Enroll Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/strategic-foresight
In today’s rapidly evolving world, organizations are increasingly grappling with uncertainty and the disruptive forces that reshape industries overnight. Being caught off guard by ‘unexpected’ shifts can be detrimental. To not only survive but thrive, businesses need to enhance their adaptability and proactively drive change. This is where Coursera’s ‘Building Strategic Foresight Capabilities’ course comes in, offering a comprehensive introduction to the principles, methods, and tools of strategic foresight.
The course is structured logically, guiding learners through a practical journey. It begins with the foundational module, ‘Scanning for signals and Developing drivers of change.’ Here, participants learn the essential language of foresight, how to distinguish meaningful signals from noise, and crucially, how to translate these signals into actionable drivers of change. This skill is vital for navigating uncertainty in both professional and personal spheres.
Module two, ‘Why scenario thinking is key to prepare for uncertain futures,’ builds upon the previous module by introducing the concept of scenarios. These are developed from the identified drivers of change, allowing participants to construct multiple plausible futures captured in compelling narratives and visuals. This creative exploration of how drivers interact is key to informing long-term decision-making.
The subsequent modules delve deeper into the practical application of foresight. ‘Developing scenarios and working with stakeholders’ focuses on making futures tangible. It introduces techniques like the scenario cross, which visually maps four plausible futures based on two key drivers, facilitating strategic conversations. The course emphasizes how these scenario narratives can act as catalysts for impactful strategies.
‘Developing future-oriented and unique strategies’ empowers learners to craft strategies that deviate from the status quo, termed ‘distant strategies.’ These form part of a broader action portfolio designed to balance performance and robustness. The module also explores how foresight can help define a ‘Massive Transformation Purpose,’ providing a clear ‘why’ that guides ‘what’ actions to take and ‘how’ to achieve them, using a ‘strategy playbox’ for systematic exploration within existing constraints.
Finally, ‘Building organisational foresight capabilities’ shifts the focus from individual practice to embedding foresight within an organization. It provides the arguments and materials needed to justify investment in foresight capabilities and scale the ability to identify, interpret, and act on change signals.
The course culminates in a final quiz, testing the knowledge acquired throughout the modules. Overall, ‘Building Strategic Foresight Capabilities’ is an invaluable resource for anyone looking to equip themselves and their organizations with the foresight needed to navigate complexity and drive future success. It offers a structured, practical, and engaging approach to a critical business discipline.
Enroll Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/strategic-foresight