Shaping the Future: Tools for Developing Strategic Foresight|Online

Overview

Why Attend

The world is rapidly changing driven by technology, globalization, and the increasing interdependence between countries and cultures. Since the world of the future, where will be living in, will be significantly different from today’s, it is critical for governments, organizations, and leaders to better understand how future scenarios will be shaped. Those capable of examining possible, probable and desirable futures can capitalize on more opportunities and find better ways to positively influence the future that is being created today.

In this course, attendees will build up their knowledge and skills in futures studies in a visionary and futures-oriented way. They will also learn to conceptualize reality and events using a systematic approach to analyze developments and decision-making processes in the light of global change.

Attendees who successfully pass this course will be qualified as experts in the business of the future.

Course Methodology

This course relies on the use of interactive case studies to demonstrate the different components of futures studies. In addition, this course utilizes individual debriefs, group discussions, role-playing scenarios, videos, and presentations.

Course Objectives

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

Explain how companies and governments can use the study of futurology
Distinguish between possible, probable and preferable futures
Apply scenario thinking using the futures wheel and environmental scanning
Recognize the connection between the foresight and strategy process
Use futures studies to manage and mitigate risk

Target Audience

All leaders, managers and senior professionals who are involved in influencing, formulating or supporting the long term planning of their department or organization, as well as those who are interested in learning more about futures studies.

Target Competencies

Creative thinking
Conceptual thinking
Situation analysis
Future thinking
Theoretical problem solving
Systems judgement
Critical thinking
Scenario analysis

Course Outline

Foundations of futures studies
- History of future studies
- The discipline of futurology
- How companies and governments can use futurology
- Actors in the field
- Current theories and applications
- Futures thinking
Characteristics of a futurist perspective
- Change as the norm
- The acceleration of change
- Seeing events as interrelated
- Taking a holistic perspective in viewing change
- Accepting alternative futures
- Distinguishing between different futures
  - Possible futures
  - Probable futures
  - Preferable futures
- The importance of short, medium, and long-range planning
- The danger of leaving the future to chance
- Creating the future
Scenario thinking
- Scenario approach
- Environmental scanning
- Futures wheel
- Futures table
- Weak signals
- Black swans and wild cards
Systems thinking and strategic foresight
- Understanding complexity
- Systemic structure of dynamic and complex wholes
- Methodologies of systems thinking
- Visionary leadership and corporate foresight
- The connection between foresight and strategy process
- Governmental and regional foresight
Managing for change
- The link between strategic management and futures research
- Using futures studies to effect change and transformation
- The role of leadership in planning for the future
- Using futures studies to manage and mitigate risk
- Changing futures
Futures methods in practice
- Connecting various futures studies methods and theoretical thinking
- Global challenges
- Sustainable futures
- Studying and evaluating effects of globalization
- Concept of sustainability

Schedule & Fees

2026 Schedule & Fees

15 - 19 Nov, 2026

English
Virtual Learning

Per participant USD 1,300

15 - 19 Nov, 2026

Arabic
Virtual Learning

Per participant USD 1,300

29 Nov - 3 Dec, 2026

English
Virtual Learning

Per participant USD 1,300

29 Nov - 3 Dec, 2026

Arabic
Virtual Learning

Per participant USD 1,300

2027 Schedule & Fees

14 - 18 Feb, 2027

Arabic
Virtual Learning

Per participant USD 1,300

14 - 18 Feb, 2027

English
Virtual Learning

Per participant USD 1,300

28 Feb - 4 Mar, 2027

English
Virtual Learning

Per participant USD 1,300

28 Feb - 4 Mar, 2027

Arabic
Virtual Learning

Per participant USD 1,300

16 - 20 May, 2027

English
Virtual Learning

Per participant USD 1,300

16 - 20 May, 2027

Arabic
Virtual Learning

Per participant USD 1,300

30 May - 3 Jun, 2027

Arabic
Virtual Learning

Per participant USD 1,300

30 May - 3 Jun, 2027

English
Virtual Learning

Per participant USD 1,300

15 - 19 Aug, 2027

English
Virtual Learning

Per participant USD 1,300

15 - 19 Aug, 2027

Arabic
Virtual Learning

Per participant USD 1,300

29 Aug - 2 Sep, 2027

English
Virtual Learning

Per participant USD 1,300

29 Aug - 2 Sep, 2027

Arabic
Virtual Learning

Per participant USD 1,300

14 - 18 Nov, 2027

Arabic
Virtual Learning

Per participant USD 1,300

14 - 18 Nov, 2027

English
Virtual Learning

Per participant USD 1,300

28 Nov - 2 Dec, 2027

Arabic
Virtual Learning

Per participant USD 1,300

28 Nov - 2 Dec, 2027

English
Virtual Learning

Per participant USD 1,300