Definition of a weak signal
A weak signal is typically a small innovation or disruption that has the potential to grow in scale and geographic distribution. A signal can be:
- a new product,
- a new practice,
- a new market strategy,
- a new policy,
- a new technology,
- a new event,
- a local trend,
- an organization,
- a recently revealed problem or state of affairs.
In short, a weak signal is s something that catches our attention at one scale and in one locale and points to larger implications for other locales or even globally.
Weak Signals are useful for people who are trying to anticipate a highly uncertain future. They tend to capture emergent phenomenon sooner than traditional social science methods and turn our attention to possible innovations before they become obvious. Unlike indicators, they often focus our attention at the margins of society rather than the core. In this way, they are more likely to reveal disruptions and innovations.
