by Andy Hines&Jeff Gold
ABSTRACT
This article advocates for the professionalization of foresight as beneficial to development of the field. It offers three reasons why: providing a focus for field-building, aiding credibility, and attracting talent. It then explores the current state of professionalization by assessing where foresight stands against the standard criteria of a profession. It concludes with recommendations on what needs to be done and how to proceed, suggesting social constructionism as a guiding perspective and five projects or initiatives to guide the process.