TRENDS, NETWORKS AND CRITICAL THINKING IN 21ST CENTURY

(PRELIM REVIEWER)

LESSON 1- Understanding the Elements and Characteristics of Trends

TRENDS general direction in which something is developing or changing.

Network an arrangement of intersecting horizontal and vertical lines.

Critical Thinking is the objective analysis and evaluation of an issue in order to form a judgment.

21st century is the current century of the Anno Domini era or the Common Era, in accordance with the
Gregorian calendar. It began on January 1, 2001, and will end on December 31, 2100. It is the first
century of the 3rd millennium. It is distinct from the century known as the 2000s, which began on
January 1, 2000 and will end on December 31, 2099.

How do we define a trend?

It’s defined by a shift in mentality or behavior that then influences a significant number of people.

What is fads?

A desirable trend characterized with lots of enthusiasm and energy over a short period of time

TRENDS, MEGATRENDS AND MICROTRENDS

TRENDS is a sequencial pattern of change in recorded data- a change evidenced by a rise or fall of
variables when measured between at least two points overtime (Gordon,2008)

TRENDS must pass basic tests of significance; a change that affects a wide range of people and that has
broad social, economic, cultural, spiritual and political implications.

MEGATRENDS entail a major restructuring

MEGATRENDS 2000 (1990) with Patricia Aburdene

> The Blooming Global Economy

Global economic boom prompted by the information economy, free trade, and government bias
toward economic expansion over political ideology.

> Renaissance in the Arts

Rapid growth in participation in the fine and finer arts.

> Emergence of Free-Market Socialism

The emergence of free markets in socialist economies..

> Global Lifestyles and Cultural Nationalism

Increasing similarities in global lifestyles with increased cultural nationalism.

> The Rise of Women in Leadership

Women have become more important in leadership roles.

> The Age of Biology

Biotechnology makes great progress and raises major ethical issues, while biology becomes a
more common metaphor.

> Religious Revival

Religious revival led by fundamentalism and the desire for deep and personal experience.
> Triumph of the Individual

Triumph of the individual in becoming free of institutional constraints to become more in charge
of one’s own destiny.

Microtrends

-are the emerging small forces behind tomorrow’s big changes.

-common to business management.

Micro and macro trends

Trends are a bit slower paced but represent something that is occurring on a much wider scale than a
fad. A micro trend typically lasts 3 to 5 years. A macro trend, like social media has become lasts longer
more in the 5 to 10 year range.

Fads are transitory and very limited in scope. They only affect a particular group or region and has no
long-term implications.

It is typically spread quickly, but disappear equally quickly.

Ex. Use of jejemon language in the Philippines

Trends overlap and interact reinforcing each other.

It can also run counter to each other and cancel each other out.

Lesson 2 - Trendspotting
Process of Trendspotting

Trendspotters do not content themselves with secondary sources. They immerse themselves directly to
people, places, and events where significant events may be happening.

Trendspotting is a cognitive idea. It is a product of thorough and careful analysis of anybody who is
sensitive to what is happening in society.

Trend projection assumes that the future will be a logical extension of the past.

Drivers, Enablers, Friction and Blockers

>change drivers – the forces of change behind a trend.

– vital element of change.

>enabler–is a catalyst that enhances a

driver.

>friction–is the resistance to change that occurs naturally and inevitably due to learned habits of seeing
and doing things.

>blockers-they occur when people try to stop a change or delay it.

Ex: new law, politicking, street protest

Process of Trendspotting:

1.Setup - This column should contain your questions as a group as you attempt to grasp the general
trend in the global community.

2. Surveying – this section should have the group’s observation of the world and its different cultures in
order to grasp what is happening.

3. Scenarios – These are the imaginative situations that can shed light on the changes you have
observed to help you understand the trend and think about its implications.

4. Scrutiny – These are the analization of the group to be able to identify a trend or shift.

5. Summary – Containing the trend final analysis on a certain subject.

Major Categories of global village in driving forces and blockers.

1.Technology. It is the most powerful force for change in the world today.

It provides new capabilities that make change possible in products and services, solutions, and business
models.

2.Powerful individuals and powerful organizations. When the force of individuals is combined with the
power of government, military or corporate power, the more it can expedite change or block them

3. Ideas and Ideologies. It compel and drive us to actions in the future whether these are in the social,
political economic and/or technological arena

4.Social and moral values. These are related to ideas, but have a slightly different function because
values generally change very slowly, if at all, so they mostly apply brakes on the future.