Abstract:

The world is in turmoil. Hyperbole or reality? As we look back on 2017, it is difficult to characterise the state of things as anything but turmoil–and experts interviewed in this issue would agree. But, if this is the case, what then is the role of insights and evidence in this new world? In many instances, it would seem that its role is diminishing, with leaders dismissing evidence-based news with which they disagree as “fake news”. For the Insights professional, all of this poses unique and significant challenges. Not only do we have to bring the human being into the centre of marketing, but we also have to work out where we fit into a new world of political, social and economic turmoil and change. We have to be highly inventive to truly represent the needs of people not only as consumers but as citizens. We need to be able to foresee and reflect the challenges of peoples’ everyday lives.