Futurist Leadership Assignment

Futurist Leadership Assignment

Futurist Leadership

Most strategic planning processes include conducting a SWOT analysis to assess the organization's external and internal environments to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to the organization in the short term (1-5 years). On the other hand, scenario planning allows leaders to imagine possible future events in the long-term (20-30 years). Scenario planning provides leaders and organizations an opportunity to envision a strategic goal that they are willing to work to achieve over a long time.

For this Assignment, review the scenarios presented in Futurevision and Global Trends 2040 as well as the other Learning Resources for this week. (attached)

Use the nonprofit or government organization you have selected for your Final Project, and provide the following:
•Briefly describe the mission of the organization you selected.
•Explain how this organization could utilize scenario planning with its strategic planning processes to engage key stakeholders in long range planning.
•Identify and explain at least two potential strategic issues facing the organization 10 years from now. Explain how you would utilize scenario planning to identify two strategic goals the organization would like to achieve in 10 years.
The Assignment should follow APA 6th edition guidelines:
•Title page
•Running head
•Introduction and Conclusion
•Level 1 headings to define sections
•3 pages in length, double spaced, 12 pt Times Roman font
•3-5 references cited in the text and a reference list

Readings

• Course Text: Watson, R., & Freeman, O. (2012). Futurevision: Scenarios for the world in 2040. Victoria, Australia: Scribe.
  • Chapter 1, “Forward, Into the Unknown: Why Scenario Planning?” (pp. 11–32)
  • Chapter 2, “The Theatre of the Future: Introducing the Four Futures” (pp. 33–40)
  • Read any two of the following chapters:
    • Chapter 3, “Imagine: A World of Intelligence” (pp. 41–71)
    • Chapter 4, “Please Please Me: A World of Greed” (pp. 72–102)
    • Chapter 5, “Dear Prudence: A World of Temperance” (pp. 103–130)
    • Chapter 6, “Helter Skelter: A World of Fear” (130–159)

• • Wade, P. A., & Wade, W. (2012). Scenario planning: A field guide to the future [ebrary version]. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

Retrieved from the Walden University Library databases.

• • • Chapter 1, “Escaping the Tyranny of the Present” (pp. 6–23)
• National Intelligence Council. (2012). Global trends 2030: Alternative worlds. Retrieved from http://www.dni.gov/index.php/about/organization/global-trends-2030

This is an excellent example of scenario planning by the National Intelligence Council.

Media

• Kogan, R. (2014). Scenario planning: A creative tool for future strategies [Video file]. Retrieved from https://vimeo.com/100429443

Knowledge Architecture. (2014). Scenario Planning: A Creative Tool for Future Strategies (Video). Retrieved from https://vimeo.com/100429443. Used by permissions of Knowledge Architecture.

Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 21 minutes.

Optional Resources

• United Nations Environment Programme. (n.d.). IEA training manual – Module 6. Retrieved September 24, 2015, from http://www.unep.org/ieacp/iea/training/manual/module6/1246.aspx
• U.S. Department of Transportation. (2014). FHWA scenario planning guidebook. Retrieved September 24, 2015, from http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/scenario_and_visualization/scenario_planning/scenario_planning_guidebook/ch00.cfm