Role Of Environmental Scanning Research Articles

Foresight for Cultural Materials Preservation: The Role of Environmental Scanning in Conservation

This paper introduces foresight methodologies and their application to conservation with particular focus on environmental scanning. Organised into two parts, the first section of the paper describes case studies of environmental scanning activities undertaken by the gallery, library, archives and museums (GLAM) sector. It argues that as a profession we are poorly represented in discussions about the future of collection materials and the means for its preservation. It outlines recommendations as to how an environmental scanning capacity might best address these concerns and be implemented to serve the Australian conservation community. The second part deals with the underlying principles of foresight as a discipline, specifically with the process and aims of environmental scanning (also called horizon scanning) as it is commonly understood within the futures field. Using probability as a both a point of connection and counterpoint to risk frameworks currently applied in conservation practice, it describes how foresight has come to understand futures as having subjective, objective, personal and collective dimensions. The ability to engage and work across these dimensions is essential in developing robust and meaningful conservation outcomes and develop futures literacy within the profession.

OP115 Expanding Perspectives: The Role Of Environmental Scanning In Health Technology Assessment

IntroductionEnvironmental scan reports, usually consisting of literature reviews and/or key informant consultations (such as online surveys or personal interviews), broadly describe the current local, national, and international landscape surrounding health care practices, programs, or the use of technologies. Funding agencies and health organizations recognize environmental scans as a valuable way to inform decision-makers about the context, practice variations, and knowledge gaps surrounding a topic. Despite their increasing popularity in health technology assessment (HTA), there is limited guidance available for conducting environmental scans, variation in methods used across and within HTA agencies, and lack of consensus on an appropriate definition, purpose, and process.MethodsWe conducted an informal literature review and consulted experienced researchers from other HTA agencies to identify existing methods guidance for conducting environmental scans. We then adapted these methods to conduct an environmental scan of initiatives to accelerate cancer diagnosis.ResultsThere was limited and vague guidance on the definition, purpose, and process of conducting environmental scans in the context of HTA. This introduced challenges but provided the flexibility to modify our approach to meet requestor needs. Our environmental scan included: (i) a literature review, to identify and describe relevant initiatives and to locate data on effectiveness (which is often out-of-scope for environmental scans but was of priority to the requestor); (ii) stakeholder surveys, which helped “fill in the gaps” of the literature review and helped locate additional initiatives; and (iii) targeted key informant interviews, which provided rich follow-up data on the initiatives most important to the requestor.ConclusionsBy describing our experiences adapting limited methods guidance to meet requestor needs, we hope to contribute to the evolving discussion about the definition, purpose, and process of environmental scans to inform health policy decision-making. We will reflect on challenges encountered, potential solutions, and lessons learned, and will discuss ongoing areas of methodological uncertainty.

The role of environmental scanning in effective fundraising

AbstractInformation on the concerns and resources of various donor communities is vital.

Dimensions of strategic choice

The role of environmental scanning. The key to effective strategy lies in matching a firm's capabilities with opportunities in the external environment. This gives environmental scanning a central role in the strategy process. However, the effectiveness of the scanning activity depends on the balanced judgment of the planners—you don't want too limited an analysis, nor do you want to waste time on irrelevant factors.