University of Houston, Horizon Scanning Why is it so hard?
Dr. Peter Bishop
University of Houston
September 2009
Introduction
Surprise is an odd emotion. We like to be surprised–an unexpected visit from a friend, a gift from our spouse, a beautiful spring day. Sometimes we even pay to be surprised–at the fair or the cinema. But surprise is not a good thing at work. Being surprised means that we expected something to happen that didn’t or something to not happen that did. It’s just not right even when the surprise is a good thing,. We are supposed to know what is going on and what is about to happen all time–to know and be prepared for everything that occurs. We are never supposed to be surprised.