Reinvent Mainstream, Longterm Thinking

How do we reinvent mainstream longterm—or “longpath”—thinking?
The future of business and government will likely require agile forms of development where teams try things out and build for awhile, then test, learn and possibly pivot to a more promising approach. What’s missing here, in the view of roundtable anchor Ari Wallach, is “longpath” thinking. According to Wallach, longpath thinking involves choosing a long-term goal to shoot for—picture a mountain in the distance—and then picking a path that works its way in that general direction. The path can meander, and offer alternative ways forward, as long as it maintains its general alignment towards that distant peak. Our participants discussed a wide range of issues related to longpath thinking, including why long-term thinking appears to be absent from many current public discussions, and how it might be more fully integrated into routine planning by individuals, companies, and countries in the future.