Executive Development Programmes

A One Day Scenario Planning Appreciation Course

This course will put future studies on your mental map. It presents the rationale for scenario thinking and shows how the approach can overcome thinking flaws at the individual, small group, and organization levels.

It is too easy for organizations to fall into the trap of business-as-usual thinking and be unaware of developments in the business environment that could affect the very survival of the organization. Using a mixture of real case-study examples and interactive exercises, this course demonstrates the logic and power of the techniques of scenario thinking.

Course aims and description

The course contains a series of short lectures, interspersed with exercises to (i) demonstrate the underpinning logic of scenario thinking and (ii) to provide an appreciation of our methodological approach for developing scenarios to accelerate organizational learning. Working in small groups, with facilitation from members of the Centre for Scenario Planning and Future Studies, delegates will explore general issues surrounding a major problem of general significance to society. In this way, course participants will experience the power of scenario thinking to enhance our exploration and understanding of the future.

Overview of course content

Session 1

Aims and objectives of the workshop

Demonstration and discussion of thinking flaws at the individual, management team, and organizational level, Case studies of scenario thinking interventions in organizations: process, outcomes, and lasting benefits.

Session 2

Facilitated exercise on scenario thinking, demonstrating the components of the approach
Scenario thinking, the strategic conversation, and organizational learning: establishing scenario thinking within the organization.

Knowledge outcomes

• Understanding the pitfalls of business-as-usual thinking
• Understanding the causes of business-as-usual thinking
• Appreciation of the benefits of scenario thinking as a challenge to business-as-usual thinking
• Understanding of the key components of the scenario thinking process and understanding of the how the outcomes of the process can contribute to improved policy advice and enhanced strategy development.

Skills outcomes

• Ability to identify situations where a scenario intervention would be beneficial to the organization
• Ability to be able to justify the logic for a scenario intervention within an organization.
• Ability to evaluate if a proposed scenario planning intervention is comprehensive and thought-through.