Time and futures. Analysis of time‐needs in futures research

Abstract

This paper discusses temporalities in futures research in terms of a novel notion of time‐need. It is argued that this notion contributes to the theoretical and critical discussion about time in futures research. The paper uses as an illustrative case study a railway transportation system to highlight how different actors within a system have unique temporal needs that shape their perceptions, actions, and relation to the future. The authors discuss the interplay of power, control, utilization, and the strategic manipulation of temporal information. This paper argues for a novel conceptual approach to temporal phenomena that can be used to (i) understand and plan a technological system better, but also (ii) provide critical reflection on the power and control implicit in such systems. Moreover, the paper suggests that futures research as a field has its own time‐needs that shape how it approaches the future. Recognizing these time‐needs enables a more nuanced understanding of futures research. Scenarios, knowledge, and power are all intimately related to time.