As we enter the 21^st Century and a New Millennium we realise that the future will not be an extension of the past.

The world is not going through another traditional economic cycle, but a radical transition into an entirely new era.

The rate of change is so great, and the speed of transition so rapid that we are undergoing a global metamorphosis – an instantaneous transformation into entirely new economic structures.

In the 1990’s the end of the Cold War has greatly changed the geopolitics of the last 50 years. New open-market economies are developing throughout the world.

In addition, the Personal Computer, the Digital Phone, and the Internet have already greatly changed the way we do business.

Humans have lived through three distinct ages – the Nomadic Age (hunter/tribes), the Agricultural Age (farmers/rural communities), and the Industrial Age (manufacturers/urban cities).

The transition from one age to the next has always totally transformed the previously established economic, political, social and cultural environments – and created many new opportunities for those who lead the change.

We are now leaving the Industrial Age and entering the Cyber Age.

The end of communism as a major political force, the Asian crisis, and the rapid development of global corporate alliances are just a few examples of what is happening at the beginning of the Cyber Age.

In the Cyber Age our opportunities will be in the virtual world of Cyberspace.

We now work in a totally new dimension of Cyberspace – the universal multimedia information and communications network, based on fibre optics, satellites, digital broadbanding, micro-miniaturisation, and many more new technologies.

New digital computer, communications, and networking technologies have made …

Information, instantaneous, interactive, individual, inexpensive, and inexhaustible.

In this new environment we can independently accomplish a lot more.

However, with information overload and constant change we will need to develop interdependent relationships with others to develop new opportunities.

These relationships will be global and require continuous interaction that will be based on use of the Internet.

The world is now the marketplace and source of supply for all goods and services, regardless of size of enterprise and geographical location.

In the Cyber Age access to relevant information, the development of knowledge, and the establishment of networks of contacts, will form the foundations for identifying new opportunities.

With short lead times it is not possible to start from scratch and develop everything yourself … you will be reliant on others..

Global alliances between major corporations who were previously strong competitors to each other (especially in banking, finance & automobile industries), are indications of totally new strategies that are needed for success in the future.

Competition and opportunities will come from the most unexpected sources.

In a totally new business environment …. It is not likely that you can use yesterday’s strategies, to solve today’s problems, and expect to be in business tomorrow.

You need to develop a vision for your future.

In a constantly changing and chaotic business environment, corporate success will be dependent on …

• Corporate agility (moving quickly & easily),
• flexibility (easy to modify, and adapt),
• quick response (reaction base on preparation),
• customer focus (micro-niche customisation),
• relationships (superior service and individual understanding),
• vision (confident future direction.)

However, corporate attributes are the sum of the attributes of all its people. Corporate success will therefore depend on a new tier of personal skills …

• Personal innovation (new ideas and methods),
• imagination (mental images and concepts),
• foresight (looking forward and provision for the future),
• insight (depth of understanding and discernment),
• cross-cultural (appreciating differences),
• enterprising (boldness and readiness in undertaking).

As we transform into the future we must learn from the past, concentrate on the present but in addition .. be also developing the future.

In addition to focusing on short-term returns and strategic plans, we must at the same time be developing medium/longer term strategic visions and options.

In addition to present, effectiveness, efficiency, internal structures, physical assets and capital, strategic plans, standardisation of methods, functional strength, and corporate stability.

We must also be developing innovation and flexibility throughout the organisation, and forming external alliances to enhance our ability to grasp new global opportunities.

Intellectual capital will become more important than physical assets (note the escalating value of Information Technology companies).

Strategic vision will guide future success, and will be the corporate motivating force.

Mass customisation and the development of individual customer requirements will mean that strategic planning will come from the bottom up, not from the top down.

Teams within organisations will develop the customised strategic plans that meet local requirements, and these combined plans will all contribute to accomplishment of the strategic vision.

In addition to being functional specialists (legal, financial, marketing etc) all members of an organisation need to develop multidimensional skills -- how does everything work together for the future?

Creativity and new ideas throughout the entire organisation will be the basis of continuous sustainable competitive advantage.

In contemplating the future, members of the Australian Agribusiness community have a number of options. They can choose ….

• Survival … by waiting for others to come up with new ideas and then defensively react to circumstances, or
• Growth … by concentrating on short-term effectiveness, efficiency and gains, or
• Prosperity … by developing new values, vision, and strategic action and proactively creating the future.

It is not any one of these but a balanced combination of all of them that will give you the greatest opportunity for continuous success.

Simultaneously, you must react to the new ideas of competitors, you must ensure short-term cash flow, and you must develop new ideas for the future.

E-Commerce is not only about buying and selling on the Internet but is about how new computer, communications and networking technologies will give you totally new opportunities to electronically conduct all aspects of your business in totally different ways.

Using your database and network of contacts throughout your entire commercial pipeline you will be able to:

• Decrease Costs – by conversion to e-commerce or totally elimination of non-value adding operation throughout the entire commercial pipeline.

• Increase Sales per Client – by superior customer service and much closer one-to-one relationships. Help your customers increase their sales through using the combined networks of ideas and contacts.
• Increase Number of Clients – by developing global strategies and alliances, and gaining access to other databases and networks (of your established clients.)
• Develop New Products/Services – using new technologies and contacts.
• Establish Industry Leadership – through speed, agility and flexibility, and by taking a futures approach, R & D, and strategic vision.
• Create Continuous Competitive Advantage – through continuous innovation – internally and externally.

The changes we have seen in the last 5 years will be nothing compared with the changes in the next 5 years.

Information is power, but with information overload and constant change, how do you gain access to relevant up-to-date information? How do you recognise new ideas, respond quickly to new opportunities, and develop the resources that you need?

This can only come from developing your own specialised business clusters, alliances and networks, who will help you filter the information to give you what you need.

To be successful you must concentrate on your core competencies, develop clusters, alliances and networks, and be guided by your vision for the future.

In a period of great change, you cannot rely on past successes, and a vision for the future must become you guiding force.

Where will Australian Agribusiness be in the Year 2005?

With a firm understanding and vision for the future, we can expect major growth through marketing and logistical innovation, as the world becomes the potential marketplace and source of supply for all goods and services.

New Technologies makes it possible for even the smallest company to trade on a global basis, using completely new strategies to sell to previously uncontactable micro-niche markets..

However, many will not have the information, resources or strategies to be able to quickly take advantage of new opportunities.

Sharing your resources, networks, and strategies will greatly reduce risk, costs, and lead times, and greatly enhance the potential of your business.

In the information age and knowledge-based society, your combination of contacts and network of resources will become your major asset.

Small/medium size businesses selling directly to their counterparts worldwide, will eliminate many levels of distribution and become the fastest growing business sector.

To be successful in Cyberspace you need to know how to manage in Cyberspace.

To do this you will need expertise in developing information networks, strategic clusters and alliances.

You will need to constantly aware of what is happening in many areas and thus require multidimensional intelligence.

Your data warehouse will be the repository of your greatest single asset --- relevant information.

Communications through

• Internets (global),
• Intranets (internal),
• and Extranets (selected external), will become your lifeline.

Shared vision and wisdom throughout your organisation will become your source of organisational cohesion and contribute to continuous success.

Cyber System Co-ordination will become more important than organisational structure.

Vision without action is of no use, and new strategic action needs to be taken in:

All of these should be developed …. guided by a clear strategic vision.

 Strategic Action – a Futures Approach

Vision without action will not produce any results. To develop the confidence to operate in a constantly changing environment you will need to develop foresight, intuition and extra-sensory perception. To do this you will need to:

• Future Scenarios – develop alternative possibilities and views of what the future might be like. To do this will require hindsight, insight, and foresight.
• Strategic Vision – from these scenarios you select your preferred future, and develop your strategic vision.
• New Horizons – you will need to elevate your mind and determine your future from new perspectives. You will develop new horizons and travel in new directions to assess and grasp new opportunities.
• Matrix of Options – once you have determined your new directions, develop a matrix of strategic options on how you can get there from where you are today. Look at all possibilities so you can recognise them when they come along. Assume that nothing is impossible. In the new business environment, what was impossible yesterday, is possible today, and may become a necessity tomorrow.
• Dynamic Strategic Action – determine what resources, contacts, support and action steps you will need to take in order to head in the right direction … then act immediately.
• Review, refocus, realign, & repeat – the business environment is constantly changing so you will need to use your latest information to constantly monitor your position, and realign your strategies and action.

In a dynamic environment, you will also need to continuously repeat the steps outlined above, in order to adjust to new situations and grasp new opportunities..

To compete you will need to develop Cyber Organisations capable of continuously recycling the above futures planning process.

Corporate success in Cyberspace will require that you:

• Define your Values; --
• Create your Vision; --
• Focus on Strategic Action; --
• Combine and share the Information & Knowledge within you organisation; --
• Develop Multidimensional Clusters and Alliances to form virtual corporations; --
• constantly Build on Relationships; --
• Adopt Futures Thinking so you are always looking forward; --
• and above all, Involve all your People so as gain access to the combined intellectual capital and knowledge hidden within your organisation.

A decision NOT to act is a decision in itself, and if you don’t continuously develop innovative new ideas during a time of rapid change, you will be rapidly left behind.

Future success requires proactive innovation in Cyberspace. Only then can you be assured of Survival, Growth, & Prosperity in the 21^st Century.

More than ever before each individual person has the opportunity and power to determine their own destiny. It is Your World, Your Region, Your Nation, Your Community, Your Organisation, Your Family, & Your Future. You will determine your own destiny. All it requires is for you to learn about the future, adopt new perspectives and change your mindset, and a change in mindset is free of charge.

It is Your Choice …. The Future is up to You!

How to radically transform your thinking and develop the Cyber Intelligence needed for survival, growth and prosperity in the 21st century using the New Horizons approach, can be learned through a 2-day workshop conducted by Dr Lin.

For more information contact …….