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Becoming Futurists

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Becoming Futurists Becoming Futurists Citation for published version (APA): Cramer, T. L. (2020). Becoming Futurists: Reluctant professionals searching for common ground. Maastricht University. https://doi.org/10.26481/dis.20200520tc Document status and date: Published: 01/01/2020 DOI: 10.26481/dis.20200520tc Document Version: Publisher's PDF, also known as Version of record Please check the document version of this publication: • A submitted manuscript is the version of the article upon submission and before peer-review. There can be important differences between the submitted version and the official published version of record. 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Reluctant professionals searching for common ground. – Tessa Cramer Acknowledgements Chapter 5 Reputations | a heartland-free profession Chapter 1 5.1 Introduction Futurists in search of a profession 5.2 Redefning the heartland ambition: 1.1 Introduction the making of a reputation 1.2 A brief history of futurists 5.3 Scholarly world 1.3 Studying futurists 5.4 Commercial world 1.4 Studying professions 5.5 Artistic world 1.5 Structure of the thesis 5.6 Cross-boundary reputations 5.7 Conclusions: a heartland-free profession Chapter 2 Research approach Chapter 6 2.1 Adopting a constructivist perspective Service | a knowledge-producing profession 2.2 A qualitative research design 6.1 Introduction 2.3 Following a struggle 6.2 Futurists’ products 2.4 Observing futurists 6.3 Serviceability for sensemaking 2.5 Interviewing futurists 6.4 The knowledge-based profession 2.6 Group discussions with futurists assumption 2.7 Coding strategy 6.5 A reservoir of knowledge 2.8 The making of a profession 6.6 Conclusions: a knowledge-producing profession Chapter 3 Futurists and the struggle for professionalization Chapter 7 3.1 Introduction Futurists and their promise of 3.2 Urgency of professionalization professionalization 3.3 Attempts to grow as a profession 7.1 Introduction 3.4 Demarcation issues 7.2 Reluctance and the making of futurists 3.5 Struggle for common ground 7.3 Professionalization themes: identity, 3.6 The professionalization quest reputations and service 3.7 The traits perspective on professions 7.4 An alternative pathway towards 3.8 Conclusions: beyond traits professionalization 7.5 The promise of Type 2 professions Chapter 4 Identity | the art of being a futurist 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Traditions of becoming a profession 4.3 Claiming jurisdictions 4.4 Skills of a futurist Bibliography 4.5 Image-making of futurists Appendices 4.6 The paradox of (not) ftting in Valorization addendum 4.7 Conclusions: the making of a futurist Nederlandse samenvatting profession About the author Becoming Futurists. Reluctant professionals searching for common ground. Copyright © 2020, Tessa Cramer All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews. Design: Alt8 Lay-out: Canon Creative Hub Printed in the Netherlands. ISBN 9789081843775 The publication was financially supported by Fontys Academy for Creative Industries, Maastricht University and WTMC graduate school. Becoming Futurists. Reluctant professionals searching for common ground. DISSERTATION to obtain the degree of Doctor at the Maastricht University, on the authority of the Rector Magnificus, Prof. dr. Rianne M. Letschert in accordance with the decision of the Board of Deans, to be defended in public on Friday, 15 May 2020 at 12:00 a.m. by Tessa Lianne Cramer Supervisors Prof. dr. ir. Marjolein van Asselt Prof. dr. ir. Harro van Lente Assessment Committee Prof. dr. Rein de Wilde (chair) Prof. dr. Maarten Hajer (Utrecht University) Prof. dr. Mirko Noordegraaf (Utrecht University) Dr. Alexandra Supper This study has been made possible with the support of Fontys Academy for Creative Industries. 08 Acknowledgements Writing a PhD thesis is a solitary practice, yet I didn’t het Hof and John Matthijs. Together we have taught In 2013, I co-founded the Dutch Future Society to- write alone. Becoming Futurists was made possible by a younger generation how to grow, learn and ask gether with futurists that felt the necessity, or even a life-giving ecosystem of friends, family, colleagues questions about the future. I thank the ‘trend team’ in urgency, to professionalize their practice. This expe- and students. In these few pages, I am finally able to particular. Every day I am grateful we found each other rience enriched my academic work as I became part thank everyone who has contributed to my growth. as a community, ready to uplift each other, share, help of an exciting movement of futurists that articulated and celebrate our individual and collective successes. the importance of starting the conversation about First and foremost, I am deeply grateful for my aca- Thank you Carlijn Naber, Bodil Jurg, Rudy van their common ground. My gratitude goes out to demic guide Marjolein van Asselt. I see in Marjolein Belkom, Saar van der Spek, Tessa Petrusa, Quentijn chair Freija van Duijne, it was a pleasure to see her a bright scholar who is not afraid to speak her mind Wulffers, Ingeborg Bruinewoud, Maud Donga, grow in her role and become a leader in the com- and dares to break with conventions. To me, Mar- Maud van der Wiel, Tina Stieger, Bas van Raay, Bas munity. Thank you fellow boardmembers Jan Nek- jolein is a true example, especially in how science can Delmee, Zepha de Roo, Thomas Spronk, Kirsten kers, Silke de Wilde, Susan van ’t Klooster, Peter van and should be connected to the world. By leading me Eerland, Evelien Dielemans, Mark Schipper, Hortense der Wel, Patrick van der Duin, Kim Beerden, Lieke the way, Marjolein helped me to rise and spread my Koster & Els Dragt. My students returned the favor Lamb, Stephan Verveen en Tim Beelen - I loved wings. My sincere gratitude goes out to supervisor by teaching me many life lessons, in particular Anne building a community with you from scratch. A new Harro van Lente, from the moment I got acquainted Pereira, Maud Brock, Eef van Doormaal, Kirsten van generation took over and I am grateful to see we cre- with Harro’s academic work, I was captured by his Hoof & Tessa van der Hart. And last but not least, ated a legacy together. sense of language. Harro helped me to structure my I wish to thank the team of ‘bedrijfsbureau’ and in thoughts, making dozens of impressive overviews particular Franca Sinay, Caroline Klijsen-Jansen, Over the years, several futurists taught me how to based on our lengthy academic conversations and Marije Bos, Ineke Siegenthaler and Miriam Verdonk think like a futurist. First and foremost, I am indebt- guided me in the wonderful and particular world of for their hard work behind the scenes. Someone else ed to Carl Rohde, my very first mentor, who taught Science and Technology Studies. Harro’s trust, his who was crucial to make things happen: Rubine van me the value of leading the way for younger genera- comforting smile and his ways with words helped me Twillert, thank you for always finding time for me in tions. I was grateful to learn from talented academic to pass the much-anticipated finish line. Marjolein’s schedule. Susan van ’t Klooster, especially during our mind- boggling experience of presenting at Harvard Uni- I am very grateful for the support of my colleagues I could not have written this PhD thesis without versity. It was encouraging to see Erica Bol set up the at Fontys Academy for Creative Industries. They the generous futurists that welcomed me into their Dutch chapter of Teach the Future. I was inspired by have given me time to slow down and write, worlds. This access allowed me to narrate the new Sietske Veenman’s energy to bring academic depth to celebrated with me, and always had my back. First pathway that futurists were carving out in the midst societal conversations on sustainability. I appreciat- and foremost, I thank Anja Sparidaans, a true of their professional becoming. I am deeply grateful ed Maurice van Rooijen’s ability to critically separate pioneer who recognized and nourished my drive to for all interviewees, group discussants and futurists the wheat from the chaff, helping me to see that my grow. I am grateful to Ilse van der Pas for her strong that so generously took time to talk to me.
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