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Introduction to the course
The increasingly complex economic, political and social environment in which most organizations now operate is placing a huge demand on their planning and leadership capability. The standard assumption is that we cannot predict or influence the future – merely adapt to it. As a result only about 3% of organizations bother to use scenario planning as an integral part of their strategic thinking and strategic planning. This failure to use scenario planning not only results in poor strategies and poor performance but also fails to identify and address problems and challenges that can seriously limit and ultimately destroy an organization or a society.
This KC ACADEMY training programme covers a robust approach to planning for the future called ‘Transformative Scenario Planning’ that not only identifies a range of possible futures but also sets out to change the future by influencing systems, structures and processes around us and to do so in a collaborative and holistic manner.
This KC ACADEMY training course on Transformative Scenario Planning will address all of these areas by covering the relevant background information and models and providing the powerful practical skills required to negotiate the five key phases of scenario planning. By applying this proven approach delegates will be able to anticipate and plan for a range of likely possible futures that might well impact their organizations and so enjoy a sustainable lead over their private sector or public service competitors.
This KC ACADEMY training course on Transformative Scenario Planning will combine imagination with robust analysis and highlight how to:
- Assemble a scenario planning team that represents the whole system your organization is operating within
- Become aware of and observe what is happening in and around your organization
- Design and deliver detailed, believable, consequential stories about what could happen in the future
- Identify what can and must be done to mould to or proactively influence the system
- Plan and act to adapt to – and transform – structures, processes and players in the system
Course details
This KC ACADEMY training course is designed to help attendees to:
- Fully understand the nature and role of scenario planning in today’s private and public sector organizations
- Clearly distinguish scenario planning from forecasting, contingency planning, trend analysis and threat matrices
- Really appreciate and master the five key phases of the planning process
- Confidently structure and implement each phase for maximum success
- Powerfully apply the results of the process both internally and externally to drive innovation in product development, service delivery, funding, etc.
- Skillfully disseminate the panel’s outputs and thus enhance their organization’s reputation, credibility and standing
This KC ACADEMY training course will use a range of approaches to learning, including experiential group activities, individual exercises, mini-case studies, existing scenarios, role plays and syndicate discussions. Graphical materials and stimulating explanations will be used to introduce underlying models.
A key part of the learning process is sharing the different experiences participants bring, as well as experimenting with novel – and sometimes challenging – techniques.
Your organization will benefit from:
- Gaining a key input to its strategic planning and strategic thinking process
- Enhanced, world-class planning capability
- Increased alignment with key players in its operating environment
- Improved communication, openness and levels of trust with its major stakeholders
- Enhanced creativity and innovation in its problem-solving
- Collaborative resolution of conflicts and challenges
- Higher levels of organizational productivity
Participants will be exposed to probably the most powerful strategic management process that exists. A process that has literally been responsible for the end of apartheid in South Africa, that accelerated the end of the former Soviet Union and the fall of the Berlin Wall and the success of global organizations that have consistently out- performed their rivals over several decades.
Participants will also add to their leadership, team-development, planning and problem-solving skills. These skills and insights can be used in many different areas of their professional and personal lives and will make them considerably more valuable in today’s highly competitive job market.
This KC ACADEMY training programme is suitable for both individual participants and teams with some experience in strategy, planning and leadership roles who are looking to explore new ways of thinking about strategy or keen to identify potential opportunities and risks in our turbulent world.
The following will also benefit on attending this KC ACADEMY training course:
- Strategic Planning Teams
- Board-level Members
- Senior Managers
- Politicians
- Policy Developers
- People working in private organizations, government departments, public sector organizations, emergency services, NGOs, academia, professional bodies
Daily Agenda
DAY 1:
The Origins and Nature of Scenario Planning
- Origins of Scenario Planning
- What Scenario Planning is and When to use it
- The Shortcomings of Traditional Strategic Management Approaches
- How Scenario Planning Works
- An Overview of the Phases of the Process and the Timescales Involved
Assembling a Team that Represents the Whole System
- Choosing a ‘Convening Team’
- Assembling a ‘Plausible Future’ vs. a ‘Delphi’ Panel that both Represent the Whole System
- Selecting Key Members / Actors for the Panel
- Allowing Time for the Panel to (a) transform their understandings, relationships, and intentions (Phases 1 to 4) and (b) adapt to and transform the system (Phase 5)
- Understanding Your Own and Other’s biases in Thinking, Planning and Communicating
DAY 2:
Becoming Aware of and Observing What is Happening
- Enabling the Panel to Examine the Current Reality in and Around the Overall System
- Determining the Driving Forces of the System: Events, Patterns, Trends and Structures / Processes
- Creating a Space that Enables Trust, Safety, Autonomy, Re-perceiving and Dialogue
- Using Facilitation to Exploit Divergent, Emergent and Convergent Thinking
- Deciding on ‘Learning Journeys’ / Field Visits, White Papers, Researchers and ‘Remarkable Persons’
- Listing ‘Certainties’ and ‘Uncertainties’ in and Around the System
DAY 3:
Designing and Telling Stories about What could Happen
- Determining Two Major Uncertainties / Dimensional Axes
- Designing Four Scenarios around the Two Uncertainties using both Deductive and Inductive Thinking
- Conceiving Non-obvious Scenarios using Inductive Thinking
- Transforming the Final Four Scenarios into Logical, Consequential Stories
- Finding Metaphors, Images and Titles for each Scenario
- Documenting the Scenarios to Facilitate Compelling Communication using Different Media
DAY 4:
Identifying What Can and Must be Done
- Looking at the Scenarios to Provide Direction: Adapting to and Influencing / Transforming the System
- Appreciating What can be done alone and also through Partnerships
- Discovering What can and must be done based upon What could happen
- Pausing, Reflecting and Making meaning of both Adaptive and Transformative Meanings and Implications
- Using a ‘Reverse SWOT’ in Adaptive Stance; using Roles, Responsibilities and Obligations in Transformative Stance
- Describing Future ‘Contexts’ and Defining their ‘Triggers’, ‘Early Warning Indicators’ and Appropriate ‘Planned Responses’
DAY 5:
Planning and Acting to Adapt to and Transform the System
- Transforming the Scenarios to Actions: Goals / Policies, Objectives, Programs, Initiatives / Projects, Structures / Processes, Legislation, etc.
- Using the Insights into Possible Opportunities, Risks and Choices to Frame your Service Provision and Activities
- Leveraging Alliances and Partnerships to Work in New Ways
- Engaging with the World as a Collective Panel or Independently with more Aligned, Understandings, Insights, Relationships, Intentions and Wisdom
- Using Meetings, Briefings, Workshops, the Media (broadcast and social) and Spinoff Initiatives
- Utilising the Difference between Simply Distributing vs. Disseminating the Panel’s Outputs using Inspired Actors
Frequently Asked Questions
There are no prerequisites. Our courses are open to students of all backgrounds who are 18 years of age and older. All courses are conducted in English. Video lectures include English subtitles and the option to slow-down, pause, or replay lectures for better retention. Discussion boards are a critical component of each of our courses; therefore, we suggest students have a conversational knowledge of English when pursuing a Certificate of Completion. For any of the art writing courses, students need to be 100% proficient in written English.
You should have an up-to-date web browser such as: Chrome, Safari, Firefox, or Internet Explorer. For more detailed information, please see the guides for supported browsers and basic computer specifications. Our Online Courses can be accessed on a mobile or tablet device, although we strongly encourage you to have access to a desktop or laptop computer and reliable internet connection for certain course components. Former students have told us it is easiest to read discussion threads and complete written assignments on a laptop or desktop computer.
Registration is available on our website. Just follow these simple steps: Click the “Apply Now” button in the top right corner of your screen. Select “Online Courses.” Choose your course(s). You will be asked for basic contact information and your credit card payment. We require full payment at the time of registration and all tuition is billed in US dollars. Be sure to check with your bank or credit card company, as your financial institution may charge a foreign transaction fee.
Our classes are kept small, at no more than 30 students, to better facilitate and encourage personalized interaction with the instructor and fellow participants. Your classmates come from all over the globe and contribute their global perspectives and experience. Some are currently working within the arts while others are just beginning. All classmates share in their passion for the art world.
It is recommended that you begin your course promptly. If you do need to start the course a few days late, contact your instructor as soon as possible after the course has opened to discuss your options. Registration closes on the Friday after the course begins.
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Course customization available
Course customization available
This training course is available to be conducted at your own pace & at your own time. Request for a quotation now and our training advisor will contact you shortly
