiency. Abstracts will be prepared using the following format.

Topic / Keywords: Select keywords carefully, making sure that they match the theme of the Journal special issue

Papers: Submitted papers should not have been previously published nor be currently under consideration for publication elsewhere. As a guide, articles should be 5,000 – 7,000 words, and book reviews approximately 1,000 words. A title of not more than eight words should be provided. A brief autobiographical note should be supplied including full name, affiliation, e-mail address and full international contact details. A general guide for authors, sample copies and other relevant information for submitting papers are available at the journal’s website:
http://info.emeraldinsight.com/products/journals/author_guidelines.htm?id=fs

Authors will be asked to submit their full papers through Manuscript Central, Emerald's online submission and peer review system (http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/fs). All papers are refereed through a peer review process. 

A selection of papers that are not published in the Special Issue may be considered for other publication with the notification and approval of the respective authors.

Important Dates

Submissions to:
Guest Editors 
Claudia Juech ([email protected])
Evan Michelson ([email protected]) 
Ian Miles ([email protected]) 
Ozcan Saritas ([email protected]) 
 
About the Journal
Edited by Dr. Ozcan Saritas, Foresight is an international, peer-reviewed online journal concerned with the study of the future. Foresight is considered essential reading for those who need to keep abreast of research and current thinking about the future and for those making the future. The journal has a lively and contemporary feel.

 [1] (http://horizonscanning.defra.gov.uk – last visited on March 14, 2009).