Mastering Foresight: Scenario-Based Planning

This course is designed for professionals looking to build competency in strategic foresight by learning about and practicing the most widely used foresight tool: scenario-based planning. As opposed to forecasting, which seeks to predict one likely event, scenario-based planning is a foresight tool that explores many possible future outcomes to help organizations identify the capabilities necessary to prepare for an uncertain future. During the course, students learn how to construct scenarios and conduct workshops to yield creative solutions and leverage tools to analyze capabilities for investment. This course helps students develop foresight and scenario-based planning competencies, including scanning for signals and trends in the environment, leveraging generative artificial intelligence (AI) for scenario development, and learning how to use key strategic tools to effectively assess an organization's possible future environments. Students are able to translate capabilities that may be needed in the future to strategy and prioritize projects to drive the right outcomes. Students learn to describe the vital role foresight plays in strategic planning and execution, while selecting the future capabilities that matter most.