What a difference a few short weeks make!
A good part of my work at BEACON involves trend forecasting. This entails looking at past trends and current indicators, and predicting likely future scenarios. The forecasts we have been making at BEACON throughout the past 30 years have been quite accurate. Yet, if you had told me earlier this year that a virus would practically shut down the economies of so many countries and push nearly 100% of my work to the "Cloud," I would have laughed at you.
The reality in which we find ourselves today is more incredible than any science fiction book I ever read. Nevertheless, the BEACON team, with little advance notice, was able to pivot – and pivot practically overnight – into a new virtual operations reality. Our productivity is just as high as before. In fact, due to time saved by not traveling across the bridge or from meeting to meeting locally, we seem to have improved our productivity. We are continuing our work on our many externally funded applied research projects and on our community outreach initiatives without any disruption. We have been hosting two, three-part webinars on Post-Pandemic Scenarios for Businesses and on Post-Pandemic Strategic Thinking for Nonprofits. We have finalized agreements on four new externally funded applied research projects and we are in the final stages of developing agreements on four other new projects.
As the complex new normal continues to evolve, we will continue to adapt. We will also continue to provide advice, assistance and support to all our outreach partners, project sponsors and our various stakeholders. Together, we will go through these difficult times and emerge on the other side stronger and wiser.
Be well and stay safe!
Sincerely, |
