Every few years I read something that sheds new light on the murky trends of the
future; in the past Paul Pilzer, W. Edwards Deming and John Naisbitt, to name a
few, have been very enlightening. Just read another one of those today. Here's
a somewhat lengthy but fascinating article by Peter Drucker -- what follows is a
clip from a technical ezine I get (www.jimpinto.com) and a hyperlink to
Drucker's article. Not marketing stuff per se, but still very relevant to all
marketers.

Perry

~~~

PETER DRUCKER ON "THE NEAR FUTURE"

At 92 (born 1909), famed sage and management guru Peter Drucker is
more than ever incisive, challenging and mind stretching. In his
latest articles, published after 9/11, he explains how the future
will differ from today and what needs to be done to prepare for it.

The "new economy" may or may not materialize, but there is no doubt
that the next society will be with us shortly. In the developed
world, and probably in the emerging countries as well, this "new
society" will be more important than any "new economy". It will be
quite different from the society of the late 20th century and
different from what most people expect. Much of it will be
unprecedented. And most of it is already here, or is rapidly emerging.

In the developed countries, the dominant factor in the next society
will be the rapid growth in the older population and the rapid
shrinking of the younger generation.

Will the Corporation Survive? Peter Drucker insists that it will, but
not as we know it. In the future there will be not one kind of
corporation but several different ones. Legally and perhaps
financially, it may look much the same; but instead of there being a
single model adopted by everyone, there will be a range of models to
choose from.

Drucker - The Near Future (Part I):
http://www.cfo.com/printarticle/1,4580,0|83|AD|5641,00.html

Drucker - The Near Future (Part II)
http://www.cfo.com/printarticle/1,4580,0|83|AD|5642,00.html