Non-linear Strategy

How to approach strategic planning in the second quarter of the 21st century

For decades, strategic planning followed a familiar formula:1️⃣ Analyse trends2️⃣ Identify future advantage3️⃣ Set a course4️⃣ Iterate as needed

Linear. Predictable. Deterministic.

Think physics through Newton’s eyes: every action has an equal and opposite reaction. The laws of gravity.

But today’s world isn’t Newtonian—it’s Quantum.

We’re at the convergence of several disruptive forces:

🌍 Climate change reshapes what futures are plausible.🤖 AI & other technologies like blockchain shift social and business models.💣 Geopolitical volatility adds layers of uncertainty.🐣 Ageing demographics demand a reshaping of our economies.

The next decade will bring big leaps—but in what direction? How far? Onto what kind of surface?

Just as quantum physics challenged Newtonian thinking—introducing uncertainty, probability, and multiple coexisting states—so too must we rethink strategy.

But what does that evolved state look like in practice?How does it force us to think differently about capabilities, decision-making, and business cycles?What frameworks can we follow; what questions to ask?What shifts need to happen in mindset and culture?How far does the Newtonian vs. Quantum physics analogy hold?

These are the questions that keep our brains busy at Perigon - if they interest you too, let’s talk.

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