The International Institute of Forecasters (IIF), a nonprofit organization founded in 1982, is dedicated to developing and furthering the generation, distribution, and use of knowledge on forecasting through the following objectives:
- Develop and unify forecasting as a multidisciplinary field of research drawing on management, behavioral sciences, social sciences, engineering, and other fields.
- Contribute to the professional development of analysts, managers, and policy makers with responsibilities for making and using forecasts in business and government.
- Bridge the gap between theory and practice, with practice helping to set the research agenda and research providing useful results.
- Bring together decision makers, forecasters, and researchers from all countries to improve the quality and usefulness of forecasting.
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- For all general inquiries, contact our Business Manager.
IIF History
1979 The International Institute of Forecasters was started by J. Scott Armstrong, Spyros Makridakis, Robert Carbone, and Robert Fildes, with support from INSEAD. The first journal was published by Wiley Publishing: the Journal of Forecasting. The objectives of the journal and the future ISFs were to promote the “Science of Forecasting” and scientific research. Within the first 2 years of publication, the journal had one of the highest citation rates.
1981 The first International Symposium on Forecasting (ISF) took place in Quebec with the goal of promoting the journal and generating content. The first conference started with invited papers from important names in the field, including Nobel Prize recipients.
1982 As part of ISF 1982, the IIF first began taking membership.
1985 After negotiations on the future of the Journal of Forecasting with Wiley were unsuccessful, the IIF created the International Journal of Forecasting and negotiated our current relationship with Elsevier, under the direction of Michael Lawrence. The first editors of the IJF were Spyros Makridakis (1985-1987) and J. Scott Armstrong (1988-1989).
1985 After the ISF in Montreal, the IIF formed a board of directors and the current constitution. Estela Dagum was instrumental in drafting the first Constitution.
2005 Our practitioner journal, Foresight, is published. Created and edited by Len Tashman (for it’s first 18 years), Foresight is dedicated to improving the practice of business forecasting, to enhancing the professional development of business forecasters, and to bringing forecasting know-how to those entering the profession.
2020 and 2021 Our first virtual ISFs!
2022 The first song written for and about our annual symposium – thanks to our past director, Eric Stellwagen!
IIF Founding Fathers
J. Scott Armstrong, Professor of Marketing, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania (interview: The Oracle, 2012)
Robert Fildes, Distinguished Professor, Lancaster University
Spyros Makridakis, Director, Institute for the Future, University of Nicosia (interview: International Journal of Forecasting, 2006)
J. Scott Armstrong
Robert Fildes
Spyros Makridakis
IIF Presidents
George Athanasopoulos, 2020-
Gloria González-Rivera, 2016-2020
Mohsen Hamoudia, 2012-2016
Antonio Garcia Ferrer, 2008-2012
P. Geoffrey Allen, 2006-2008
Lars-Erik Öller, 2004-2006
Robert Fildes, 2000-2004
Michael Lawrence, 1996-1999
Hans Levenbach, 1994-1996
Stu Bretschneider, 1992-1994
Everette Gardner, 1990-1992
Robert Winkler, 1989-1990
Estela Dagum, 1988-1989
Spyros Makridakis, 1986-1988
J. Scott Armstrong, 1982-1986
IIF Documents
As a service to our members and the forecasting public, we provide the following documents for review:
US Federal Tax Form 990 Year 2023 For earlier tax documents, contact [email protected]
US Federal Tax Form 990 Year 2022 For earlier tax documents, contact [email protected]